MATCH DRAWN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26385, 13 February 1947, Page 10

MATCH DRAWN

HONOURS WITH METROPOLITAN MANIOTOTO AVERTS DEFEAT The Maniototo representative team narrowly averted defeat yesterday in the match against the Metropolitan team of players under 25. When Metropolitan s first innings was closed at lunch with seven wickets down for 376 runs, Maniototo were not in a good position. Unimpressive bowling and poor fielding, however, enabled Maniototo to play out time and thus made a drawn game. Conditions were again ideal when the Metropolitan innings was resumed yesterday morning. The batsmen, realising the need for quick scoring, took risks and hit out freely. In two and a-half hours 218 runs were up. D. St. John and G. Irvine, the not-out batsmen on Tuesday, carried the score from 158 to 214 before being separated. St. John started snakily but scored with some attractive shots. He hit five 4's and Irvine hit one 6 and four 4’s in his 40 runs, which he made in 80 minutes. Expensive mistakes were made by Maniototo when A. S. Mills was dropped before he had scored and again at 9. He went on to score 69, including 10 4’s and one 6, and with McArley, put on 79 for the sixth wicket. Both men gave free hitting displays, trouncing the bowling with powerful drives and pulls. McArley, who made his 57 runs in little more than 40 minutes, declared the innings closed at lunch leaving Maniototo four and a-half hours to score 162 runs to avert outright defeat. The Maniototo attack lacked sting ana the batsmen were on top throughout. J. Mulholland, with three for 99, and J. Macassey, with three for 60, were the most successful of those tried. Solid knocks by the opening batsmen, J. Mathias and A.' Blackburn gave Maniototo a good start. Blackburn, in particular, batted patiently, and his 37 was a valuable contribution to his side’s total. At the tea adjournment the score was one for 97. When play was resumed, two good wickets fell cheaply, and although the howling was unimpressive, runs came at a slow' rate. For the second time in the match. J. W. Blakely was run out, and H. McSkimming was unlucky when his wicket was thrown down and he was left stranded down the pitch. The tail wagged, however, and defeat was averted. J. P. Kearney, although not at ease, reached 26. Nine Metropolitan bowlers were tried in an effort to dismiss Maniototo B. Sutcliffe was steady, and took four for 44 off 28 overs. The fielding of the Metropolitan players, with one or two exceptions, was not good, and Mills, behind the wickets, was not at his best. Scores MANIOTOTO First innings 215 Second Innings J. Mathias, c Walsh, b Couper .. .. 29 A. Blackburn, c Sutcliffe, b McArley 37 J. W. Blakely, run out 23 R. McSkimming, run out 3 J. D. Blakely, c McGregor, b Sutcliffe 23 J. Macassey, b Sutcliffe 10 J. P. Kearney, b Sutcliffe 26 W. Harley, c Watson, b Couper .. .. 6 W. McAtainney, c St. John, b Sutcliffe 4 J. C. Kearney, not out 10 J. Mulholland, not out 4 Extras (16 byes. 10 leg-byes, 1 noball) 27 Total (for nine w'ickets) .. .. 2u2

Bowling Analysis O. M. R. W S. T. Jones .. .. 11 2 20 0 B. Walsh 9 2 14 0 R. Couper .. .. 23 9 28 2 B. Sutcliffe .. .. 28 7 44 4 L. Watson .... 6 0 14 0 V. McArley .. .. 11 6 18 1 N. McGregor .. .. 10 0 22 0 C. Geary 1 0 1 0 D. St. John .. .. 3 1 14 0 Jones bowled one no-ball. METROPOLITAN First Innings B. Sutcliffe, c sub., b Mulholland 100 C. Geary, b Mulholland .. .. 50 g. Irvine, c Macassey, b Mulholland 40 u. St. John, c J. P. Kearney, b Macassey 34 N. McGregor, b Macassey 0 A S Mills, e Harley, b Macassey .. T Jones c Mulholland, b McAtam69 S ney 14 V. McArley, not out 57 K. Couper, not out 5 Extras (6 leg-byes, and 1 no-ball) 7 Total (for seven wickets dec.) 376 Bowling Analysis O. M. R. w J. Mulholland .. 21 — 99 3 J. Macassey .. .. 16 1 60 3 J. W. Blakely ..19 4 79 0 R. MeSkimming .. 8 0 47 0 J. C. Kearney .. 13 3 36 0 J. D. Blakely .... 9 I 37 0 W. McAtamney .. 4 0 11 1 J. D Blakely bowled one no-ball.