DOUBLE CENTURY TO BLUNT

Evening Star, Issue 20109, 25 February 1929, Page 11

DOUBLE CENTURY TO BLUNT

BIG CRICKET AT CARISBROOK OTAGO IN STRONG POSITION This morning's piny in the Plunket Shield cricket match between Canterbury and Otago leaves the homo'side in a strong winning position—especially so if the weather is favourable. Owing to the possibility of a steady shower today many anxious faces were turned up this morning towards the heavens, but ns the gamo went on and tho heavy clouds dissolved, tho enthusiasts lost themselves in the spectacle of the Otago batsmen increasing steadily their useful week-end tally. Carisbrook was all that a cricket ground should be. As was only natural, tho resuming batsmen, Blunt and Cavanagh, started quietly. Indeed, Cavanagh could scarcely do otherwise, for it was some time before he found himself able to get at the bowling wit!) any degree of confidence. Later, he revealed some of his best strokes, and proved himself a useful batsman. Two chances, one an easy one, were bad marks against him. Blunt quickly ran into form, his footwork and the quick manner in which he picked up tho ball proving a delight to the spectators. To send down anything loose to Blunt was fatal. .His flashing bat again and again sent tho ball careering to all points of tho boundary. There was power and wrist work in'all bis strokes, and never any undue effort that could bo noticed. The attainment of his double century was loudly cheered. Canterbury used many bowlers, Merritt, Newman, Roberts, Page, Cunningham, and Harris all trying a band at the leather. Merritt and Burns between them secured their third wicket when the keeper oi the stumps was directly responsible tor Cavanagh’s dismissal.' Newman, keeping a consistent length, was the most impressive trundJer'of the morning, but Page also sent up some balls that required careiul watching. Canterbury’s ground fielding was beyond reproach. .1) anything, Merritt was more effective when bowling paviliouwards. THE PLAY. Blunt (PH) and Cavanagh (it renamed their strikes against tho bowling of Merritt and Newman, and Blunt scored a nice 2 oft Merritt s first over. Newman gave Cavanagh an uncomfortable over, hut Blunt, when facing Merritt again, reached the grandstand and pickets with a whizzer to leg. Cavanagh and Blunt each notched a single olf Newman, and Cavanagh sent tho bowler to the leg fence off the last ball. Merritt had not quite found his favourite spqts, but Newman, who had only two slips, one very deep, was coming in dangerously from the off. In Merritt s next over Cavanagh, when 7, gave an easy chance to Newman at mid-off, but the fieldsman dropped it, and Cavanagh followed up his “ Hie ” with a 4, the result of an overthrow. Then Blunt walloped Newman to tho leg boundary. With the exception of a rather lucky cut for 4 by Blunt oft Newman, tho two succeeding overs were quite tranquil. Then Cavanagh had a go at a loose leg ball from Merritt, only a, piece of excellent one-banded fielding by Roberts saving a -1. The same, batsman won applause by flashing Newman to the fence via tho_ covers. He followed it up with a single in the same direction. Merritt was bowling himself into his wily mood, ajld during one over in which lie kept -Cavanagh jigging, the batsman, when 19, gave a difficult low catch to Hamilton, standing close up in slips. Blunt square-cut Newman for a. single, and Cavanagh, for a similar reward, poked a loose ball round to short leg. TV bon facing Merritt again Cavanagh displayed neat footwork in pulling an offball to the boundary past mid-on. Ho came again with a brace in the same quarter, and after Blunt bad helped himself to a single he had the bowling once more. Newman’s over produced a 4 in byes. . Roberts took the ball From Merritt, Blunt and Cavanagh hitting him for a couple of singles apiece. Newman, who was bowling particularly well, kept on trundling. He and Roberts had only 2 scored off their next overs, the batsmen being content to tqjfc) things easy. Powell, by a good piety of picking up, saved a sure 4 from the blade of Blunt, but the Carisbrook man had better Judy in finding a gap on leg side when facing Roberts. Another 4 was recorded when he glanced the bowler neatly to the. fence. .Later Blunt found himself facing tho bowling of Page, who relieved Roberts. A maiden resulted. Cunningham relieved Newman at the workshops end, and his first ball was sent to the boundary by Blunt, who was now going well. By turning Cunningham nicely to leg for 4, Blunt brought his total to 150 and the side s total to 400, which was hoisted m 3B‘ minutes. Blunt had been at the crease for 232 minutes, and his scorn surpassed any of his previous efforts in Plunket Shield matches. Cunningham’s next ball was a bounty; it just shaved Blunt’s wicket and sailed to the fence for 4 byes. While Cavangh was not shaping at all well. Blunt was scoring quickly, and some great shots cams from his bat. A full toss from Merritt, who'had relieved Cunningham, was released to the boundary by a nice leg shot by Blunt, and this score made the I,oooth run for the match. When Otago’s total reached 439 Cavanagh was smartly stumped bv Burns off a “ wrong-un ” from Merritt. 439 —4—38. . • . . In Page’s next over, Dickinson, who had mange’d to score a single, was given out Ibw 4405—1. . Galland opened his account by dnving Page to the fence through the covers. On the arrival of the new bn 11, Harris was given a trial, but his swingers on the off failed to tempt Blunt, who was approaching the .double century mark. By scoring two successive 4’s off Harris and one off Cunningham, Blunt reached 200. jiia time being 4h 35min. Another delightful square cut to the fence and then Blunt gave a difficult chance be mid the sticks, hut Burns failed to hold it. Merritt was brought on for flic last over before lunch, but in attempting to stop a return from Galland, he injured his hand, and the adjournment was then taken. On returning to the pavilion it was found that Merritt had received a severe knock on the upper part of the thumb, and ho is not likely to bowl again tq-day. In o scores were as follow: CANTERBURY. First innings OTAGO. Fiist innings —Second Innings.— H C. Alloo st Burns b' Merritt ... 29 Shepherd st Burns b_ Merritt ... 06 M'Miillan c Pago b Newman .... Blunt not out ••• ••• Cavanagh st Burns b Merritt ... 3o Dickinson Ibw b Pago 4 Galland not >out Extras 4 ' Total for five wickets 490