PLUNKET SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 23495, 8 February 1940, Page 5

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO V. WELLINGTON MATCH BEGINS TO-MORROW To-morrow at Carisbrook will begin the last Plunket Shield match of the season, when Wellington will meet Otago, While most of the interest has gone out of the competition by reason of the fact that Auckland has already established itself as the champion province for 1939-40, it is quite likely that followers of the game will be- regaled with some good cricket. Among the visiting players there is T. L. Pritchard, Vho has, during the last season or two, ranked as one of the two best fast bowlers in the Dominion and one whom' many critics consider better than J. Cowie, of Auckland:. When Otago played Wellington last season at Wellington Pritchard was deadly in the first innings of 118 and took seven wickets for 32. In the second innings of 161, however, he claimed only one victim at a cost of 48 runs. Pritchard was seen in action at Carisbrook two years ago, when he was not successful, taking but one wicket in each innings. This was a close and interesting match, and was won by Otago by 24 runs. Also in the Wellington team are Ongley and Rainbird, who each scored a century against Otago’s bowling last season, but neither has done a great deal since. Tindill, the New Zealand wicket-keeper-batsman, is another wellknown player whose performance will be watched with interest, while Airey’s hard hitting and Ashenden’s bowling are sure to attract attention. In last year’s match against Otago Ashenden took six for 44 in the second innings. The Otago team is the best that could be chosen on current form, and in spite of an apparent weakness in bowling should give a good account of themselves. It is a stronger combination than that which travelled north at Christmas time, and there is no reason why, on the familiar Carisbrook wicket, the batsmen should not score heavily. In Moloney, Fraser, ißobertson, Cutler, Cameron, and Toorney the side has potential run-getters of a high order, with Elmes, Leader, and Chettleburgh as sound all-round players, while Mills as a wicket-keeper-batsman and Lemin as a bowler complete a fully representative side. The match is really one to decide which province will be compelled to accept the “ wooden spoon ” in the shield competition, and this should lend 1 zest to the efforts of the players. Play will begin at 11 on each day of the four set down for the match and continue until 6, with a luncheon adjournment between 1 and 1.45.