THE PLUNKET SHIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21872, 7 February 1933, Page 5

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

WON BY OTAGO MARGIN OF FOUR WICKETS FINE INNINGS BY CAVANAGH i " By defeating Canterbury by four wickets at Cansbrook yesterday, Otago won the Plunket Shield contest for the 1932-33 season. The match was concluded in bright sunshine on a fast wicket that was showing few signs of serious wear. The match was watched by a crowd of 3000, the gate takings being £l3l. The takings for the match, which amounted to £471, constituted a recqrd for a Plunket Shield fixture in Dunedin. When play was resumed Canterbury, with a lead of nine runs on the first innings, had- lost six wickets for 81 runs in its second strike, Ppge and Merritt facing the bowling. After Page had been dropped off Dickinson in his first over, the batsmen settled down to play the bowling carefully and the runs mounted until 58 had been added to the score, a partnership which had saved Canterbury from disaster ending in Page being run out as the result of an error of judgment. The visiting captain had played a valuable innings for 27, scored in 112 minutes. Merritt soon followed after scoring 35 in 68 minutes. He again proved himself a sound batsman in a critical position, patiently waiting until he got a loose one to hit. O’Brien and Burns adopted forceful tactics, as the result of which the last two wickets added 33, and Otago was left with 182 to get fdr a win. The Otago bowlers had had the upper hand throughout the innings, but it was surprising that Badcock should have persevered with Dunning yesterday morning when, though bowling very accurately, he was no.t getting the nip off the pitch that helped him so much on Saturday. Dickinson, on the other hand was showing great form, but after sending down four excellent overs he was not brought on again while Page and Merritt were making their fine stand, Dickinson secured another wicket when he completely beat Burns, securing the fine average of two for 24 off 15 overs. Dunning gave an impressive display to take three for 42 off 28 overs, I and Badcock, who took three for 52 off 38 i overs, troubled all of the batsmen. I* was one of the finest displays of bowling given by Otago for some years, but the fielding was again marred by dropped catches. . , , , , Otago's opening pair had scored 26 t>y 1 bright cricket when Knight was bowled, 1 but a fine partnership between Cavanagh ! and Moloney, followed, and by sparkling cricket the pair added 98 for the second wicket, leaving victory almost beyond doubt. Moloney took little time to settle down, and afterwards played* delightfully free cricket, his score of 44 including six i boundaries. Aided by Leader, who again i played the “rock” game Cavanagh carried the total from 121 to 162 for the third wicket, scoring 77 in 139 minutes, I including five fours. He showed a good i range of scoring shots, being particularly I strong on the leg side, and covered up well ■ to liferritt, whom he faced confidently, i His innings was of inestimable value to I his side. He gave a hard chance at 68, 1 and another at 74. Dickinson and Leader i quickly followed, and one run was. still I required when Badcock was dismissed. I Partnered by Smith, who would have : been sent in earlier but for a finger, mi jury, Chettleburgh, who again played freely, Knocked off the required runs to give Otago the victory by four wickets. The Canterbury fielding suffered under the strain, and several mistakes were made. Merritt was again outstanding among the bowlers, but the batsmen faced him with much greater confidence I than in the first innings, and Quickly 1 took advantage of anything loose. Crqmb i bowled very steadily, and at one period, when he appeared to have found a spot, seemed likely to prove dangerous, but after he had been rested his bowling did not regain its sting. 1 Otago won the shield by virtue of being i the only undefeated province. In the I contest eight points are awarded for an outright win, four for a win in the first innings, 'and two for a the first innings. The following shows the final positions of the teams: — v,„ Total

CANTERBURY’S INNINGS ? CONCLUDED Merritt faced Dickinson on the resumpI tion. The fifth ball went for a bye, and i Page played the last of the over to Dun- ■ ning at short leg, but the catch was not accepted. Badcock took the ball at the i pavilion end. The batsmen showed sound 1 defence, and the total had reached 94 i when Dunning; relieved Dickinson. In his second over Merritt off-drove him for 4 to bring 100 up in 141 minutes. Then he sent Badcock away for another boundary. The total had reached 110 when Badcock changed from leg to off theory, and Page square-cut him beautifully for 4, but Merritt, at 32, was dropped behind the wickets off the professional. A dangerous partnership was I broken when Page played a ball from i Dunning to mid-on and called. Realising that there was no run he told Merritt to ' go back, but he was too late, and the 1 wicket was broken with both batsmen at 1 the one end. Page being run out. i 137—7—27, , . j O’Brien joined Merritt, who, after the 1 addition of one run, was skittled by Bad- | cock. 1398 —35.' j Burug was the incomer. After a very quiet start'he off-drove Badcock to the ' fence. With 145 on the board Moloney replaced Dunning, and Smith relieved Badcock, Burns cutting Smith to the pickets. Then O’Brien pulled Moloney for another 4 and drove Smith for yet another. With the total at 164 Dickinson replaced Moloney, and in his first ever skittled Burns. 164- —9—14. Burrows partnered O’Brien, who drove Smith for two successive 4’s, went for another big hit, and was bowled. 172-10—19. OTAGO’S SECOND STRIKE With a quarter of an hour to bat before the adjournment Cavanagh and Knight opened Otago’s second innings, the former facing Cromb and turning him to the on for a single. Burrows took the hall at the pavilion end, and sent up a maiden. Knight cut Cromb for a

couple and a single, and added a single off Burrows, whom Cavanagh drove tor 3. Merritt then relieved Cromb. Cavanagh pulled his first round for what should have been a single, but the ball was twice overthrown, anti the batsman got 3. Each batsman collected a single before the over ended. Cromb then relieved Burrows at the pavilion end, his first ball striking Cavanagh on the hip. The adjournment was taken with the ■core at 14 (Cavanagh 9, Knight 5). Cavanagh faced Burrows on the resumption, and gave him a maiden, Cromb being given the hall at the pavilion end. Knight drove him to the off-boundary and added a single, and then the ball went for four byes to bring 20 up. The third ball of Burrows’s nest over skittled Knight. 23—1—10. Moloney filled the vacancy, and, after the total had been earned to 32, Merritt

relieved Burrows, each batsman getting a single off the over. In the slow bowler’s next over Cavanagh lifted him to the fence to reach 20, and after an overthrow had given Cavanagh a single, Moloney drove Merritt for another boundary. Cromb bad found a spot, and was keeping the batsmen quiet. One more waa required for the half-century when Roberts replaced Merritt, Moloney turning him round for a brace. Merritt came on at the pavilion Cnd, and sent up a maiden to Cavanagh, who later pulled him round for 4. With the total at 59 Cromb relieved Roberts and Burrows was given the ball in Merritt s stead, Cavanagh reaching 30 in his first over. He then got a 3 off Cromb, and pulled Burrows for 4, Then he twice got Cromb away for a brace to reach 40. A 4 to Moloney brought 80 up, at

which stage Merritt relieved Crpmb, Moloney getting him away for a single to reach 20. He then off-drove Burrows to the fence. By bright batting he soon reached 30, and then brought 100 up by sending Merritt to the pickets. Merritt was then relieved by Bellamy, the left-hander, whose first two balls were full tossers, Moloney sending them away for a brace and 4 to reach 40. ihe total had reached 111 when Roberts relieved Burrows, Cavanagh reaching the half-century by sending him to the leg boundary after batting for 97 minutes. Page made the change a double one by bringing Cromb on in place of Bellamy. In Roberts’s second over Moloney lost his off stump. 121—2 —44. Leader joined Cavanagh, who quickly reached 60 and then twice hooked Roberts to the fence. With the total at 137 Merritt replaced Cromb, and Lender then scored his first run after batting for 13 minutes. Cavanagh, at 68, theu drove one hard to Burrows at mid-on, and a difficult chance was missed. Cromb replaced Roberts at the pavilion end, and Cavanagh drove him for a couple to reach 70. Then Loader drove Cromb to the pickets to bring 150 up. _ At length O’Brien was given a trial in place of Cromb. Then Cavanagh, at 74, was again missed at mid-on by Burrows off Merritt. At the adjournment the score was 158 (Cavanagh 77, Leader 10). Cavanagh faced Merritt on the resumption, and, after a leg bye had been added, Leader got the slow bowler away to fine leg for a trio. Roberts took up the attack at the other end and sent up a maiden. In Merritt’s next over Cavanagh lifted one on the leg side, and Page accepted the catch. 162 —3 —77. Dickinson was the incomer, but after he had added a couple of singles he gave O’Brien an easy catch off Merritt. 164 4—2. Chettleburgh joined Leader, and sent Merritt round to square leg. brilliant fielding bv Kerr saving a boundary. Merritt had the fieldsmen grouped round the wicket while Leader was facing him, and the left-hander, who was Paying him less confidently than in the first innings, at

length played one on to his wicket, 167 5—14.

Badcock partnered Chettleburgh, who drove one back over Roberts’s head for 4 and then placed him for 1. Badcock then drove him for, a trio. The professional sent Merritt away for what should have been a single, but a hard return by Dunster went to the boundary and left Otago with only two to get. Then Merritt surprised the crowd, by sending down a fast one, the ball rising the height of the batsman’s head. Cromb then relieved Roberts, and Badcock played the last ball, of the over on to his wicket. 180 —6—B. Smith filled the vacancy, and Chettleburgh drove Merritt for a single. The first ball of Cromb’s next over the same batsman sent to the _ fine leg boundary to enable Otago to win the match. The umpire signalled byes, but later informed the scorers that. Chettleburgh had hit the ball.

Otago .V . 8 pta. 2 4$ta. 1 2 pts. Pta. 20 Canterbury . . 1 1 ’ — 12 Auckland’ ... 1 — 12 Wellington . . — — ~~ —

Scores:— CANTERBURY. First innings. • 272 Second Innings, J. L. Kerr, 11141122111112242, c Chettleburgh, b Dunning 28 J. L. Powell, 144414421, b Badcock . 25 A. W Roberts, 1141, c Coupland, b Dunning . 7 L. R. Dunster, c Hawkesworth, b Dunning 0 M. L. Page, 211141111211211141, run out .. .. 27 I. B. Cromb, 114, e Dunning, b Dickinson F, Bellamy, b Badcock .0 W. E. Merritt. 111141413412141113, b Badcock 35 F. P. O’Brien, 1114444, b Smith . 19 R. C. Burns, 2414111, b Dickinson . 14 J. T. Burrows, not out 0 Byes 2 Leg byes 8 No ball 1 Total 172 Fall of Wickets.—One for 41, two for 52, three for 52. four for 65, five for 77, six for 80. seven for 138, eight for 139, nine for 164, 10 for 172. Bowling Analysis. 0. M. R. W. G. R. Dickinson 15 7 24 2 D. Smith .. .. 6.3 • — 33 1 F. T. Badcock ..38 11 52 3 J. A. Dunning .. 28 14 42 3 D. A. R. Moloney 2 — 10 — Dickinson bowled one no ball. OTAGO. First innings . 263 Second Innings. V G. Cavanagh, 1331121314114313422 111214221111144121113, c Page, b Merritt ' . 77 A,.R. Knight. 211141, b Burrows . . 10 D. A. R. Moloney, 124121211414412424 111, b Roberts . 44 V. Leader, 1214231, b Merritt .. . . 14 G. R. Dickinson, 11, c O’Brien, b Merritt . 2 T. Chettleburgh, 114114, not out . . 12 F. T. Badcock, 35, b Cromb .. . 8 D. Smith, not out 0 Byes Leg byes Total for six wickets .. . 185 Fall of Wickets. —One for 23, two for 121, three for 162, four for 164, five for 167, six for 180. Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. I. B. Cromb .. 19.1 5 46 1 J. T. Burrows .. 12 3 30 1 W E. Merritt 22 5 52 3 A. W. Roberts 12 3 29 1 F. Bellamy .. 2 — 7 — F. P. O’Brien ,. 2 — 3 "

HOLDERS OF THE SHIELD The following table shows the holders of the shield to date: — 1906-07—Canterbury. 1920-21—Wellington. 1907-08—Auckland. 1921-22—Auckland. 1908-09—Auckland 1922-2 3—Canterbury. 1909-10—Auckland. 1923-24—Wellington. 1910-11—Canterbury. 1924-25—Otago. 1911-12—Auckland. 1925-26—Wellington. 1912-13—Canterbury. 1926-27 —Auckland. 1913-14 —Canterbury. 1927-28—Wellington. 1914-15 —Canterbury. 1928-29—Auckland. 1916-18—No matches 1929-30—Wellington. played. 1930-31—Canterbury. 101 » io -S Wellington. 1918-19 j canterbury. 1931-32—Wellington. 1932-33—Otago. 1919-20—Auckland. Auckland has had eight wins, Canterbury seven, Wellington six, and Otago two. and the shield has once been shared by Wellington and Canterbury. OTAGO TEAM’S AVERAGES. The following are the averages of the players who Plunket Shie 'have represented Otago in d matches this season: — BATTING. Ins. N.O. H.S. Runs. Av’ge. Cavanagh 5 — 77 197 39.4 Smith 5 1 52 147 30.7 Chettleburgh Knight'.. .. 5 2 48 103 34.3 — 81 165 33.0 Leader .. .. 3 — 40 93 31.0 Elmes .. .. 3 • — 38 77 25.6 Moloney 5 — 44 116 23.2 Coupland 4 1 32* 51 17.0 Badcock 5 — 31 75 15.0 Hawkesworth 4 2 13 26 13.0 Dunning 4- — 13 32 8.0 Dickinson .. 2 — 11 13 6.5 Priest 2 — 4 6 3.0 * Not out. BOWLING. Wkts. Runs. Av’ge. Smith 7 98 14.0 Badcock . 21 311 14.8 Coupland 5 102 20.4 Dickinson 3 64 21.3 Dunning 14 314 22.4 Moloney 4 110 27.5 Elmes (1 for 77), Leader (0 for 4), and Chettleburgh (0 for 17) also bowled.