PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 25677, 28 December 1945, Page 7

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

WINS FOR SOUTHERN PROVINCES OTAGO’S SPLENDID SHOWING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 27. Eighty-five runs behind on the first innings, Otago made a splendid recovery to defeat Wellington in the Plunket Shield cricket match by three wickets. When play was continued to-day in weather more suited to football than cridket, Wellington resumed its second innings with five wickets down for 19 runs, and failed to make a recovery, the whole side being dismissed for 42. The Wellington batsmen made a feeble showing; against the fast-medium bowling of R. Silver, who followed uip his performance of taking four wickets for 83 in the first innings by capturing-six for 20. Resolute batting by Fraser and Roberts enabled Otago to secure the 128 runs required to win for the loss of seven wickets. ; With five wickets down for 19, Rice (2) and Cave (6) resumed Wellington’s second innings at 11 a.m., Freeman and’ Silver taking up the howling. After adding a single, Cave was foolishly run out, and six wickets were, down for 20 runs. Mooney joined Rice, but with four runs added Rice was well taken at first slip.

The procession continued. After notching three runs, Hatch pushed a ball from Freeman into Smith’s hands at mid-off. Roberts sent down five maidens in a row, and with the fourth ball of his sixth over, a leg-break, he clean-bowled Mooney, who had reached seven. A single by Allen off the third ball of Roberts’s ninth over was the first run which had come off this bowler. .

The innings, which ended at 12.15, was a triumph for the Otago fastmedium- bowlers, Silver and Freemau. Mills again Ocept wickets well. The Otago fielding was smart and clean, only one chance being dropped. Requiring 128 runs to win, Bellamy and Mills opened Otago’s second innings, but after Bellamy bad scored three singles Mills was neatly taken at silly mid-on. With the score at 12 Hatch lifted Bellamy’s hails with a ball which came fast off the pitch. Then Baker, who had .not .scored, was snapped up in the slips by Buchan, and three wickets were down for 12.

Fraser and Watt then attempted to stem the rot, but were lucky, as Watt was dropped behind the sticks by Mooney off Hatch after scoring a single. The pair were still together at the luncheon adjournment, the score standing at 27 for three. On resumption the score was taken to 44, and then Watt was clean bowled by Buchan. Roberts aud Fraser went strongly till Fraser was caught at midoff, and five wickets were down for 87. Toomey scored 6 before going out lbw. Roberts shaped brightly for 33 before playing one from Hatch on to his wickets. With 11 runs wanted to win Freeman joined Smith. After th§ tea adjournment Freeman quickly hit off the runs required, and at 4.8 p.m. Otago had won until three wickets to spare. Details: — WELLINGTON. First innings , 322 Second innings ... 42 OTAGO. First innings ... 237

Second Innings. F. Bellamy b Hatch ••• 12 G. Mills c Rice b Hatch 0 L. Baker c Rowe b Buchan 0 T. C. Fraser c Ell b Buchan ... 49 L. Watt b Buchan 12 A. W. (Roberts b Hatch 33 C. G. Toomey lbw b Allen ... ... 6 L. D. Smith not out 4 T. Freeman not out '7 Extras (byes 3, leg-byes 2)... 5 Total for seven wickets ... 128 —Bowling Analysis.—

Hatch ... 0. ... 16.4 M. 6 R. 29 W. 3 Buchan ... ... 20 2 37 3 Cave ... 4 0 .14 0 Allen ... 8 1 23 1