SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 21916, 31 December 1934, Page 10

SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO V. AUCKLAND

HOME SIDE BATS Otago’s second Plunket Shield engagement of the season was commenced at Carisbrook this morning against Auckland (present holders of the shield). The ground looked a picture, though last night’s rain served to slow up the outfield. The wicket was covered, and although a little water apparently managed to get under the covers, more particularly at the Cargill road end, the pitch was in good order and for the start was slow and easy, though under the drying influence of the sun and breeze there was a possibility of it becoming a little more difficult. Messrs A. Downes and W. Maokersey were the umpires. Badcock won the toss, and OtagoX opened with Cavanagh and Saxton, the former facing.Cowie, right-handed fastmedium bowler, who operated from the pavilion end, and sent down a goodlength over for a maiden. Matheson, right-hand fast-medium, had charge of the attack at the other end, and Saxton, starting confidently, square-cut him nicely for a single. The same player turned Cowie to leg for a brace, and after running a bye Saxton square-cut Matheson for a single, Cavanagh driving him the covers for a pair. Although getting no help from the wicket', Cowie and Matheson were both bowling well and sent down, successive maidens, Saxton leg-glancing Cowie for a neat brace which was all the over produced. Cavanagh pulled Matheson to the square-leg boundary to bring 10 up after twenty-two minutes’ play, Saxton cut Matheson to third man for a single, and’ Cavanagh also found a gap through the slips for a neat single. The same batsman scored a single with a shot off Cowie, and Saxton turned him to leg for a Bush spelled Matheson at the Cargill road end, and Cavanagh signalised the change by driving his first through the covers to the boundary, running into double figures. . . Cavanagh played Bush’s mediumpace deliveries confidently, and squarecut him, for a single. ; At 28 Townsend relieved Cowie, and commenced howling round the wicket. With his second hall he secured Cavanagh’s dismissal ■lbw. 28—1—13. Uttley was the incomer, and started with a single to square leg. Facing Bush, Uttley brought 30 up by legglancing him for a single, and Saxton reached double figures by turning Townsend nicely to leg for a i single. Bush sent him back to the pavilion soon afterwards, tempting him with a ball pitched outside the off stump. Saxton cut it into Whitelaw’s hands in the slips, the catch being accepted. 32—2 10. , , Elmes partnered Uttley - and began with a brace down the gully off Bush. He drove Townsend through the covers to the boundary, and 40. appeared soon afterwards. There was now a large crowd of spectators present, and the attendance further increased towards lunch. Uttley had a row of singles to his credit, but Elmes, with his score at 7, had a “ life,” being dropped in the slips by Matheson’ off Bush, a simple enough chance. Elmes drove the next to cover for a single." Elmes reached 10 with an easy stroke past mid-on for one off Bush, this being the only run 'scored during the over. Townsend sent 1 down a quiet over in the course of which the batsmen picked out only three singles, and then Bush followed with a maiden. Neither batsman was taking any chance with the bowling, and play was very dreary until, Elmes raised 50 (in 61 minutes) by square-cutting Bush for 2 _ following this up with a good off-drive _ which became a four through misfielding by •Wallace.- Uttley scored a brace with a crisp leg shot off the same bowler, and Elmes, when facing Townsend, ran into the twenties with a stylish off-drive. At 58 Cowie replaced Bush -at the Cargill road end, his fourth delivery proving fatal to Elmes, who mistimed the hall and cocked it up into the hands of Vivian at cover. 63—3—22.

Badcock, the incomer, left Cowie’s off stuff alone for a while', but eventually broke his duck ” by beautifully square-cutting this bowler to the grandstand pickets. The, next ball was travelling fast almost in the same direction, but Vivian earned applause by stopping a hot one in great style. Badcock then found a gap through-covers, the leather again rattling the grandstand pickets. Townsend sent down a maiden to Uttley and Badcock reached 10 and brought the total to 70 with two off Cowie.

A little later Badcock was enthusiastically cheered for hoisting a ball : from Townsend clean over the grandstand on to the street—a spectacular shot from a ball pitched only slightly to leg. His next few strokes were more subdued, but nevertheless, the coach, in ' characteristically bright fashion, had reached 20 in 13 minutes. Bush relieved Cowie, and he and Townsend ' had a quiet over apiece, Vivian being conspicuous for smart fielding. , Badcock again reached the fence with a stroke through the covers, carrying on with a pull to leg to the boundary. Ninety up—Badcock 30. An unusual incident followed «in Townsend’s next over. Badcock had another exuberant smite at the Auckland coach, and Mills took a great catch close to the grand, stand fence.Badcock, who was walkink -off, had nearly reached the gate when the shouts of the crowd, some of- whom evidently thought that Mills was actually off the ground when he took the catch, caused some uncertainty, and Badcock walked back towards the wicket. The umpire’s decision, however settled the matter, and the Otago skipper again- had to turn his face to the dressing room, some half-hearted “ booing ” - following the verdict. 93-4-32. , - 1 , „ Leader, the new man in, shaped well from the outset, raising 100 (in 100 minutes) with a sweet square-cut for 4. Cowie came on again in place of Bush, but Townsend, who had howled unchanged for thirteen overs, remained on Uttley travelled along at a fanpace, scoring from judiciously placed singles and twos, while Leader quietened down. Shortly before the luncheon adjournment Matheson had his first turn with the hall, coming on m place of Cowie, who came down to the other end and gave Townsend a rest. At the adjournment the score was 110 for the loss of four wickets. Resuming after the luncheon adjournment, Matheson took up the attack from the Cargill road end, and Uttley played him carefully for an over. Townsend operated from the other end, and Leader glanced him to fine leg for 3. The bowling was steady but not particularly dangerous, and Leader reached double figures by playing Matheson nicely through the coiers for a hi ace. He square cut Matheson for a single, and facing Townsend obtained a brace

down the gully, on-driving the professional for another brace. Uttley was taking no chances whatever, and Matheson bowled a- maiden to him. The rate of scoring was slow, but Leader secured a brace off Townsend with a nice shot backward of point. Uttley broke his scoreless spell by driving Matheson to cover for a single, which made him 20. The wicket was playing well and presenting little difficulty to the batsmen. Uttley forced one from Townsend between square-leg and mid-on for a brace, and repeated the stroke for another two. A straight drive by Uttley added only one, the umpire calling one short. Matheson was bowling with more pace than in the morning, and one delivery got up nastily and struck Uttley on the body. Uttley off-drove Matheson for a single and square-cut Townsend for a single, hoisting 130. Leader drove Townsend to long-on for 3, and 2 came from Matheson’s next, over. At 2.15 135 runs showed for the loss of four wickets—Uttley 35 not but, Leader 22 not out. Details;— OTAGO. —First Innings.— V. G. Cavanagh Ibw b Townsend ... 13 C. Saxton c Whitelaw b Bush ... 10 K. Uttley not out 28 C. Elmes c Vivian b Cowie 22 F. T. Badcock c Mills b Townsend 32 V. Leader not out 22 Extras ... ... 8 Total for four wickets ... 135 CANTERBURY V. WELLINGTON SOUTHERNERS BATTING (Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH,,December 31. The Plunket Shield match Canterbury v. .Wellington commenced on Lancaster Park this morning in ideal conditions. Canterbury took strike, Kerr and Bellamy opening the batting. They began confidently, and runs came at a steady pace. Bellamy drew applause when he cracked the first ball from Tricklebank to the leg boundary. .Bellamy was in good form, cover driving beautifully. With the total at 26 Kerrput his foot in front of. the wicket in an attempt to kook Tricklebank; the ball hit his pads and he was out for 9. Cromb joined Bellamy, and the pair carried on steadily, and 50 came up m 55 minutes. Bellamy took the total to 91 when Cromb tapped an easy catch to Morgan close in on the leg side off Blundell. Cromb made a useful 40. Page,scored a single, and then glided Symes for Tindall to take a, bright catch on the leg side. 92—3—1, Bellamy and Oliver earned on till lunch, when the total was 107 for three wickets, , Scores:—

CANTERBURY. First- Innipgs. Kerr Ibw b Tricklebank ... 9 Bellamy not out ... ... 46 Cromb c Morgan b Blundell 40 Page c Tindill b Symes ... 1 Oliver not out 3 Extras ... ... ° Total for three wickets ... 107