NOTES OH THE PLAY

Evening Star, Issue 19760, 10 January 1928, Page 4

NOTES OH THE PLAY

A FIGHTING COMBINATION [By Wallaby.] Once more Otago showed second innings grit, and for the third time in succession exceeded 300 in their final knock. Though failing to win a match on the tour the team won golden opinions as a fighting combination. The experience has been valuable for the young members, and prospects for the future are bright, if only a first-class bowler can be unearthed. There was some bright cricket this morning, when Otago resumed their innings, Knight, Galland, and Alloo laying on the wood in refreshing style, while M'Mullan plodded on in his usual safe manner, with an occasional useful 4. In fust under two hours 171 runs were got, and the few spectators present thoroughly enjoyed the cricket. The wonderful cricketing weather that has favored the team throughout the tour continued to the last. The wicket lasted well also, and the outfield was the iastest of any of the grounds played upon, The team felt the loss of Kastman very keenly, as be would have been almost certain to score heavily against the Wellington bowling. Had it been know that he would have had to stand down H. C. Alloo could have been brought over from Christchurch, this arrangement having been made before leaving that city. It has been ascertained that M'Mullan • in his second score at Auckland passed his thousand runs in Blanket Shield matches. Knight’s knock was quite a breezy one and entirely different to his previous careful innings. 'He made several excellent strokes, mainly straight and off drives, and hit six 4’s. He was only 35min at the wickets, and got out in trying a big hit off Badcock. tlavanagh was early in trouble to Badcock’s leg trap, and made the mistake of playing carefully at the tempting ones instead ■ of hitting hard at them. If looked inevitable that he should fall to it, and he did, being taken on the leg side. Alloo celebrated his 35th^ birthday by playing another fine innings. He was very sound, although he gave an easy chance just after reaching double figures, Heaney failing to take a high one at very short leg, but he laid the wood on to anything short or overpitched, and it was hard luck to again get in the nineties and get out, especially as just fourteen years ago to the day he scored his first century, this being against Wellington at Carisbrook. He hit nine 4’s and a 6, the latter a nice one to square leg off Badcock. He was at the wickets over two and a-half hours.

Galland’s 60 was made in three-quar-ters &a hour, and he wag bftsy all

the time. Some of his drives were beautiful strokes, and 'he hit a 6 in the same over as that in-which Alloo hit his. Besides this he got eight 4’s. it was the sort of cricket that spectators enjoy. He was out immediately after 200 was hoisted, Beard swinging in with the new ball, which Galland skied. It may be said that the boundary on one side was rather a short one, this accounting for the large number of 6’s hit in the match.

Vorrath got going nicely, when M'Girr got a fast one past him, the youngster playing back to it. Elmes got 22 quite well, but was badly missed at square leg a few mintes before his actual dismissal. He played a ball from Badcock on to his wicket.

Douglas, like Cherry earlier in the innings, failed to stay, but Torrance was breezy and followed the example of the top scorers, going out to the bowling and driving hard. There w r ere seven 4’s and. two 3’s in hfs score of 39, which shows the strength of his strokes. . With nine down for 311 and Eastman absent, the innings was practically, closed, but a mystery player appeared and helped to add 33 for the last wicket. Ho made 8 by some good placing shots of full tosses. This player turned out to bo E. S. Wilson, the manager of the Otago team, who was allowed to bat to fill the place of Eastman. .

Badcock howled very well, especially in the earlier stages, when he was swinging awkwardly, but the vigorous batting of most of the Otago men made all the bowling look easy. A pleasing feature of the tour has been the splendid fielding of our men; they were always keen, and though catches were dropped on occasions, Otago were not singular in this respect, all their opponents making similar mistakes. It has been an-enjoyable and instructive time for all concerned. The Wellington cricketers and officials, like those of Auckland, treated the visitors most hospitably.