THE PLUNKET SHIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21529, 29 December 1931, Page 7

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO’S GREAT EFFORT . * ■■ : ' “ 555 FOR NINE WICKETS BLUNT’S BRILLIANT DISPLAY .I ■ UNCONQUERED WITH 315 v i (Per United Pbess Association.) 1 CHRISTCHURCH. December 28. In the Plunket Shield, match to-day Otago, made one of the greatest batting recoveries ever known in New ‘Zealand cricket.- They began , the day , with a deficit of over 300 runs, but piled up the magnificent score of 555 runs for nine wickets, leaving Canterbury a formidable task on the fourth day to escape defeat. The chief contributor J.O Otago’s fine total was R. C. Blunt, who wae unbeaten when .stumps were drawn with a score of 315. He has already made a Plunket Shield record score, and good judges who saw him to-day declared that his batting was the finest ever seen at Lancaster Park. It > was Blunt’s most brilliant achievement; in a brilliant cricket career. 3oing in at 11.50 with the score at one for 49, he saw 508 runs added to the total. His performance today easily eclipsed hia previous best efforts, and he produced scoring strokes which surprised even his 'greatest admirers, of whom he has many in Christchurch. He lifted two or three balls into the deep field when it was safe to do so, but otherwise his runs came from shots along the carpet in front and behind the wicket. His off-driving was especially fine, being exev cuted with effortless ease, and his timing of his strokes on the leg side was uncanny. He gave a chance at 128, and was actually caught off a no-ball, but * there was no other blemish in his long innings. Badcock, who opened'with Cherry, also scored a meritorious but his effort was overshadowed by Blunt’s brilliance. The value of Badcock’s knock was that it took the edge off the bowling, and laid the foundation for Otago’s big score. Right from the start Badcock went for the bowling, frequently making runs from balls that many good batsmen would have simply. played. He took risks, but the balls he lifted were generally, to chosen parts of the field. His strokes were well timed and executed with a lot of power behind them. Next in order of merit was the effort of Hawksworth, who kept his end up while Blunt scored until the partnership had added 150 runs, ■- Of the Canterbury bowlers, Burrows was the steadiest, keeping a good length with few loose balls. Cromb bowled well early, but later lost both speed and length. The ground finding was far below Otago’s display on Saturday. Scores: — 4 CANTERBURY. First innings .. .. .*. .. .. .. .. 472 ' OTAGO. First innings .. \i\., .. 161 Second Innings. R. Cherry, c Page, b Cromb .... 13 F. T. Badcbckj C Powell, b Cromb ..105 R. C. Blunt, not out'-.V .... . V . : . [315 A. Knight, c Hamilton, b Burrows .. 9 W. A. Priest, c Hamilton, b Burrows 0 C. J. Elmes, Ibw, b Talbot .... .. 24 D. Smith, B Burrows ~ .. , .. .. 15 J. A. Dunning, Ibw, b Burrows .... 5 D. A. R. Moloney, c Page, b Merritt 5 W. D. Coupland, b Burrows ...... 13 W. Hawksworth, not out 16 Extras • 35 i■ ” ' Total for mine wickets ~ .. 555 Bowling Analysis.—Cromb, three for 125; Burrows, ‘ four for 68; Merritt, one for 134; Talbot, one for 78; Lester, none for 47; Roberts, none for 54; Page, none for 14. ; / • r A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY BLUNT’S GREAT EFFORT v i .■ * ' v ••' , (From Our Special Reporter.) . CHRISTCHURCH. December 28. )‘ Blunt played a gteat’innings. He went in second wicket down, and is still unconquered with over three centuries to his credit. He gave only one chance. When he had just carried his score past 120 he hit a ball straight into Talbot’s hands at square leg, but the fieldsman was evidently caught unawares and dropped the' ball. As he reached edeh of hie centuries Blunt was loudly cheered, and he received an ovation when he returned to the pavilion at the conclusion of the day’s play. At times Blunt’s square and on-driving and his late cutting and pulls were really magnificent. He fairly demoralised the field when he was associated with Hawksworth by the brilliant perfection of his batting, and he treated all. the bowlers alike, being at times very severe on Merritt. Blunt passed his 300 by slamming a full toss from Merritt to the leg boundary, and the glow bowler was the' first to congratulate the .Otago batsman. Three times in one over from Cromb (Blunt got the ball (high) through the slips to the boundary. The shots appeared; a bit streaky, but they were well out of the reach of the fieldsmen. At 180 Blunt was caught at square leg off a no-ball, and immediately before that he had been temporarily, laid out, a smart return by Cromb as be went for a short run, the ball striking the Otago man on the back. The. most exciting part of the day’s play was when Hawksworth joined Blunt. Hawksworth batted coolly and confidently from start to finish. Otago bad nine wickets down for 405 when the last Otago man joined Blunt. Hawksworth played the rock game, and although Merritt had him in trouble now and then he kept up his-.wicket in sturdy style. When the score was 520 Hawksworth got a brace and brought his total up to 10. Nothing but praise can be awarded to Hawksworth for his gallant defence when Otago needed all the runs she could get and when Blunt was getting them. Elmes and Coupland also helped Blunt to carry on the score. Badcock played a brilliant innings. He swung into his on and off drives and got some fine wristy shots through the slips. He banged a full toss from Merritt right into Talbot’s hands at square leg after he had scored 20, hut the fieldsman dropped the hot chance. Badcock thereafter batted with the greatest freedom and did not give a chance. Once he had got his 100 he started to hit at everything and soon paid the penalty. Badcock y s running between the wickets with Cherry was very'fine, and he.and Blunt also judged many short ones with generally a foot or two to spare. Old-time cricketers agree that the cricket when Blunt and Badcock were together this morning was one of the brightest displays of the match. Supporters of Canterbury cricket also congratulated Hawksworth on his plucky stand with Blunt. Dunning was unlucky to be given out leg before., as he considered the ball was off the, wicket and played it deliberately with his legs.

AUCKLAND v, WELLINGTON

VICTORY FOR HOME TEAM SIX WICKETS TO SPARE FINE INNINGS BY VIVIAN. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 28. The Plunket Shield match between Auckland and Wellington concluded at 4.35 this afternoon in a victory for Wellington by six .wickets. Auckland made a valiant effort to save-the game by scoring 285 in the second innings. A feature oi the match was the brilliant innings played for Auckland by Vivian, who increased his overnight score of 82 not out to 105, Old cricketers present unanimously voted his to be one of the mostbrilliant innings eer seen at the Basin Reserve. His foot and wrist work were nearly perfect, and he timed his strokes beautifully, hitting sixes off M'Girr and Newman and treating all the bowlers with careifree impartiality. He was at the wickets lor lau minutes, and received an option on returning, after being bowled by M'Girr. The next highest score on the Auckland side was 39 by Postles. M'Girr bowled well for Wellington in taking four for 61 off 23 overs. Newman captured two for 58 off 28 overs. Massey, Lambert, and Crook also secured,a wicket apiece. VRequiring 179 runs to win, Dempster and Dustin gave Wellington a splendid start by putting on 119 for the first wicket. Here Dempster, who had reached 67, fell Ibw to Vivian. The professional, who had been at the wickets for 72 minutes, hi v t nine fours. ' M'Girr and Lambert assisted Dustin to hit off the runs required to give Wellington a win by six wickets. Dustin was left unbeaten with 63. Scores: — AUCKLAND. First innings .. .. .. 164 Second Innings. Postles, c Crook, b f Massey .. .. 39 Whitelaw, b M'Girr .. .. .. 7 Weir, b M'Girr .. . .. 1 Vivian, b M'Girr .. ..165 Gillespie, Ibw, b Crook •.. ... 14 Hay,, b Ijambert ..... ...... 5 Lyon, b M'Girr .. A 18 M'Coy,' b Newman .. 0 Matheson, c James, b Newman ~ .. 1 Cleverley, not out .. . . .. ~ ~ 9 Rowntree, run out .. .. .. .. 7 Extrad .. .. 19 1 Total .. .. 285 1 Bowling Analysis.—-M'Girr, 4 for 61; Massey, 1 for 31; Newman, 2 for 58; Griffiths, 0 for 20; /Lambert, 1 for , 58; Crook, 1 for 38. First innings .. /.. .. ..... 271 Second Innings. Dempster, Ibw, b Vivian .. ... ~ 67 Dustin, not out, .. 63 Hepburn, b Cleverley .. .. .. .. 1 M'Girr, c and b Weir 15 Lambert, b Weir 19 Crook, not out ~ 4 Extras .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Total for four wickets .. .. 182 Bowling Analysis.—Cleverley, 1 for 30; Weir, 2 for 22; Matheson, 0 for 18; Vivian, 1 for 75; Lyon, O for 10; M'Coy, 0 for 14. . • ,