A GREAT MATCH

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11735, 24 January 1924, Page 7

A GREAT MATCH

PLUNKET SHIELD CONTEST WELLINGTON DEFEATS OTAGO AFTER A NOTABLE GAME. STRUGGLE 1 FOR SUPREMACY. ( (Special to “N.Z. Times.”) DUNEDIN, January 23. For five days Wellington and Otago have struggled for supremacy, and for five days the chances have fluctuated by the hour, and after perhaps the most exciting and most notably match in history of Plunket Shield cricket. Wellington won by 145 runs. It was a fight to a finish, and equal chances prevailed almost to the last. When Alloo and McMullan went in this morning to continue Otago's innings on a wicket well nigh perfect, the Wellington team knew that equal chances prevailed. The batsmen took no risks, and for a time looked like making the runs without the further fall of a wicket. Neither looked like going out, and they had Collins thinking very hard. When play opened this morning the weather was dull but fine. Overnight rain had mad 9 the wicket like a shirt front, and was m the batsmen’s favour. The Otago boys put up a fine fight, and their defeat by 145 rune in face of such, odds was certainly no disgrace. With Alloo and McMullan in pood form and going well, there were great possibilities, but once the former was disposed of the turning point came, although Alloo uid Cherry batted with confidence. It was a pity that the total did not reach 109, especially as that looked fairly sure with 480 up before the eighth wicket fell. As it was the enormous grand total of 1905 runs is a record that is likely lo stand for some time. There was a fairly large attendance, and the crowd enjoyed such a sporting finish. WINNERS CONGRATULATED. At the luncheon Mr Alex. Martin (president of the Otago Cricket Association) congratulated the winners on their very fine win. Mr D. Collins (captain of the Wellington team) responded, and added his congratulations to Otago for what to called their absolutely marvellous ierformance. Mr J. Shepherd (captain of the Otago team), Mr C. G. Wilson (chairman of Wellington Cricket Association) and Mr A. C. Hanlon also spoke to the toast. CONCLUDING STAGES. A. W. Alloo (28) and McMullan (75) went to the wickets at 11.4 o'clock this morning, the former taking strike to Brice. Alloo was content to merely block them, the only addition to the total coming from a no ball. McGirr bowled from the other end, the field being set close for McMullan, who snicked the last ball of the over to leg for a single. Brice now bowled round ihe wicket, appealing for l.b.w from the first ball, and making similar appeals from the third and fourth, the last going to the fence. Alloo snicked McGirr’s fourth ball between first and second slip, and the next one came off Alloo's shoulder, second slip taking it in the air, and yet another appeal for “how's that” was made. Brice's fifth delivery was despatched by McMullan to fine leg boundary, the remainder being patted back to the bowler. The partnership at this stage had added 90 runs. Brice was again ''no balled,” Alloo skying him for a couple in the direction of 'he pavilion. McMullan hit Brice for two past cover, the following one going through slips for a brace, and the next was pulled to the left fence, bringing McMullan's tally to 94. Collins relieved McGirr, and the Wellington captain puzzling Alloo with his slow leg breaks. Tho batsman wo-s playing with extra caution, but he swept the fifth ball to leg for one. Brice rearranged the field trying his lqg l theory, and singles to both batsmen brought 400 on the slate. Brice's fourth delivery was “no balled," and the batsman hit it high to the stand, and both players were loudly applauded for a- magnificently run four. Collins was sending some tempting high pitched ones down, but the batsmen were playing “the rook” with remarkable stubbornness. At 11.45 o'clock McMullan, who had been at the wickets for 173 minutes, reached his century, clipping Brice to fine fence, the big fellow having half a dozen knocked off that over. A three to Alloo saw 420 hoisted. McMullan surviving an appeal for a catch behind the wickets. McMullan milled CoDins to leg for four, smashing the next to the off fence, where White saved the boundary returning smartly. A chop through the slips to McMullan for four brought the grand total to 430. At noon McGirr came on again, his seventh ball bringing about a separation, McMullan failing to fet under one that flew high to short-leg, Irice bringing off a one-handed catch. 432-6—lll. Duncan was the newcomer, and survived one ball from McGirr. Alloo faced Brice, who had the field in close formation on the leg side. Alloo hit a single, and Duncan placed his leg in front of the next. 433—7—0. Cherry, the incomer, opened his account with a single, Alloo getting a similar amount from the following ball. Single® to both batsmen made the total 440. Cherry, playing with extreme confidence, rah a three for a nicely placed shot over short square-leg's head, two more coming for a smart bit of running between the wickets. A braco to Alloo and a boundary to Cherry increased ’he grand aggregate to 400. White then :e----olaced Brice, the last ball of the over being a nice on drive to Cherry's credit. The wicket appeared to have improved considerably, playing very easily. Collins had Cherry confused with some slow ones, the last a faster one. went for three. A hard drive bv Cherry to cover found the score-sheet showing 470, one

hundred of them being scored since the match resumed in the morning. Alloo smashed Collins to the far end for four, making his tally 65. Brice was tried again. Cherry scoring a couple off the third ball, and a boundary at Collins's expense brought 480 on the board. Cherry hit Brice’s first for one, two byes coming from tho last. Alloo, when 68, gave his first chance, -snicking Henderson to Hiddleston (fielding at first slip), the impact with the ball damaging Jlie Wellington player’s fingers. The bowler and fieldsmen had their revenge two balls later, as Hiddleston, who had shifted to short-leg, caught Alloo from a high pitched ball. 459—8—68. Dickinson came to the wickets at 12.52 p.m., and Cherry did not last much longer, being trapped off Brice and putting one into short-leg's hand. 489—9 35. Douglas, the last man, stood up to the remaining balls from the same bowle*, and Dickinson brought 490 up with a single off Henderson. Brico evidently big hitting from Dickinson, the field being placed deep, Dickinson lashed out for a four, tipping the next for a single. An end to the memorable match had now come, however, Douglas being clean bowled by Brice with his fifth delivery. 495—10-^O. The details are WELLINGTON. First innings 5Qu Second innings * 460 Total 1025 OTAGO. First innings 38$ Second Innings. Shepherd, b Brice 92 Worker, c James, b Collins 94 Blamires, c James, b Hiddleston ... 36 Galland, c Watson, b Brice 10 C. Alloo, b Collins 3 McMullan, c Brice, b McGirr 11l Duncan, Ibw, b Brice 0 A. Alloo, c Hiddleston, b Henderson ... 68 Cherry, c Baker, ib Brice 35 Dickinson, not out 6 Douglas, b Brice v Extras , 40 Total 489 BOSE TO THE OCCASION. The Wellington fielding was much keener than it had been previously in the match, and the bowlers seemed to realise the greatnese of their task. All tried their utmost, and Brice in particular rose to the occasion. Jamee, behind the stumps, gave a fine display, standing right up to McGirr and Henderson, and taking the ball on the leg side very well. Bowling Analysis: —McGirr took one wicket for 70 runs, Henderson one for 81, Hiddleston one for 12, Brice five for 142, White none for 33, Watson none for 19, and Collins two for 98.