CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20312, 21 January 1928, Page 8

CRICKET.

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON. HOME TEAM’S MODEST TOTAL VISITORS IN SCORING MOOD. FOLEY 97 NOT OUT.

In idea! cricket weather and on an excelient wicket, the Plunket Shield ma.tcn between Otago and Wellington was begun at Carisbrook yesterday. When Otago won the toss and had first use of a batsman’s wicket it appeared that they would make a good stand, but the wickets began to fall early, and the innings closed for 155. Though the side was weakened bv the absence of Eastman, Alloo, and Shepherd, it still appeared to have some batting strength, and it was a disappointment to Otago supporters when the local men went out for so modest a score. Galland, who was top scorer with 55, played a fine innings when it was badly needed. When he went in, had lost four wickets for 77 runs, but Ills team s position made the Grange captain no less confident, and from the start his batting was lively. With well-judged and wellplaced shots, he rattled on the runs in quick time, his total including nine fours. His partnership with Dickinson was the brightest shot of the innings. Blunt was in his best form in scoring 45. He collected his runs all round the wicket in bright style, his total including four fours. The outstanding bowler was M Girr, who took five wickets for 81 runs. He maintained his length and pace right through the innings, and the batsmen could take few liberties with him. Badcock, who took two for 59, swung away dangerously, and Massey, who was not used a great deal, sent up five good overs at the start. Altogether, however, the bowling seemed to be hardly as difficult as the batting made it appear. Otago’s hopes ran high when Worker went out after Wellington had scored only four runs, but Badcock and Foley adopted safety tactics, and it was not long before thrfy 'had the bowling collared. Foley, who is undefeated with 97, played a bright and stylish innings, scoring a large proportion of his Ams on the leg side, and Badcock batted gracefully for 77 before he was caught. He hit powerfully at anything loose, and scored quickly when he became set. Lamason, who was run out after scoring 51, shaped confidently and scored his runs in workmanlike style. Twenty of his runs came from boundary ohots. Wellington are in the strong position of having lost only three wickets for 229 runs. At no stage did tho Otago bowling appear difficult. None of the bowlers got any work on the ball, and as they received no assistance from the wicket it was necessary only to play correct shots to score runs. The match was well attended, £SO being taken at the gate. Donoghue replaces Taylor in the Wellington team, as the Kelson coach is suffering from influenza. The match will be resumed at 11.30 a.m. to-day. THE PLAY. ' Cherry and Knight were Otago’s opening batsmen, M'Girr bowling to Cherry from the Cargill road end. Cherry opened his account by driving the New Zealand representative nicely to the onside for a brace, and then he dPove one past the bowler for another couple. Massey took the ball at the other end, sending up a maiden to Knight. Cherry placed one nicely to leg for a brace in M'Girr’s next over, but Knight again failed to get Massey away. Cherry was not so comfortable to M'Girr in his third over, which was a maiden, but Knight scored his first run by placing Massey nicely to square leg, and Cherry added another with the same shot. With the second ball of his next over M'Girr completely beat Cherry. B—l—7.8 —I—7. M'Mullan joined Knight. A leg bye and a nice single through the slips to M'Mullan brought the score to double figures in 20 minutes. M'Mullan scored the first boundary by cutting M'Girr beautifully through the slips. Steady batting took the score to 20 in 26 minutes, but M'Mullan lifted one from M'Girr, and Lambert threw himself full length on the ground to take a good cateh. 20 —2—6. M'Girr had taken two for 13.

Blunt was the incoming batsman, Badcock taking the hall from Massey, who had sent up five overs for five runs. Badcook’s first over was a maiden. The fieldsmen were coming in close for Knight, Badcock bowling the leg theory. Knight had been batting for 40 minutes for five runs when he brought 30 up by cutting M'Girr nicely for four. By driving M'Girr beautifully for 4, and adding a trio with the help of overthrows, Blunt took his score to double figures, and Knight reached 10 with a brace off the next ball, taking the score past 40. The scoring had now become more lively. Four overthrows gave Blunt a 5 shot, and the total -was taken to 50 in a like number of minutes. Blunt’s score was now 22. The very next ball from M'Girr skittled Knight, who had been batting for 50 minutes for 11 runs. 51 —3 —ll. M'Girr had taken three for 36, off 11 overs.

Cavanagh joined Blunt, who had now got into his stride. Cavanagh played an uppish shot off the first ball he received from Bactlcock, but he faced M’Girr confidently. Blunt reached 30, and took the total to 00 by hooking Badcock to the boundary. The innings had been in progress for exactly an hour. Both M'Girr and Badcock sent up maidens, the only additional score being a bye, _ but Cavanagh broke his “ duck ” by driving one past the bowler for a trio. A nice leg glance by Blunt saw the ball just reach the boundary, and the board showed 70. Cavanagh survived a confident appeal for stumping off the first ball of Badcock’s next over, and then he got the professional away for a single. Lambert took the ball from M'Girr, who had taken three wickets for 46. Cavanagh did not connect with a single ball in the new bowler’s first over, but Blunt brightened the play by collecting a brace and 4 oli Badcock, the second shot taking him to 40. Cavanagh gave Lambert another maiden. Blunt sent three of Badcock’s next over back to the bowler, but off the fourth he was smartly caught at fine leg by Donogbuc. Blunt had played a fine innings for 43. 77 —4—43. Galland joined Cavanagh and drove Badcock through the covers, attempting a risky run. Worker returned smartly to James, who whipped off the bails before the Dunedin colt could get his bat down. Otago had lost five wickets. 775 —4. Dickinson joined Galland, pulling Lambert to leg for a single, and with the same shot Galland notched a nice four, taking the score to 80. Eight came off Lambert’s over. The batsmen seemed prepared to use the long handle, but they had to be content with only a couple of byes in Badcock’s next over. The score .was 87 when M’Girr took the ball at the Cargill road end again. Galland despatched his first delivery to the leg boundary, bringing 90 up, and his own score to double figures. Lambert at rnidoff stopped a hot shot, and nothing was scored off the rest of the over. Badcock sent up his third successive maiden to Dickinson, but Galland broke the quiet period by driving M’Girr to the on boundary and cutting him for a single. The batsmen were less respectful towards Badcock in' his next over, off which they scored six, the century being reached in 95 minutes. The total stood at 102 when Brice took the ball from Badcock. The batsmen showed little respect for the new bowler, Galland reaching 20 by driving one over the bowler’s head for four. Eight came off the over. Dickinson snicked the first ball of M’Girr’s next over into James’s hands, and the wicket-keeper left no doubt about the catch. 100—6 —9. Vorrath was the incomer, but he had faiied to score when he drove Brice hard into Lamason’s hands at mid-off. Ill—7 -0.

Elmes joined Galland, and drove Brice for a single. The luncheon adjournment came with the score at 113, of which Galland had contributed 23. Galland faced M’Girr on the resumption. The batsmen sneaked a single, and Elmes cut the last ball of the over to the pickets, Badoock took the ball at the

oher end. Galland pulled him to leg for a single and two byes took the total to 130. With an off-drive, Galland added four to his total, but with tho remainder of M'Girr’s over ho was careful. Elmes had been shaping well when he gave Babcock his second wicket by snicking him into the slips, whore Massey held a good catch. 125 —B—s.8—5. Douglas, the incomer, opened his account by getting Badcock away nicely to fine leg, and then Galland pulled M'Girr to the leg boundary, taking his score past 30, and the total past 130. Galland was getting well into his stride, driving Badcock for four and a single. Badcock was bowling with three slips and the point man close in. By cutting M'Girr for a brace, Galland reached 40, and ho collected another single before the over concluded. Galland was using the long handle to anything loose, driving Badcock for 4 and lifting him for a single. When the score had reached 147, Brice took tho ball from Badcock, and Douglas, who was content to keep his end up, gave him a maiden. Lb nulling M'Girr to the leg boundary, i and reached 50 in 57 minutes amul-i applause, taking tho total to 150, and then he skied a ball out of reach of the fieldsmen, the batsmen running a brace. Eight came off the over. Douglas played out another maiden from Brice. Brice’s policy of persevering with M‘Girr proved successful when Galland failed to get on to a ball and gave Lambert a simple catch. Galland had played a fine innings for 55, including nine fours, and its merit was recognised by the spectators. 155—9—55.

Torrance, the last man, joined Douglas, but before he had scored he was run out, and the innings closed for 155, Douglas being not out with three. Worker and Badcock opened Wellington’s innings, Worker facing Dickinson Worker turned the first ball he received to leg for a single, and Badcock played out the rest of the over. Torrance took the ball at the pavilion end, his second ball just missing the wickets and going for a bye. The over was a maiden. Badcock’s first score was a single from a square cut off Dickinson, Worker playing out the rest of the over. Smart fielding by Elmes and Douglas brought bursts of applause from the spectators and enabled Torrance to send up his second maiden. The first ball of Dickinson’s next over caught Worker with his pads in front of the wicket, and he was given out Ibw. 4—l—l. Foley, another left-hander, joined Badcock, and turned the fast bowler to leg for a single. There was still no score off Torrance after his third over, Elmes again stopping a hot drive by Badcock. B'oley brought IQ up by square-cutting Dickinson for 4, and ho notched a brace with a nice, leg shot. The first score off Torrance was a pretty drive to the boundary by Badcock. Three singles came off Dickinson’s next over, and by squarecutting Torrance for 1, Foley took the total to 20, and his own score to double figures. The innings had been in progress for half an’ hour. Dickinson sent up his first maiden to Foley, but Badcock was more aggressive, getting Torrance away to leg for a brace and then sending him to the boundary with the same shot, reaching double figures. The batsmen plodded on steadily until 40 was reached, when Knight relieved Dickinson, who had sent up eight overs for 18 runs. The over was a maiden. Four, off Torrance, with the help of overthrows, took Foley’s score past 20, and Badcock reached the same number with a single off Knight. A couple of byes took the score to 50 in 55 minutes, but Torrance’s over was a maiden. Only a single was scored off Knight’s third over, and Torrance’s eleventh yielded three runs, the 11 having cost 27 runs. There was a pause while Badcock procured his third bat. Though tho batsmen were scoring steadily and confidently, the cricket was not particularly interesting, good ground fielding saving runs. The score had reached 59 when Blunt replaced Knight, who had sent us four overs for eight runs. By turning the new bowler to leg for a single, Foley brought 60 up in 65 minutes. Badcock played out the rest of the over, and the team adjournment was taken, Foley’s score being 29 and Badcock’s 25. When play was resumed Dickinson was bowled from the pavilion end, the only score off the over being a brace to Foley. Five came off Blunt’s first over, and both batsmen had reached 30. By off-driving Dickinson to the pickets Badcock brought 70 up, and Foley had to run hard to save himself from being run out when he square cut the fast bowler for a couple. Badcock opened his shoulders to Blunt and drove him hard to the offboundary, bringing 80 up, and a single off the same bowler took the professional to 40. Foley reached the same number by turning Dickinson to leg for a 2 and 4, seven coming off the over. A single to Foley brought 90 up. Badcock, who was now opening liis shoulders, leg-glanced Dickinson prettily to the boundary, and another single took him to the half-cen-tury. Two runs later the century came up. A ball from Blunt graced Foleys wicket, but the batsman pulled the next ball so powerfully that Cherry had no chance of stopping it, and it went to the boundary. Torrance took the ball from Dickinson when the score had reached 105. Foley reached 50 with a single oft Blunt. Both batsmen were well set, and were scoring all round the wicket with clean shots. Badcock played his first uppish shot when he lifted a ball from Blunt halfway up the pitch, but it was well out of the bowler’s reach. Knight had another turn with the ball replacing Torrance when the total hap reached 127, and Badcock had passed 60. The batsmen were scoring evenly, Foley reaching 60 by pulling Knight to leg- Douglas was given a trial in Blunts place, the over yielding half a dozen. Knights second over was a maiden, Foley narrawly missing playing a ball on to his wickets. Otago were unlucky when Badcock, who was 64, drove Douglas hard to mid-off and Dickinson failed to hold the ball. A brace to Badcock off Knight brought 150 up, and a boundary to the same batsman took Wellingtons score nast Otago’s. Dickinson more than made amends for the dropped chance when Badcock drove a ball from Knight hard to mid-off, and the fast bowler took a brilliant catch right on the ground. Badcock had been batting for 126 minutes.— 159 —2 —77. , , ~ Lamason, the incomer, played out the rest of the over which was a maiden. Foley reached 80. and the score went to 170 at the same time, after which Dickinson replaced Douglas, the batsmen collectin' 1, three off the over. Nine came o Knight’s next over, and the total passed 180. Blunt then took the ball from Knight, but changes were ineffective, the board showing 200 after 153 minutes batting Foley’s score being 87. With the total at 207 Torrance took the ball from Blunt, a single coming off the over. After a spell- in which he got little of the bowling Foley scored a single off Torrance bringing his score to 90. Lamason called for a run off the last ball of the over, but Foley slipped and Lamason but a smart return caugbt him out of his Cr LowVy? th^iiwt 1 ' batsman was greeted with applause. In the first ever he received from Dickinson the ball completely beat him, and sailed oyer the top of the stumps. Five i^Wthe Foley had 95 to his credit. Each of the batsmen scored a single, and Foley los the bowling. Lowry collected a brace off Dickinson, but stumps lyerc drann before Foley could reach the hundred. Loviy bad scored 10. Scores: —

OTAGO. First Innings. R. Cherry. 2221, b M'Girr 7 A. Knight. 112142, b M’Girr .. . . H J. M’Mullan, 141, c Lambert, b R C. 1 Blunt,'' mi 143212521341424, c Donogbue, b Badcock ........ 4.5 v a Cavanaph, 31, run out .... 4 A.' Galland, 14144111141114441214124 91 c Lambert, b M’Girr m G.-R. Dickinson, 1U2121, c James, b M’Girr .. • • • .• • • • W. Vorrath, c Lamason, b Bncc . . 0 C J Elms, 14, c Massey, b Badcock o W. Douglas, 21, not out 3 R. Torrance, run out " Extras Total - 155 Bowling Analysis. 0. M. R. W. H. M’Girr .. 24.5 5 81 5 H. xi. Massey 5 2 5 0 F. T. Badcock 18 6 39 2 H. Lambert ..3 2 8 0 S. Brice .... 4 2 10 1 WELLINGTON. First Innings, R. de R. Worker, 1, Ibw. b DickinF B °T Badcock! 1411241311111111221 ,1411134111132221124241, c Dickinson, b Knight 77 H Foley, 142111123114211111221241 14121114412311324131121112111121, not out 97 J. R. Lamason, 11244141441121, run out 31 T. C. Lowry, 2112112, not out .... 10 Extras 13 Total' for three wickets .. 229

Bowling : Ana lysis. 0. M. R. W. a. Dickinson . . 21 o 60 1 R. Torrance .. 19 4 45 0 A. Knight 11 a 31 1 w. Douglas 5 0 2R 0 R. Blunt .. .. 11 0 43 0