LOW SCORES IN CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26047, 10 January 1946, Page 3

LOW SCORES IN CRICKET

Wellington’s score of 42 in the second innings of the Plunket Shield match against Otago was that province’s lowest in a shield match. It did not miss by much being the lowest in the history of the competition. That doubtful honour is at present held by Canterbury, which was dismissed by Wellington for 37 runs in the 1925-26 season, H. M. McGirr taking five wickets for 17 runs and F. T. Badcock five for 18. Auckland’s biggest shield collapse was when it fell for 56 runs against Canterbury in 1931-32 at Eden Park. W. E. Merritt took three for 6 off three overs, J. T. Burrows four for 24 off 13 overs, and I. B. Cromb two for 24 off 11 overs. The wieket was good and the conditions ideal. Otago’s poorest score to date in a shield match was 67 against Auckland in 1929-30 at Auckland, when A. H. Wcnslcy provided oqe of the most sensational bowling performances on record. He bowled 24 overs, of which 13 were maidens, and took nine wickets for 39 runs. The wicket had been affected by heavy rain on the previous day, and Wensley made the most of it. In the second innings Otago made only 97, and Auckland, for whom J. E. Mills made 185 in a total of 356, won by an innings and 192 runs. Three times in shield matches Otago twice in one match against Canterbury in 1930-31 at Carisbrook, and also against Canterbury at Christchurch in 1913-14. In the 1930-31 match Merritt took four for 14 and six for 23.