CONDITIONS FAVOUR OTAGO AFTER HEAVY RAIN

Northern Advocate, 28 December 1937, Page 4

CONDITIONS FAVOUR OTAGO AFTER HEAVY RAIN

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] CHRISTCHURCH, This' Day.

Play in the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Otago was resumed this morning at 11,30 o’clock. After heavy rain overnight, the outfield was, dead and the pitch was greasy. The conditions were in favour of Otago. Otago batted first on the opening day of tire match and made 172, and, at stumps, Canterbury had two wickets down for 58 runs. There Was no play yesterday owing to heavy rain. In Dunning’s first over today,

Frazer failed to hold a difficult catch in the slips from Stokes. R. Silver, the Otago fast bowler, who ricked his back in the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Canterbury on Christmas Day. was not able to take the field yesterday. According to medical advice, he will not be able to take any further part in the game, but he will go north with the team to play at Auckland and Wellington. The wicket improved considerably during the moi'ning, and Menzies and Stokes found no difficulty in the bowling. Both batsmen adopted aggressive defensive tactics, loose balls being dealt with severely. Dunning kept the batsmen very quiet, and when a change looked overdue, Menzies returned one to him in the last over before lunch. Scores: OTAGO. First Innings 172 CANTERBURY. First Innings. J. L. Kerr, b Silver 14, E. A. Gasson, b Dunning 14 R. E. J. Menzies, c and b Dunning 49 D. N. Stokes, not out 25 Extras 3 Total for three wickets 105