Otago's Bad Start

Evening Star, Issue 25742, 15 March 1946, Page 6

Otago's Bad Start

Australians at Carishrook:

OPENING PAIR SET -THEN DISASTER Poor Show on Perfect Wicket Early risers in Dunedin this morning, taking a peek at the aky, resigned themselves to the prospect of a grey day with a cold wind. But it was not long before Old Sol cleaned up that sort of thing and when play commenced in the eagerlyanticipated cricket match between W. A. Brown's visiting Australians and an Otago eleven, conditions were practically perfect. The weather was clear and cool; the ground in excellent condition, and the wicket appeared to be one of Mr Alex Ross's very best, which meant that batsmen would have nothing to complain of.

Keen Public Interest

It is just 18 years since a representative side last visited New Zealand, and the interest manifested by the public is distinctly greater than that ever before shown in the case of a visiting cricket side, and although the attendance at Carishrook just prior to the start was not particularly large, it was an ever-increasing one, and promised to reach much greater dimensions after the luncheon adjournment. Practice knocks were indulged in right up to within five minutes of' starting time. The Australian selectors- (Messrs Brown, O'Reilly, and Hassett) decided to omit Miller and Toshack from the side, while L. Watt was made twelfth man for Otago. The contesting teams were therefore as under:— Australia.—W. A. Brown, K. Meuleman, S. G. Barnes, R. A. Hamence, A. L. Hassett, C. McCool, D. Tallon, I. W. Johnson, R. Lindwall, W. J. O'Reilly, and B. Dooland. Otago.—W. A. Hadlee, T. Fraser, L. Milnes, A. W. McDougall, L. Smith, A. W. Roberts, G. H. Mills, L. Groves, T. Freeman, G. Overton, and C. V. Shirley; twelfth man, L. Watt. The umpires are Messrs H. W. Gourlay (Christchurch) and G. F. Gunn (Invercargill).

to each batsman, and then (Mills, facing Lindwall for the first time, played him past point for a couple, and finished the over with a single in the same direction. . Lindwall was not getting any lift out of the perfect Carishrook wicket so far. Twenty came up on the board in 14 minutes, and Mills reached ?0 in 16 minutes. Both he and Hadlee were batting confidently and well. Hassett, who is not one of Australia's regular bowlers, was being persisted_ with, and Hadlee scored another 4 with one of his splendid cover drives. This was the third 4 so far, in the first 24 minutes, and a single to Mills immediately after off Lindwall brought up .'SO. This was good going, and the crowd enjoyed it. A quick second run off a stroke down the gully by Mills from Hassett gave the onlookers a thrill, as Hadlee had to hurry home. The first half-hour's play had brought 25 runs.

Hadlee Wins Toss

The Otago captain, W. A. Hadlee, won the toss from Brown, and decided to take first use of the wicket. "This was a satisfactory situation so far as the public is concerned, enabling thousands of those who would be unable to attend to-day to see the Australians in action.to-morrow. At any rate, that was .the anticipated result of the toss.

In. bright sunshine, and to the acopttrpaniment of applause from about 2»000 spectators, the Aussies took the field, followed by Otago's opening batsmen, Hjtdlee and Mills. The opening bowler was the speedy Lindwall, to whom Hadlee took strike. This bowler takes a long run, and his meed was at once apparent. From the third ball, Hadlee took a nicelyplaced couple to square-leg, two more coming from the fifth ball from a crisp stroke in front of point. Tallon was standing 18 yards back to Lindwaß, and three slip fieldsmen were further back still. The bowler at the Kensington end was Hassett (slow medium right-hand) and the first 4 of the match came from his second .ball, a shortish one, which Mills hit past mid-on. A. nice cover drive gave the Old Boys player another couple. The first 10 came up in five minutes, which was a refreshing start. Two leg byes off Hadlee's pads ami a smartly-ru'n single to that batsman was the net r*sult of the fast bowler's next over, anil the crpwd were aroused when Hsdlee cover-drove Hassett for 4, bringing the Carisbrook man into double &gsm in 11 minutes. A single

O'Reilly Appears

At this stage Lindwall, who had Ibowled five over for 11 runs, was spelled, O'Reilly coming on in his place. The last ball of his opening over, a short one, Mills hooked to the square leg boundary, making him 20 in 33 minutes. The bowling change was made a double one when Johnson relieved Hassett, from whom 21 runs had been scored. Johnson bowls right-hand slow, and a single to each batsman came from his first over. The batsmen were running well between wickets, and took advantage of one or two cases of misfielding. The fielding generally, however, was smart and sure. Hadlee, who had not been getting 60 much of the bowling of late,

reached 20 in 42 minutes with a single off Johnson. O'Reilly's first appeal for. lbw came in the next over. , It was aganist Hadlee, and not a particularly fierce one. The umpire shook his head. A short single to Hadlee to the on saw (Mills just beating a smart return by Barnes from close in. The halfnentury was' hoisted in 44 minutes. Here (12.15) drinks were brought on to the field for the refreshment of the fieldsmen —a good old Australian custom which is not often observed in Dunedin. Barnes was fielding close in at silly mid-on to O'Reilly's bowling, but Hadlee placed one past him for a single. The batsman fell when completing the run and appeared to be a little shaken. Some quick and rather risky running saw each batsman just reaching home.

Openers Dismissed

From the first ball of O'Reilly's fifth over Mills was smartly taken at slip by McCool. The Otago keeper had batted very soundly for 55 minutes for Ms 25, and had hit two 4's. 55—1—-25, ■with Hadlee 27 not out. Fraser was next in, aud the 60 came

up in exactly an hour. The newcomer was careful with O'Reilly, and Barnes still crouched menacingly within three yards of the bat, while Hassett was not very much (further away on the off. The Australian fielding and returning was by no means perfect round about this stage, but a great running catch by Wooland almost on the boundary at long-on was instrumental in disposing of Hadlee from the last ball of Johnson's sixth over, from which 11 runs had been scored. Hadlee had played good cricket for his 28 and had hit two 4's during his 66 minutes' stay. 63—2—28. The Southlander, Shirley, filled the gap and opened with a single to mid-on off Johnson. O'Reilly was still operating in his effortless way at the Workshops end, and Shirley placed him for a single.' The rate of scoring was now much slower, but a nice square cut for 2 by Shirley off Johnson was applauded, as was a strong on-drive for

3 by Fraser off O'Reilly. This brought up 70 in 78 minutes. Brown was not making many changes in the bowling; only two, indeed, in the first hour and a-half. With 76 on the board an appeal for lbw by O'Reilly against Fraser was successful, the Carishrook man being out for 6 made in 32 minutes. The position was not now so good, as it was with the opening pair going so nicely, and it was made still worse when Johnson, with the first ball olf his next over, clean bowled Milnes before he had scored. Johnson now had two wickets for 17. 77—4—0. The next batsman was Roberts. Shirley had reached double figures in 25 minutes and was batting soundly. At the luncheon adjournment, the score was 84 for four. O'Reilly, had taken, two'wickets for 24 and Johnson two for 20. In the second ball of O'Reilly's opening over after lunch Shirley was sen-

sationally dismissed, Dooland taking a lovely catch at deep third man. The total was then 85 runs for five wickets. Smith joined Roberts, but this partnership was quickly broken, Roberts sending a good catch to Johnson, the bowler. Freeman joined Smith,_ but became O'Reilly's second lbw victim. , OTAGO. First Innings. Hadlee c Dooland <b Johnson ... 28 Mills c McCool b O'Reilly 25 Fraser lbw b O'Reilly 6 Shirley c Dooland b O'Reilly ... 16 Milnes b Johnson 0 Roberts c and b Johnson 6 Smith not out ... ... ... :.. ... 2 Freeman lbw b O'Reilly 0 MoDougall not out ... 1 Extras 1 " ' 8 Total (for. seven wickets) 92 Bowling.—O'Reilly, four for 26; Johnson, three for 25; Lindwall, none for 11; Hassett, none for 21. <