PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 23497, 10 February 1940, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

EIGHTEEN WICKETS FALL NOT AN INSPIRING DAY BUT THE WIND WAS TO BLAME It was no day for cricket: and- both the; Otago ,and AVcllmgtou players -were, entitled to sympathy . having to engage m a Plmikct folnc match—even though it was,only to decide the ownership ot the wooden spoon” for this season—.with the wind blowing almost at gale force tor the greater part of: the. day. the playeis declared that, strangely enough, the least affected object was the ball, the greatest inconvenience being the oimculty which they themselves found in keeping steady on their feet. In the circumstances, a too critical review- of the play would perhaps not ho quite fair. True, the display ot the Otago batsmen was disappointing. Aot one of the team got properly going on a wicket which was as true as a Carishrook wicket is capable ot being, and this is saving a lot. The Wellington bowling, too, was not of such a deadly type as to satisfactorily account tor the dismissal of Otago’s strongest batting side for 138 runs. 1 No. on the day, it was a feeble display, and, as Wellington did not do a very great deal better-when its turn came to bat, we must attribute the, cause not to the batsmen “ getting the wind up, but to the wind . getting ; the batsmen down. Eighteen wickets tell in less than six hours. of play for 329 runs, an average of 18 runs pex* wicket. FEW HIGHLIGHTS. The highlights connected with the proceedings were so few that, although it cannot be described as a “blackout,” the clay’s cricket was very ordinary.: We have, seen much better and far more entertaining _ play . at some of pur club matches this season. However, again, do not let us bjarae the twenty-two players who represent the cream of Otago and Wo! ling ton cricket, but rather lay the charge of turning that cream Into skim-milk against the wretched _ weather. OTAGO’S BATSMEN. Harold Cameron, Otago’s top scorer, batted brigthly, and it was tb> see him using the same quick-scoring

tactics as those which he employs in club games. As in the case of almost every other batsman, who took the crease yesterday, his rniis were made mainly in front of the wicket or, when that was not the case, on the leg side. Ho was fortunate in that he was clean bowled by a no-bail —and a trimmer—from Pritchard when only 4. Cameron did not hear the call and was walking away from the wickets when ho was told of his good luck. Robertson was in a dour_ mood: ho had to bo with wickets falling at the other end. The Dunedin skipper presented a solid bat-front for 64 minutes, during which be accumulated only 17 runs. He was out to a catch by the wicket-keeper, standing back, from the merest touch; indeed it was a tribute to tho umpire’s keen sense of heaving that lie detected, amid the gusty surroundings," the fatal connection. Leader also got 17, and much more quickly than Robertson got his. Coverdriving was, as usual, his pot stroke. Moloney, who opened the innings with Robertson, at once' gave tho impression that he hod at last brought Ins club - form into ' big cricket ; but ho placed a bad stroke at a plain fast shortish hall from Pritchard and lost his middle stump. Cutler, Fraser, Toomey, and Mills all got into double figures, but not .far, and ail aroused hopes of something better than that which they ultimately achieved. Elmos and Chettleburgh made poor strokes and deserved to got out. Otago’s innings occupied 150 minutes, which is not fast scoring. PRITCHARD A GOOD BOWLER. As for the Wellington bowling, one could not discern anything particularly deadly in it. Pritchard certainly has pace and impresses one with his ability to maintain that pace. On yesterday s wicket, however, ho was unable to make ■the ball lift, and his chief menace was in the fact that he came at different heights and different paces off the wicket. Yet Pritchard is undoubtedly a (rood bowler. Ho takes a long run ol over 20 yards and hurtles them m in true express style. The best of the other bowlers really appeared to bo Ashenden, although he got only one wicket. He turned the ball more than any of the others and had to be carefully watched. Wilson kept a good l length and also used the off-break, but less consistently. His average was a rather, flattering, one. M’Leod used only these three bowlers, the conditions making it unnecessary to bring on the new slow bowler White. Wellington’s fielding was sound and Tindill did not allow a bye, 12 of the 13 extras being leg byes and the other a no-ball.

ONGLEY THE STAR. Tindill also batted well in making the top score of 40 rims. Ho did not display a groat variety of strokes, however, and scored tlie majority ot his runs between square and lino leg, or thereabouts! Ho was badly missed in the slips by Elmos when 26, and hit only two boundaries while at the wickets for 105 minutes. Easily tho most attractive innings was that by Ongley, who was rather foolishly run out after making 37. This batsman ■has stylo, and his stroke-making was done with ease and finish. Ho found tho gaps nicely, and hit five 4’s during his stay ot just an hour—and two or three flashing cover-drives were delightful. Aircy (30j hits hard, there is no doubt of that. His two 6's in. one over of Moloney’s (an over which cost 20 runs) were mighty smites. Aircy iw a left-hander and a big fellow, and ho uses his height and weight to advanr tage. M’Leod (31 not out) is another left-hander, but not so aggressive, though towards the end of his partnership with Aircy he laid the wood on. Of the other double-figure scorers— Hainbird (13), du Chateau (14), and Wilson (16) —Wilson was the most impressive, though Hainbird made some well-placed leg shots. -Tho Wellington runs were got in just about even time, that rate being maintained throughout No fewer than five of the visitors are left-hand batsmen—Tindill, M’Leod, du Chateau, Aircy, and White. OTAGO’S STEADY ATTACK. Lemin and Elmos did the bulk of the bowling. Tho former kept an excellent length, and for tho first few overs was quite awkward. Towards the end he was just “ straight-up-and-down,” but his good length made it necessary for tho batsmen to , watch him. Elmos, who came out with the best figures, got more variety out of the wicket than did the. others, and maintained his length well. Leader,, as usual, was useful, and secured two wickets. The attack generally was steady rather than hostile. Otago fielded well and were always alert. The midway fieldsmen, however, were placed just a little too deen, enabling tho batsmen to take niSite a number of singles which should never have been got. WELLINGTON'S INNINGS. After our report closed yesterday Wellington opened its innings at 2.38 p.m. with Tindill and Wrigley, Lemin bowling to tho former, who placed the first ball to leg for a brace. Three more runs were added, but the last ball of the over bowled Wrigley, who played back and was beaten. s—l—l. Rahibird filled tho breach, and Robert-

son took the ball at the other end. He appeared to be swinging away xrom Tindill, a left-hander. The over was a maiden. Singles and an otf-drivo to the boundary by Tin-dill brought up -id in 20 minutes. At 28 Leader relieved Robertson, and the batting was steady, runs coming mainly Irom shots to leg. An appeal by Lemin lor Jbw against Rainbird was negatived, but a tew minutes later another appeal by tuo same bowler was successful. 41—2 —18. Ongley was next in. When ho was 26, Tindill was badly missed by Elmes at first slip off Lemin. This was bad luck for his fellow-Grango man, who was bowling very well indeed, I' nty came up in oven time. Ongley drove Leader gracefully to the on boundary, and Robertson was brought back, this time operating from the railway end. The next change brought on Limes, vice Leader, at 01. The cricket was by no moans of the sparkling order, and at the tea adjournment the score was only 68 (Tindill 31, Ongley 17). The only bright spots about the cricket after tea were provided by Ongley, who made a couple of sweet strokes oft' Lemin, one cover drive being perfectly timed. 80 coming up in 80 minutes. Onglev placed one uppish ly through the slips to the fence, which made him 30. ONGLEY RUN OUT. The score was 97 when Moloney took the hall from Lemin, the field spreading out. This brought about a muelineeded operation, but it was by a run out, Ongley backing up too tar and being well out of his crease when Leader returned the ball to the bowler. The partnership had added 57 runs. 98 —3—37. . . . Soon after du Chateau joined luidill, the latter went down the pitch to Elmes, missed, and was out Ibw. JJ—--4 40. Wilson came in and took the rest of the over. Lemin came back at the railway end for Moloney, who bad bowled only one over. The 100 came up in 108 minutes. An ‘ iffish lour to du Chateau, a left-hander, and a much better one to Wilson, and tho score was 10 runs nearer that of Otago. Wilson, with his long reach, made some nice, sweeping strokes. Lemin, having bowled IT oyejrs in all, gave way to Moloney, and du Chateau did not manage him any too well, but ho scored a single olf the last ball. In Elmes’s next over Wilson wcnt, well caught by Robertson close in at slips. 123—5—16, 1 M‘Leod, the visiting captain, was next, and the score was taken to 130, when du Chateau, playing back to Elmes, had his stumps scattered). Ho had made 14. Airey, the big fellow with the reputation for hitting, nllecll the vacancy. M'Lcod did not do anything with Moloney’s next ' over, nor could Airey with Elmos. AIREY HITS HARD. Airey opened) out to Moloney, a 4 and a single bringing the score level with Otago’s total of 138, in 147 minutes. M‘Leod also “had a dip,and smote the slow bowler for a straight 4. A couple of smart singles, and M‘Leod reached double figures.- A hard square drive by Airey made Fraser’s fingers tingle, but ho saved the 4. M’Leod made up tho deficiency with a lusty straight drive, and a couple of balls later Airey lifted Moloney well up the tferrace for 6. This stroke the big fellow repeated three balls later. Both batsmen were now applying the willow with some force, and Lemin once more operated from Moloney’s end, Leader relieving Elmes at the other. The first ball Airey clipped -to the fence through the covers, but the next he sent hard and low to Toomey •at backward point, the fieldsman taking a fine catch while 7—30, In the same over, Pritchard, the newcomer, was bowled in attempting a swinging hit. 178—8 —2. Still another left-hander, White, came in. M'Leod reached 20 with his next scoring stroke, but he hoisted! Leader high to the off, Moloney just failing to reach tho .catch. Another drive by the skipper into the deep disturbed a seagull which was browsing on the turf. A flicked 4 made M'Leod 30 and the total 190. With three minutes to go '.Ticttleburgh was brought on vice Lemin. He howled a maiden, and! stumps were drawn with the score at 191 for eight wickets. Details: — OTAGO. First innings ... 138 WELLINGTON. First Innings. O. Wiigley b Lemin ... 1 E. W. Tindill Ibw b Elmes 40 - W. G. Rainbird Ibw b Lemin ... 13 J. A. Ongley run out ... 37 V. H. du Chateau b Elmes ... ... 14 D. S. Wilson e Robertson b Elmes 16 E. G. M'Leod not out ... 31 W. F. Airey c Toomey b Leader ... 30 T. L. Pritchard b Leader 2 G. L. White not out ... ... ... 0 Extras 7 Total for eight wickets ... 191 —Bowling Analysis.—

0. M. R. W. Lemin ... 17 0 62 2 Robertson ... ’I 2 17 0 Leader ... 8 0 31 2 Elmes ... 15 4 35 3 Molonev .. 1 ... 7 1 39 0 Cliettleburgli ... 1 1 0 0