OTAGO'S FAILURE

NZ Truth, Issue 1050, 7 January 1926, Page 12

OTAGO'S FAILURE

Canterbury's Shield Win (From \ "Truth's" ..Special Christchurch !y /: •/;:,. . .Rep.)' . . Canterbury outclassed Otago (holders) m the first Plunket Shield y rriatc.h* ofij.the . season at Christchurch last week and won by an innings and 28 runs. . : won- the toss and. Sandman, who had been elected captain, had no difficulty m- deciding to bat on a good wicket.- : ■; When it was known that George Dickinson was riot -present the Canterbury stbcKs iwei-e' considerably advanced, as a fast bp'wler of his type would have beenj very;, dangerous on such an eccentric wicket as that which Lancaster, Park provides." - : . Canterbury's, innings of 495 was marked by a very fine by Arthur Cox. .-•••■•■ . Since Cox ; played his first game for the province Jast year against the Victorians, scoring over 80, he has never looked back. ' . ■ ; Though Ke did' not start off the season too prpmisingly, he has gradually done - better .with practice, and he reached the' zenith of his form with a wohderful double , century against Qtagp^- ,".'• "•■.;'■/ : :\, '.;.■': Cox's 204 haeonjyl once been exceeded, m Plunket Shield matches, and that was by Si . G. Smith for Auckland' against Canterbury m .IBBBp.-iv; ,■■■;':■."■■•■■,■ - iV ... . . ,■ Cox never, gave, a chance durinir the whPle time he-was at the wickets, which was four- and a half, hours. He scored nineteen : boundaries. • ■■'■:'- > At no. stage m his innings did he look like getting out.' ; "Curly" • Page justified the confidence oft the selectors m picking him' as the country's only rep., as he. came to light with' a very fine 71. ' •'• 1 . ' ' • ! Gregbry reached' 53 by patient batting;-;.;' ■;..- . -V- 1 - V ■-■■ : ,'■ • * Otago scored 191 m:, the first m nings ;and 276 m the : .second (R. W. Cherry 123 pot put and J. McMullan '63)'. •.•■ .' ' ','■'"■ : Dipk Torrance was the best of the Oitagp' bowlers, who are. sure to strike a.hard time.o f it.'upinorth.. , WfelUngtori !; npw hold a strong position'so fa.^ as the ?lunket Shield is conr cernQd, and they. have qnly to win another game to be practically assured of possession of the 'trophy this season. The Walker Shield matches between the-' surburban association of Canterbury,, Wellington ' and Auckland took place over > the holidays, the games being:: played on the Sunnyside ground, which was m. yery fair order. , i In the first game .Wellington beat Auckland by seven runs, after a vi^ry bad start. ' ' Wellington made 103, to whic Auckland replied with 173. ; ThaLnlis to a fine free innings of 151 not out by D. Morgan, Wellington made 271 m their - second strike and this proved just enough to give them victory,- as they* disppsod; of Auckland for 196— seven i short of their own total. ' .;In .the s.ecphd:. game Canterbury beat Wellington, scoring 496 to Wellington's Iss .viand 137 for six wickets.. The matches' were "limi ted^to two days, and so , Canterbury won . on , the first innings. George Robertson piit together a nice 137 not out for the winners. - ' Canterbury beat Auckland ,m the :''-, ;finai; scoring 238 .and 94: for six fl • i wickets itQi^uckJaiid^ 222. s 'W ; \