"WOODEN SPOON"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 34, 9 February 1940, Page 9

"WOODEN SPOON"

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

OTAGO BATTING IN A GALE

BOWLERS ON TOP

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, This Day,

Possession of the "wooden spoon" hinged on the last Plunket Shield cricket match of the season, which was commenced this morning between Otago and Wellington at Carisbrook Ground.

A wind that reached gale force swept across the ground and. soon after the game was begun, one of the heavy sightboards was blown over.

Otago won the toss and . batted, Moloney and Robertson facing Ashenden and Pritchard. Both batsmen went into action from the start and Moloney placed a ball from Pritchard to the square-leg boundary. The wicket was very fast and playing true but Pritchard was making the ball rise sharply.

It was from one of these that Moloney lost his wicket after 20 minutes' play. The score was 17. Cutler joined Robertson, who was batting with reticence, and he began with a sweet 2. Later he scored a 4 off Ashenden to fine leg. Wilson replaced Ashen den and when the score was 42 he bowled Cutler with a ball that came back sharply. This was after an hour's play. Elmes joined Roberston, who was 16, and his stay was short, Ashenden having him nicely caught by Pritchard in the slips. v MORE WICKETS FALLi Then came a further disaster, Robertson touching a ball from Wilson that nipped through fast and was caught by Tindill, the wicket-keeper. Otago had lost four wickets for 45. Cameron and Fraser were now together. Fraser began smartly and scored double figures in quick time, with strokes mostly behind the wicket. The Wellington attack so far was steady, without being at all dangerous. Cameron had a very lucky escape when the score was 60 and he was 4, a ball from Pritchard hitting his leg stump. However it was a no-ball. From the next two balls the batsman hit a 2 and a 4 respectively. After a very quiet period, Cameron opened his shoulders again, sweeping a delivery from Wilson to the leg fence to become the highest scorer with 19 runs. He was the most enterprising and dashing batsman so far, and soon he hit another 4, a coverdrive. Then Fraser went when the total was 82, Wilson knocking back his off stump. Wikon had taken three for 26. Chettleburgh was not long in when Cameron went for a hit again and was bowled by Pritchard. Six, wickets were down for 84 runs. Toomey joined Chettleburgh, and at lunch the score was six for 96. Details: — OTAGO. First Innings. Robertson, c Tindill, b Wilson 17 Moloney, b Pritchard 12 Cutler, b Wilson .i 13 Elmes, b Ashenden 0 Cameron, b Pritchard 26 Fraser, b Wilson 10 Chettleburgh, not out 4 Toomey, not out 3 ( Extras 0 ■ Total for six wickets 96