PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 23498, 12 February 1940, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO IN FIGHTING MOOD CENTURY BY FRASER FINE PARTNERSHIP WITH TOOMEY Despite four hurried adjournments on account of rain, and the fact that the temperature suggested a wintry day in June rather than a summer’s day in February, the cricket at Carisbrook on Saturday was most interesting, and tho position of the game at the end of the day’s play gave every, promise of at least an interesting finish. This promise, however, began to develop only late in the day. Up to 3 o'clock or thereabouts there was a distinct possibility that the match might finish that afternoon, for at that stage Otago had lost , six, wickets for 120 runs, or only 38 runs to the good. Then it was that a magnificent partnership began between T. Fraser and C. Toomey, a partnership which lasted 2h and 7min and realised 143 runs. It was a really splendid effort, the value of which was greatly enhanced by the comparative failure of nearly all the earlier Otago batsmen that day. During that partnership the spirits of the home ' team’s supporters gradually' rose and rose, and unstinted praise was bestowed upon the two valiant young cricketers who had rescued the side from what appeared to be certain defeat and given it a sporting chance to win and so escape from being - the wooden-spoon holders. A GREAT KNOCK. Of Fraser’s quality as a batsman local supporters had already had ample proof, but this fine innings was surely his best, as well as his highest, in Plunket Shield matches. It was a elianccless knock so far as he got on Saturday, and the great majority of his runs were obtained by sound, crisp, and • altogether well-executed strokes, the most effective, as well as the most attractive, of which were the cut past the backward point position and the cover and off-drives. There were a number of well-pitched-up off balls from the faster bowlers which he missed, and two or three “ touchers V which went for runs might be called lucky, but, after the first quarter of an hour or so, Fraser’s batting was sound as a hell. Tip to Saturday evening he had been at the wickets for 209 minutes—practically three and a-half hours—and hit six 4’s in his unfinished innings of 106. He bung at 98 and 99 for a long while, and this made his for his second 50 (105 minutes) slower than that taken for his first 50 (91 minutes). Bowlers and fieldsmen were_ “after him ” in grim earnest to the bitter end, but eagerly tendered their congratulations when the completing single was at long last obtained. TOOMEY, TOO. As for Toomey, it was a splendid achievement for a young batsman playing in his first shield game to share the honours of such a partnership. His batting had not the polish of Fraser’s and the ball now and then went in an unexpected direction from his bat, but nevertheless he displayed a confidence that was as admirable as it was stimulating. He brought off some excellent off-shots, but his runs were got mostly from drives, interspersed with effective if not elegant “ mows ” to leg off the slows. He hit only three 4’s in his 61, and was out to a really good catch by du Chateau at cover from a stroke which was not quite full-blooded enough. , Toomey, with scores of 11 and 51 and a welltaken catch to his credit, has put up an excellent performance in the match so far. PECULIAR INCIDENT. By the way, a peculiar incident happened to Toomey during the second innings. He stepped out to a ball from the slow bowler Whyte, which hit his pads and trickled straight towards the stumps. Toomey did not immediately try to regain his crease nor to stop the ball, while the wicket-keeper (Ilainbird), not being able to take the ball in front of the stumps, waited for it to hit them. It did contact, but with insufficient force to disturb the bails. In the meantime Toomey was back in his base. Of the other Otago batsmen Moloney was easily the best, and the skipper was going along splendidly, driving freely and cutting and glancing well, when he fell Ibw to Wilson. He reached the pickets with five of his scoring strokes in compiling 33. Robertson was in for a very long time for 11, and Cutler, El rues,' and Cameron each got a few runs, but were all clean bowled. Robertson, Chettleburgh, and Leader were caught off bad strokes. Chottleimrgh, by the way, has a bad habit of looking behind him to watch the course of tho ball while he is taking a run. A player of his experience should know that this is wrong; it is his partner, who is facing tho way the ball is going, who should be the judge as to what there is in tho stroke. WELLINGTON’S TAIL END, The last two Wellington wickets put on 29 runs on Saturday morning, most of them being got by M'Leod, who made tho top score of 62 (not out) in 85 minutes, with five 4’s. He had made a careful start on Friday, but the latter part of tho innings consisted of forceful drives and leg-hits. Leader, who bagged the last two wickets, had good figures —four for 42 off 12.6 overs. It is a pity this useful player was unable to make the northern trip. Otago’s fielding was again keen. Wellington’s bowling rather wilted under the steady scoring of the FraserToomey partnership. Certainly, tho bowlers were handicapped by a “ greasy ” ball and an easy wicket. Pritchard, who took two of the earlier wickets, bowled with plenty of venom and often troubled the batsmen with his pace. On a fast or fiery .wicket his deliveries would be real “ sizzlers.” On Saturday he had long spells at the crease, but appeared to tire but little. He finished the day with three for 84 off 22 overs. Ashenclen, Wilson, and Whyto each took one wicket. Whyte is the new slow bowler, but the dead easy wicket was not suited to his deliveries, which were well lighted. M'Leod, who put himself on as a last resort when his regular attackers had failed to shift Fraser and Toomey, came off with his leisurely slow stuff, with which he gets a little turn. His two wickets cost only 7 runs. From the Press box Wilson appeared to drag his back foot over the crease fairly frequently, but it is difficult for an umpire to detect this particular broach, and the bowler was no-balled only once. Wclingtoivs fielding fell away a little in the 7atc afternoon, duo partlv to tiredness and partly to the wet ball.

There were instances of misfielding am) of bad returns. But there were good catches by du Chateau and Wrigley, the latter standing in the “ suicide ” position at silly leg, where ho took Robertson. The chance was a straight-at-you ” one, but it needed pluck to risk something much more dangerous. Tindill, owing to an injured back, was unable to take the field after the luncheon adjournment, and Rainbird acted as deputy, stopping them quite well, and Holden fielded as substitute and stopped a lot of run-getting by his fellow-Otago reps. PLAY DESCRIBED. After our report closed yesterday, Otago’s 100 came up in 105 minutes. Cameron was Hashing a free blade, and occasionally getting one through, a sweep to the leg fence beating Holden. With the score at 106 rain once more drove the players from the field. This time it was really hail. The interval was only a short one, however, and then Cameron went on until he, too, tried to drive the fast bowler and was clean bowled. 110—5—18. Chettleburgh began with a patted single. Fraser was batting freely, and olio hard drive scattered tho wickets at the other end, depriving the hitter of at least a couple of runs. Chettleburgh lashed out and hoisted Ashenden to the fence, and then Whyte came on for the first time in the match. He bowls right hand slow, and he claimed a victim in his first over, Chettleburgh jumping out and hitting an easy catch to Wilson at mid-on. It was a poor stroke. 120—6—5. The University batsman, Toomey, filled the gap and some smart singles were mu. Fraser miss-hit one over the head of the slips and reached 20. Two to Toomey and another single carried the total to that of tho first innings, Pritchard was then brought on to bowl from the Workshops end for the first time in the match. Fraser made himself top kcore (35) with a crisp drive off tho slow bowler. The 150 was hoisted in 154 minutes. BATSMEN ON TOP. Toomey was getting runs from Whyte with “ mow ” shots, and Fraser, witli a more polished stroke, reached 40. He carried on with a neat cut for a couple, a lusty leg hit to the fence, and another cut for 4, reaching 40 in 80 minutes. Wilson replaced Whyte at 165, and Toomey, shaping for a leg glance, got 2 in the slips. The score was taken along at a steady pace, and the partnership was proving an excellent one, having already put on over 50 runs. At the tea adjournment the total was 187 for sis wickets—Fraser 47 and Toomey 28. There was another smart shower of rain during the tea interval; a cold shower, too. On resuming singles came and Fraser reached top score' of the match, while a litle later Toomey registered 30. The 200 went down on the score sheet after 202 minutes’ actual play, Pritchard and Ashenden were still the bowlers, and sawdust and towel were in demand. Whyte was given the ball at the railway end, and runs came freely, but there was a lucky escape from a run-out when a misunderstanding found both batsmen in the middle of the pitch. CENTURY PARTNERSHIP. The batsmen were now well on top of the bowling, but were rather inclined to take risks in running, only misfielding or poor returns saving them on more than one occasion. When Fraser hit Ashenden for a couple _it made the partnership worth 100 in 90 minutes, and at the same time Fraser reached 70. The Carisbrook batsman went quickly to 80 with some beautiful shots. Toomey was going along soundly also, and reached 40. STILL MORE RAIN. At 4.53, with Fraser 85 and Toomey 41 and the total 243, another shower arrived, and players, but not umpires, scampered for shelter. Out again for a few minutes and rain once aghin caused an adjournment, everybody going off on this occasion. When they came back Fraser, using his feet to the slow bowler, reached 90. rr oomcv also did his share of the scoring, and ho reached 50 by sending Wilson to the leg boundary. TOOMEY CAUGHT. Everybody was now waiting for Fraser’s century. M'Leod tok the ball at the Workshops end, and Toomey sent his fourth ball to du Chateau at cover, the fieldsman taking it on his knees and falling over. The total was 263 for seven, and the partnership had added 143 runs. FRASER’S HUNDRED, Leader now joined Fraser, who reached 98 by straight-driving Ashenden. Ho found the other two runs difficult to get; it was a close call for his ninety-ninth. Leader was batting very carefullv, and keen fielding and bowlin" made the duel intensely interesting. At long last Fraser glanced Ashenden to log for a single and received a rousing cheer on reaching his hundred. Shortly afterwards, Leader, in trvin" to hook a short one, ballooned it"to°Wrigley just behind tho wicket and was out. 279—8—9. M'Leod had now taken two wickets for 7 runs off five overs. Mills was next, and ho and Fraser played! out time. Details: — WELLINGTON. First innings •••; ••• 220 OTAGO, First innings ••• ••• 138 Second Innings. Robertson c Wrigley b Pritchard 11 Moloney Ibw b Wilson 33 Cutler b Ashenden 16 Elmes b Pritchard 17 Cameron b Pritchard 18 Fraser not out 105 Chettleburgh c Wilson b Whyte ... 5 Toomev cdu Chateau b M'Leod ... 51 Loader c Wrigley b M'Leod' 9 Mills, not out 4 Extras 18 Total for eight wickets ... 287 —Bowling Analysis.—

0. M. R. W. Pritchard ... 22 1 84 3 Ashenden ... 21 3 6G 1 Wilson ... 12 0 67 1 Whyte ... 9 0 45 1 M'Leod ... 5 1 7 • 2 Wilson bowled one no -ball.