PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20109, 25 February 1929, Page 5

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

CHEAT OTAGO PARTNERSHIP HOME TEAM SETTING CANTERBURY A TASK The most of Saturday afternoon saw Otago putting up a great fight in tho Plunkct Shield match between Otago and Canterbury, and at the conclusion of the day’s play Otago gave every promise of putting up a good score. Blunt and M‘M.uilan were tho stalwarts of the Otago side, and their partnership was a meritorious one. Shepherd's knock was a most inspiring one. For his 53 lie had been at the crease for sixty-three minutes, during which Lime he showed some of, his true form. Ho played carefully, and at the same time showed no hesitation in laying on tho wood. He collected his runs mostly by drives, but many delightful shots to all parts of the field were also included. - His return to the pavilion was signalised by a hearty ovation from the crowd, -which at this -a-age had swelled to several thousands. .U'Mnllan partnered AI 100, and tho score mounted to t?U, both batsmen (.laying steadily. The Canterbury field work was particularly good, and several flayers were accorded applause tor smart fielding. Alice's end cam© when be missed a ‘' wrong ’uir” from Merritt and was stumped bv Burns, yo—2—29.

Blunc partnered M'Mullan, who continued quietly with singles. Tho field was well placed, and the batsmen had to work tor their runs. 'Hie fielding was exceptionally good. . Cunningham presented (Jtago with four no-balls, and M'Mullan, brought tip the hundred in eighty-live minutes, with a nice leg stroke. Pago now had a turn with the ball, one being scored off his first over. Merritt was sending down some tricky balls, and required very careful watching. Blunt hit him for a short single, and. bad Roberts made a decent return, M'Mullan would probably have been out. Blunt presented a solid front to Merritt, playing carefully, and attempting to get nothing away. M'Mullan adopted similar tactics, and three maidens were bowled in succession, but in the next over .Blunt hit two singles off f'age. Blunt reached double figures in twenty-five minutes, M'Mullan taking thirty-eght minutes to reach that milestone. "Blunt then got in a couple of nice boundary cuts, Jus second 11) taking about ten minutes. Blunt Kepton confidently, and made a boautilnl stroke to the leg boundary; then M'Mullan drove a splendid boundary to the long Held. .Newman relieved Page at the pavilion end, and 3 were scored by 'M'Mullan olf his first over. Blunt then sent Merritt to..the log boundary, bringing up bis 30. Hams was tried with the ball, but tho batsmen were not afraid ol him, though they played carefully. When Blunt was lit, and the total 1(35, he hit a ball direct to Hajmilton, but he was dropped. Merritt took over from Harris in the last over before lea, and Blunt sent him nicely to tho leg boundary.

Newman and Harris resumed the attack after tea, and in the third over M'Mullan drove Newman twice in succession to tho long field boundary, bringing up his 40. lu the next over M'Mullan hit another long boundary, which Merritt allowed to go through his Jegs. .Both batsmen wcrc_ playing great cricket, their strokes being very (precise. A splendid square cut to the boundary brought the score to Iff), and then a single called tor hearty applause, the 200 having taken 101 minutes. M’Mullan had passed Blunt with a rush, and his 50 appeared after 101 minutes at the crease. Both men were fairly well set, and Blunt 'brought up his 50 in niuely-tivo minutes '.villi a cut to tho boundary, the total being 210.

The crowd was very appreciative, and each stroke of the batsmen was heartily applauded. Tho fieldsmen, too, fame in for their share of recognition, and they thoroughly deserved it. Although they laid been kept well on the move, their efforts never relaxed tor a moment.

Roberts, who was so siicccsslnl on Friday, was brought on, and he hem led an excellent length, hut failed to shift the, batsmen. Another double change was made in the attack, .Merritt and Page, coming on _ again. M'Mullan hoisted 2511 by driving tho young Canterbury “googly” lor a single. Both M'Mullan ami Blunt wore giving a. sparkling display and delighting the spectators with some groat shots. Iho Grand lelt-hander received an ovation as lie hit Pago over the fence for a 6, bringing his score to *73. Despite frequent changes in the bowling the batsmen released the ball to the boundary repeatedly. Blunt overtook the century mark by square cutting Newman to the fence amid great excitement. _Ho had been at the crease for lot) minutes, during which time lie had given only one real chance. M'Miillau reached the ninety mark and was playing cautiously for the coveted century, but when !)5 ho hit one up to page at point off .Newman and rc'uriied to the pavilion amid great applause. His partnership with Blunt was productive of 221 rims, falling short of the third wicket partnership record in Plunkot Shield cricket by only 1. run. Altogether M'Mullan had jiit thirteen 4’s and one (i, and he never gave a single chance. 31.1—3—95. Cavamtgh joined Blunt and played patiently until stumps were drawn _at 5.40, an appeal against tiio light being upheld. Details] — CANTERBURY. First innings 300 OTAGO. First innings ... 273 Second Innings. H. C. Alloo st Burns b Merritt ... 20 J. S. Shepherd st Burns b Merritt 53 ,1. M'Mullan c Rage h Newman ... 05 R. C. Blunt not out 104 V. G. Cavanagh not out 1 Extras ■■■ 31 Total for three wickets ... 313 Rowling Analysis. Newman. 29 overs, 6 maidens, 73 runs, 1 wicket; Cunningham, (5 overs, 0 maidens, IS rims, 0 wickets; Merritt, 32 overs, 5 maidens, 81 rims, 2 wickets; Roberts, 12 overs, 1 maiden, 40 rims, 0 wickets; Page, 15 overs, 3 maidens, 47 runs, 0 wickets; Harris, 7 overs, 0 maidens, 23 runs, 0 wickets.