PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20397, 31 January 1930, Page 12

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO V. WELLINGTON

VISITORS BAT In fine weather, the Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Otago was commenced at Carisbrook this morning Notable defections from the Wellington side were Dempster and James, while Blunt and Dickinson were absentees from the Otago, eleven. The wicket, was easy, but under the drying influences of the wind it should become a good deal faster as tho day wears on. The outfield, however, was dead. Lowry won the toss, Wellington taking strike. Messrs W, M. Beal and A. Downes wore the umpires. Baker and Foley opened Wellington’s innings at 11 a.m., the former facing Dunning, who bonded from the Cargill road end. Dunning’s third delivery Baker glided nicely to fine leg for 4, but the next ball ho snicked into Knight’s hands in the slips, the Grange man holding a low catch. 4 I_4. Hollings ivas tho incomer, and played out tho over. Elmes bonded from the other cud, and Foley opened with a single. Dunning was coming up off the pitch, and Ids next over was a maiden. Hollings despatched Elmes to square-leg for 3, Foley driving him for a short single, Dunning was keeping a steady length, and bowled his second successive maiden, Hollings notched a lucky one off Elmes, 10 being hoisted after fifteen minutes’ play. Hollings was scoring tho faster of the pair, Foley adopting careful tactics in an endeavour to play himself in. Hollings glided Dunning to leg for a single, and, facing Elmes, he executed a perfect square cut for 2, the ball being pulled up short of the boundary by the,slowness of the outfield. Hollings off-drovo Elmes for a single, Foley driving Elmos to the off for 1. Ho notched another 1 with a leg pull off Dunning, and Hollings patted the Carisbrook man down the gully for a single. Elmes was swinging away to leg, and two loose ones in succession Hollings banged to the square-leg _ boundary. With tho total at 25 Lemin displaced Dunning at the Workshops end, and a leg bye gave Hollings the bowling again, the over being a rraiden. Dunning came on again at the pavilion ena in place of Elmes, who had taken none for 18. Foley being disinclined to take risks against steady bowling, tho over was a maiden. Hollings addel 1 to third man off Lemin, but otherwise the over was fruitless. Up to this stage Otago’s fielding had been keen, runs being fairly hard to get. Dunning was bowling the leg theory, but Hollings glided him for a single to fine log, reaching 20 with a cover hit for 1 off Lemin ,_ who was bowling accurately and keeping a good length. Foley’s run of singles continued, and 30 appeared with 1 to fine leg. The batsmen were unable to take liberties with Lemin, who bowled his second successive maiden, his four overs having produced only 3 runs. He was swinging, a bit, and was right on the wicket.

Hollings hooked Dunning for 1, which was the only run off the oyer, Dunning, too, bowling very steadily. Hollings drove Lorain to cover for 1, and facing the medium-pace bowler again, square-cut him for ]. Hollings was restrained facing Dunning, but he notched a single off Leniiu with a pietty late out. Alloo replaced Dunning "at 37, bowling a maiden. Foley relieved a spell of quiet play with a single to fine leg off Lenlin, and Hollings drove to cover for another 1. Hollings chopped Alloo for a single, and Moloney replaced Lorain, whoso seven overs had produced 8 runs. Hollings drove the slow bowler through the covers for a single, and patted Alloo down the gully for 1. Light rain was falling, and Hollings drove Moloney to deep cover for 1, Foley turning him to square leg for another single. Hollings got into the thirties with another drive to cover, and Foley added a single. Driving Alloo to the off for. a couple, Foley entered double figures after over an hour’s play. A full tosser from Moloney Hollings despatched to the square-leg boundary, and in the next over Foley drove Alloo through the, covers for 4; but, facing Moloney, he refused to he tempted by the latter’s slow breaks, only one coming from the over. # A curious happening took place in the next over, Hollings making a shot to fine leg off Alloo. .As he commenced to run his foot slipped and the bail was dislodged, the spectators thinking for a moment that Hollings had hit the wicket. The ball went soaring to the boundary. Foley made a weak shot to rn off break from Moloney, dragging it on to the wickets. 61—2—15. Foley batted eighty-one minutes. Lowry joined Hollings and started with a single, Hollings glancing Moloney to square leg for 4, bringing him into the forties.

The rate of scoring quickened, Hollings driving Moloney to cover for a single. Lowr.v drove hard to the off boundary, and followed with a 4 through the covers. Himes came on again with the score at 72, Lowry offdriving him for a single. Three more runs came from the over, and when Lomin went on again Rollings was bowled off his pads off the first delivery. 76—3—40. Hollings was at the wickets for ninety' minutes.

Cameron became associated with his skipper, and started by late-cutting Lemin for 1. Lowr.v square-cut him for 1, and patted Elmes down the gully for a single, reaching double figures after thirteen minutes’ play. Lemin bowled a maiden to Lowry and Elmes, maintaining a better length, kept Cameron quiet, also bowling a maiden. Rain was now falling steadily, sawdust having to bo requisitioned. Lowry glided Lemon to fine leg for 4, and secured a brace through the covers.

Otago’s fielding had been good at the start, but it became a trifle slack in places, some poor returns being made to the wickets. Both batsmen weiro being kept fairly quiet for a time. Limes bowling a maiden. Lemin was no-balled in the nest over, and Lowry hit him to cover for 1. A oye was run, and Cameron faced Dunning, who was brought on again in place of Elmes. Cameron sent him whizzing through the’ covers for 4, hoi; ting HO. He straight-drove the Carisbrook man to the pickets, and rattled the fence witli a .splendidlytimed off drive, which brought the hundred up after 113 minutes’ play. Lowry , put his legs in front to Lemin, and was out Ibw. 100—4—17. The luncheon adjournment was then taken, Cameron being 13. Lemin’s average at this stage was two wickets for 17 runs. AFTERNOON’S PLAY. During the luncheon adjournment the president of the Otago Cricket Association (Mr G. A. Mycherley) extended an informal welcome to the members of the Wellington team, the manager (Mr W. Clmstopherson) returning thanks on behalf of the visitors. Wiien play was resinned at l.oL) M'Girr, the incomer, faced Lemin, opening with a single. Elmes bowled from the pavilion end, M'Girr square cutting him for one# Ono camp irom

a leg bye, Cameron notching a single off Lemhi with a nice shot to third man. Elraes was bowling steadily, Cameron playing a maiden to the lefthander. M'Girr leg glanced Lomin for a brace, and made a good stroke through the covers to the boundary - . Elmes bowled another maiden, and M'Girr cut Lomin square for a single, which was the only outcome of the over. M'Girr reached the boundary with a powerful off drive off Elmes, the next being driven to the on for one. Cameron scored 3, and a shortpitched ball M'Girr despatched to the leg boundary, 18 runs coming from the over. The first ball of Lemin’s next over Cameron edged into Elmos’s hands at first slip. 1235—17. BVnrd partnered M'Girr, and opened his account with a single, the rain causing an adjournment at 2.14, five wickets being down for 124. Details:— WELLINGTON. —First Innings.— W.- Baker b Knight b Dunning ... 4 H. Foley b Bloloney 15 A. 81. Hollings b Lemin 40 T. C. Lowry Ibw b Lomin ... ... 17 D. Cameron c Elmes b Lemin ... 17 H. 81. M'Girr not out 18 S. Ward pot out 1 Extras 6 Total (for 5 wickets) ... 124