PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 11

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO'S BIG TASK SECOND INNINGS EFFORT A CONFIDENT START (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Except for a damp patch at one end, the Carisbrook wicket was very easy for the final day's play in the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Auckland this morning. Otago's second innings was resumed by the opening pair, Knight and Uttley, the total being 5. Quick changes were rung in the attack in an attempt to effect an early separation. How 1 ever, both batsmen displayed solid confidence,, the score mounting and 20 appearing in half an hour. Uttley was in more attractive form than on Saturday, while Knight was in his usual vivacious mood. He collected a 3 with a pretty late cut off Spring, and then straight-drove him nicely for a similar amount. No risks could be taken with the Auckland attack, which was very steady without being dangerous. Matheson, especially, was keeping an impeccable length, and Cowie had to be watched, because he was making every use of the pitch. As was the case in Otago's first innings, the visitors' fielding was firstclass.

After an hour's play the score was 40 (Knight 26, Uttley 11). The variation of the visitors' attack was affected by the absence of Vivian, who is suffering from an injured foot. Uttley had a life when he was 16. He attempted to drive a ball from Weir and edged it into the slips, where Dunning missed a difficult catch, injuring his finger in the process and I having temporarily to leave the field.

Meanwhile, Knight was giving an impressive exhibition, picking the correct ball to hit and dealing soundly with it. Then another catch was dropped in the slips, Knight being the fortunate batsman on this occasion. Weir was again ! the unfortunate bowler, while Cowie was the offender. The total was now 60, Knight hoisting it and bringing his own score to 30 with a forceful cover drive. Knight had yet another escape when he played a foolish stroke off a rising delivery from Weir, the ball going right into Wallace's hands. However, the batsman partly atoned for his string of mistakes by straight-driving Matheson for 4, the first of the morning. An on-drive for three advanced Uttley's tally to 30. Weir was troubling Knight, who miss-hit a ball that just shaved his wicket.

Although certainly having a charmed life, Knight was enlivening the proceedings. A moment later he jumped out to Matheson and drove him to the cover boundary. Vivian, who had returned to the field, replaced Matheson when the total was 90. Uttley obtained his first 4 by pushing him round to the fine leg boundary. Knight's 50 came in 116 minutes and immediately after Cowie effected a separation by having Uttley caught by Whitelaw in the slips off a rising ball. The luncheon score was one for 95.

Before the century was hoisted after lunch, Knight had another life, Marshall missing him in the slips at Cowie's expense when he was 54. The visitors' standard of bowling and fielding was still sound and runs came slowly. Following a 4 down the gully by Knight, > Carson completey beat Kerr with a ball that nipped off the turf. 101 —2—3. Kerr had never looked j like making runs. With the advent of Badcock some spirit was invested into the proceedings, the coach commencing promisingly with a brace to fine leg, but any optimism was not justified for the professional's stay was terminated by Cowie, who :iad him splendidly caught by Matheson at second slip. 119—3—6. It was the beginning of the end for Otago. Details: — AUCKLAND. First innings 550 (Declared closed for five wickets.) OTAGO. First innings 181 Second Innings. Uttley, c Whitelaw, b Cowie 37 Knight, not out 50 Kerr, not out 0 Extras 8 Total (for one wicket) 95