PLUNKET SHIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24221, 13 February 1940, Page 6

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO’S GREAT RECOVERY WELLINGTON BATSMEN FAIL VISITORS IN WEAK POSITION After it had seemed probable at one stage that it would finish on the second day with a comfortable win for Wellington as the result, the final Plunket IShield match of the season, between Otago and Wellington, has gone on to the fourth day with the extreme probability of an outright win for Otago as the outcome. Fluctuating fortunes are not uncommon in a game of cricket, but this match is remarkable in that Otago has recovered from the position of facing a deficit of 82 on the first innings and losing six for 120 fn its second attempt to that of having only the last two Wellington batsmen to dismiss and 94 runs in hand. Otago carried Its second innings from 287 for eight wickets to 351 and captured eight Wellington wickets for 175. It is, of course, possible for the visiting side to stage a brilliant finish, and it is not impossible that rain might yet rob Otago of a win, but up to this point the match must be regarded as a triumphant recovery for the home side. Yesterday’s play—on a wicket made easy by rain except that foot-holes at one end caused batsmen some uneasiness and in weather that was still cold but sunny and free of most of the wind and showers that marred the first two days—was interesting largely for the fact tha£ T. C. Fraser carried his overnight score of 105 to 118, for a splendid consolidating innings by the Otago wicket-keeper. G. H. Mills, ana for the success oi the Otago bowlers.

Going in No. 10. Mills took charge of the game when Fraser was out. and scored freely and monopolised the bowling so exclusively that he hit 31 of the 32 runs added for the last wicket. His innings of 50 was aggressive and studded by cleanly-hit strokes. Dull Batting Wellington required 270 in its second innings for an outright win, but at no stage of the day looked like a winning side. It was unfortunate that its ’keeper and solid opening batsman. E. W. Tindill, was suffering so badly from back trouble that he spent most of the day under medical treatment. He did bat when his side was in a dangerous position, but he was crippled and unable to do anything more than keep the ball out of his wicket. That he did so with such effect that he is not out with six runs to his credit after batting for about an hour and a-half was a tribute to his courage and determination.

Of the Wellington batsmen, only E. G. McLeod, W. G. Rainbird, and D. S. Wilson showed form worthy of their reputations. The whole innings was very slow In fact, only Wilson showed any particular aggression with success McLeod and Rainbird batted solidly, and the latter held the side together well for nearly two hours. His innings of 46 was a first-class one. characterised by dogged defence and strong hitting of the loose balls. With him out, the Otago bowlers were in full charge. Bowlers in Charge All of them were played with great caution —more caution, with due respect to their steadiness, than the bowling deserved. The wicket presented no difficulties except that V. J. Leader made the ball fizz sometimes off the one patch worn by the Wellington bowler J. Ashenden. It was of easy pace throughout the day. The lack of forceful batting shown by the visitors is reflected in the figures of the Otago bowlers. T. G. Lemin bowled 12 overs for 20 runs and three wickets; C. J. Elmes 22 overs for 40 runs and one wicket; V. J. Leader 18 overs, 10 of which were maidens, for 35 runs; and D. A. R. Moloney, £ slow, spin bowler. 16 overs for 47 runs and four wickets. Leader deserved a wicket or two; but all of the attack was consistently accurate. At the same time, the performance of the Wellington batsmen did not merit any commendation. Fraser Adds 13 The Wellington bowlers, Pritchard and J. Ashenden, had the new ball when they started yesterday morning, McLeod having kept it in reserve on Saturday. Fraser (105) and Mills (4) started quietly, and were very watchful of Pritchard’s fiery ones just outside the off stump. Mills was turning Ashenden and then Wilson to the leg side cleanly, and the 300 appeared in 304 minutes. Fraser snicked one from Pritchard which Whyte, at fourth slip, just touched. Fraser was 117 then, and one run later he reached for another, and Ashenden, at third slip, made a smart catch. The young Carisbrook batsman’s invaluable innings ended with the total at 319. He had seen 238 runs added, and scored 118 in 253 minutes, including seven 4’s. A Vigorous Tail Mills was moving along freely, and with the last man, Lemin, in, he took complete charge. The newcomer survived an anxious over from Pritchard, and then Mills began to hook and drive freely. He kept the bowling to himself cleverly, and rushed into the 40’s by driving Ashenden high over the long-on fence. He was concentrating on 4’s and 2’s, and Lemin played only a very occasional ball. When' 350 was hoisted he had scored 30 of the 31 runs added for the partnership, but one run later he pushed Ashenden into McLeod’s hands, forward of square leg. Mills had batted only 72 minutes for his 51, which included four 4’s and one 6. Together with Fraser and Toomey, he had given Otago a winning chance.

There was rain threatening when McLeod, opening in place of TindUl—who was still suffering from a chill in the back—and O. .Wrigley went out to start Wellington’s attempt to score 270 for an outright win. Neither Lemin nor G. J. Robertson, the latter bowling to a defensive rather than an attacking field, could get anv life out of the wicket, and most of Robertson’s opening over swung well outside Wrigley’s legs. Wrigley mishit Lemin dangerously near Elmes at mid-on. He was not shaping impressively, and it was not surprising when he touched one from Lemin and gave Mills an easy catch. The total was 15. Lemin had repeated his first-innings performance of getting one wicket for five runs. A Dogged Partnership ' Rainbird had not opened his score when a hailstorm cleared the ground for an early lunch. The total was still 15. McLeod being 5. Lemin and Robertson bowled a steady over or two after lunch before

the left-hander, Elmes, and Leader were tried. Scoring was slow, both batsmen being very cautious indeed. The wicket was scarcely marked, still in splendid order, but of easy pace, Rainbird was dour, and six overs from Elmes cost only six runs. He connected hard with an overpitched one and then hooked a short one for 4 each, though, and brought 50 up In 82 minutes. It was the dullest of cricket, and when Moloney bowled himself from the Workshops end. it seemed that the trial of a spin bowler was overdue. The change was immediately successful. McLeod did not connect with a very short first ball, but swung at another long hop on his legs after two singles had been run. The catch went low into Elmes. fielding fine of souare leg. and was cleanly picked up. The total was 59, and McLeod had baited stubbornly for 102 minutes for 28 runs. The game swung sharply in Otago’s favour two overs later. Moloney kept on himself, and the new batsman, J. A. Ongley, hooked one or two short ones cleanly. He was prepared to use his feet, but he did not get far enough out to cover an off-drive and lifted an easy catch to Cutler at mid-off. He had scored 6. and the total was 67 V. H. du Chateau very nearly met the same fate before he was into double figures, but the low catch was just wide of Elmes. The tea adjournment was taken with the total 89, and the same determined digging in was continued when they started again. Leader, bowling from the pavilion end, was getting a kick from marks made by Ashenden just outside the off stump of a left-hander, and du Chateau was not at all happy facing him. The 100 appeared in 163 minutes when Rainbird, playing a splendid innings, ran into the 40’s by getting Elmes through the covers for four. Another Successful Change Lemin was tried in place of Leader, and again the change was immediately successful. Du Chateau, who was not playing at all impressively on the off side, did not get right over the last ball of the over, and Mills, standing back, took a catch very similar to that which had given Lemin his first wicket. The score was 108. Du Chateau had not shaped in either innings at all as well as was expected of the batsman who has made so many big scores in Wellington club cricket this season. The advantage was driven right home when Moloney took the ball at the other send. Rainbird moved out to drive the third ball of the over, but did not keep it down, and Moloney dived down the wicket to scoop up a grand catch. Rainbird’s wicket was a valuable one. He had batted 106 minutes for 46 runs and lightened excellent defensive cricket with six fours. The board now showed 115 for five wickets, and Wellington was fighting hard. The next ball should have yielded another wicket. W. F. Airey, a powerful left-hander, joined D, S. Wilson and swung at his first ball. It went high and straight but Cameron, fielding in front of <the sightscreen, dropped the catch. The mistake was soon rectified. Two overs later Airey swung hard at a ball from Lemin short of a length. If he had connected he would have hooked it out of the ground, but it knocked his off stump back and the board showed 118 for six wickets. In the circumstances there was no justification for such a stroke. Tindill’s Pluckiness E. W. Tindill, who had been having treatment during the day for back trouble, came in next with Airey to run for him. He was obviously unfit. Lemin now had three wickets for 14 and Moloney three for 28. The field was crowded round Tindill. who could only concentrate on keeping the ball out of his wicket; but Wilson was eager to hit the loose ones, and he drove two good fours and turned both bowlers for several two’s. He found Leader to his liking and hooked and punched two or three short ones to bring 150 up in 228 minutes and run into the 30’s himself. Elmes was brought back at the Workships end and once again the change was successful. Wilson, a free driver, hit the first ball of his second over hard but lifted it to Moloney at mid-off. A good catch ended a bright innings and made the board show 152 for seven wickets.

Moloney came back when Pritcharc joined Tindill and was promptly driven for four. The Otago captain could afford to sacrifice runs for quick wickets now. and Pritchard was luckv when he mishit the slow bowler and

Mills just failed to gather the catch. The next ball was carted high into the outfield for two, and the third was meant to clear the pavilion. It bowled Pritchard, though, and the score was 161 for eight. G. L. Whyte was not afraid to hit them, and he reacned double figures by hitting Elmes straight for four. It was close to time by now. and the pair took the match into the fourth day. For the third time in three days play ended with eight wickets lost, this time for 175 runs. Details:— OTAGO First innings 138 Second Innings D, A. R. Moloney, Ibw, b Wilson .. 33 G. J. Robertson, c Wrigley, b Pritchard 11 A. S, H. Cutler, b Ashenden .. .. 16 C. J. Elmes, b Pritchard 17 H. R. Cameron, b Pritchard .. .. 18 T. C. Fraser, c Ashenden, b Pritchard 118 T. Chettleburgh. c Wilson, b Whyte 5 C. D. G. Toomey. c du Chateau, b McLeod 51 V, J. Leader, c Wrigley, b McLeod 9 G. H, Mills, c McLeod, b Ashenden 50 T. G. Lemin. not out 1 Extras (byes 8 leg-byes 13, noball 1) 22 Total 351 Fall of Wickets One for 29, two for 50, three for 81. four for 81. five for 110, six for 120, seven for 263. eight for 279. nine for 319. ten or 351.

Wilson bowled one no-ball. WELLINGTON First innings 220 Second Innings E. G. McLeod, c Elmes, b Moloney 28 O. Wrigley. c Mills, b Lemin .. .. 6 W, G, Rainbird, c and b Moloney 46 J. A. Ongley. c Cutler, b Moloney 6 V. H. du Chateau, c Mills, b Lemin 13 D. S. Wilson, c Moloney, b Elmes 32 V. 7 F. Airey. b Lemin 2 T. Pritchard, b Moloney .. .. 7 E, W. Tindill, not out 6 G. L. Whyte, not out 14 Extras'(byes 9 leg-byes 3, noballs 3) 15 Total (for eight wickets) ~ 175 Fall of Wickets One for 15 two for 59. three for 67, four for 108, five for 115, six for 118, seven for 152, eight for 161.

Lemin, Robertson, and Leader each bowled one no-ball.

Bowling Analysis 0. M. R. W. Pritchard 30 2 107 4 Ashenden 25.7 3 97 2 Wilson 10 2 73 1 Whyte .. 9 — 45 1 McLeod .. . • 5 1 7 2

Bowling Analysis O. M. R. W. Lemin .. ,. 12 2 20 s Robertson 6 1 18 ~ Elmes .. 22 7 40 1 Leader .. 18 10 35 — Moloney .. 16 2 47 4