VERY WEAK BATTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 10

VERY WEAK BATTING.

BLUNT SAVES HOME TEAM

CLEVERLEY AGAIN IMPRESSES. IMPROVEMENT IN FIELDING. (BY TEI.EGIIAI'II. —ATHLETICS REPORTER.) DUNRDIX. Friday. The match between Auckland and Otago for 11 to riunkct Shield has taken a decided turn in favour of the visiting team. Very weak batting by Otago was responsible for its poor total in the first innings. Blunt was the only batsman who shaped at all confidently, and Hawkesworth showed better defence and more scoring strokes than several of the batsmen who gained preference over him in the batting order. It was rather surprising, therefore, that Alloo sent Hawkesworth in No. 10 in the batting ordet

again in (lie second innings. ttlunt was not too comfortable for ti start, but once he found his feet he brought off some perfectly-timed strokes, some of his late cutting being really line. His second innings was a better one than his first, and. although ho is not up to his form of two seasons ago, it seems he needs only big cricket to bring him back to his best. It has been a great match for Blunt, who has a fine treble to his credit —eight wickets for 99 runs, and two innings of 40 and 43 respectively. Otago would have been in a very sorry plight without him. In the first innings Blunt was in for 75 minutes and hit five fours and in the, second G1 minutes, while he bit two fours. Lacked Scoring Shots.

The trouble with the Otago batsmen was that they did not hit tho ball. Cavanagh was very slow and lacked scoring shots, and the same can be said of Cherry, who was in so long for his runs. Alloo fell to a weak stroke, and did not shape like tho batsmen ho was.. It was predicted that the wicket would suit the fast bowlers, Cleverley and Matheson, and such proved the case. Cleverley has created a good impression in Dunedin. He trundled exceedingly well for his four wickets in the first innings. Matheson has also struck much better form and his 21 overs for 24 runs and three wickets was a splendid performance. Somo of the Otago batsmen were struck bv rising balls from both Cleverley and Matheson, Galland receiving a bad knock from the last-named in the second innings. Galland had to have a man to run for him, but he failed to score. Werislcy trundled very steadily and mixed his deliveries well. He secured two leg-before victims and was unlucky not to get Badcock stumped. Tho Otago coach went right out of his crease, dwelt, and even then got back, Hunt misfielding the ball. McCoy completely beat the coach with a ball that made pace off the wicket and went straight through. Allcott Deliberates. Allcott deliberated about sending Otago in again owing to the work the fast bowlers had been called on to do. Iho first innings had taken a little sting out of their attack, but, nevertheless, they each bowled well again, especially Cleverley, who sent down 17 overs for 51 runs and two wickets. Ho was unlucky not to get Badcock's wicket also, Wenslev dropping a catch before the. batsman was in doubles.

Matheson bowled 15 overs for 58 runs and one wicket Allcott, who was not needed in tho first innings, has sent down 12 overs for 29 runs and two wickets. Weir, two wickets for 35, and McCoy, one for 35, proved useful changes. Allcott, was unfortunate when Blunt went well out to a swinger, Thakobau missing the stumping chance. Wensley again bowled unluckily

Dickinson,. who afterwards made 59. was cxtremly fortunate to make a start at all, as a decision for caught behind off Wensley went in his favour before he had opened his account. There was a unanimous appeal and the snick could be heard by the spectators. Dickinson gave a fine forceful display and hit six fours, his best scoring stroke being a powerful off-drive. Although he scored well all round ho was inclined to flick at the off theory. Lucky Innings. One of the luckiest innings it would be possible to see was that of Badcock, who 'made 70. Willi everything swinging in his favour the Otago coach took all sorts of riscks and good shots were intermingled with many flukey ones. Badcock was in for 64 minutes and hit nine fours and the only six of the match so far. The Auckland fielding showed an improvement on that in tho Canterbury match. Wensley and Matheson were frequently conspicuous for smart work. If was unfortunate for Hunt that he received an injury on another finger. Ho had an X-ray examination and the finger is badly bruised. He has been ordered to take a Spell for a month by a medical adviser. Thakobau kept wickets well, considering his lack of practice, and, under the circumstances, it, was fortunate he was in the team. Matheson can keep wickets, but he would have been very much missed from tlie bowling crease.