Sport and Pastimes

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 2

Sport and Pastimes

By Observer

Otago Fights Back In Plunket Shield Cricket

The captain of the Otago cricket eleven, W. A.‘Hadlee, must be considered to have acted wisely in declaring Otago’s innings closed in order to get Canterbury in on Thursday afternoon while the wicket at Lancaster Park was still somewhat tricky. When the conditions improved, however, the evidence of his limited bowling resources became apparent, the lack of variety in the attack evidently allowing the high-scoring batsmen to settle down and score freely.

It was unfortunate that in the early stages of the third day two or three catches should have been. dropped at a critical time. In the second innings, however; Otago revealed something like its true batting strength, and the side deserves credit for fighting back as it did and averting an outright defeat. i Thfe outstanding batting performance was that of A. W. Roberts whose form this season is undoubtedly the best he has shown since he came to Dunedin three years ago. There were some followers of the game who declared last' year that Roberts was a spent force so far as first-class cricket was concerned, but his 110 not out on Saturday, coming as it did after a solid knock for 44 in the first innings, disproves that opinion. This was Roberts’s third successive century this season, as he recorded three figure scores for Old Boys in the two matches prior to his going on tour. Roberts is known for his soundness in batting and for steadiness in his bowling—the type of cricketer ' who when in form is a very valuable asset. Roberts has now scored three centuries in Plunket Shield cricket, his highest score being 181, while his aggregate in Plunket Shield games is 1967 ruhs for 59 innings, including six not out. This gives him an average of 37.11. He has also taken 54 wickets in Plunket Shield games. The feat of accomplishing the , hattrick in a Plunket Shield match is one of which any bowler might be proud, and for the Southlander, G. W. Overton, his performance in Christchurch will be a very pleasant memory. While Overton did not succeed in getting any further wickets in the innings, he certainly did his part.in taking advantage of whatever assistance the wicket was giving at the time. The only previous performance of the hat-trick in Plunket Shield cricket

was by C. Oliff in the 1912-13 season. Playing for Auckland he took the last three Wellington wickets, his victims including C. V. Grimmett and T. R. Southall, both of whom later represented Australia. Overton was at one time a pupil of Otago Boys’ High School, and is one of those keen cricketers whose

success will be popular. His consistency is revealed by his performances last season. His most sensational burst was made when he played for Otago in the match against the Australians in which he took three wickets for 86 and none for 22. His performances for Southland were as follows: —v. Otago, at Invercargill, four for 28 and six for 13; v. Canterbury, one for 95; v. South Canterbury, two for 30; v. North Otago, four for 12 and two fob 13; v. Otago, at Dunedin, two for 48 and one for 37.