PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET AT CARISBROOK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26659, 3 January 1948, Page 6

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET AT CARISBROOK

Otago Set Formidable Task SCOTT’S DOUBLE CENTURY Sutcliffe Batting With Restraint >

Although the scoring rate showed no improvement—indeed, when Otago went to the wicket runs came at a slower rate than when Auckland was batting—the second day’s play in the Plunket Shield match between Otago .and Auckland at Garisbrook yesterday produced some Interesting cricket. The match .was played in brilliant weather, marred only by a boisterous north-east wind, which dropped towards late afternoon. The wicket was in first-class order, and the hard-worked bowlers on either side got little assistance from it.

Auckland carried its over-night score from 312 for five wickets to 415 before the innings closed at 2.2 p.m., the feature being the chanceless display for 204 by the New Zealand representative, V. J. Scott. Although he scored 167 on his last appearance at Carisbrook and materially helped to quash Otago’s hopes of a first-innings victory, this was Scott’s first double century in Plunket Shield cricket, and his highest score to date. Otago at stumps had lost three wickets for 121 runs. The match was left in an interesting stage, with the left-hander, B. Sutcliffe, 60, not out, and L. A. Milnes, 17, not out, still together after being associated in an unbroken partnership for the fourth wicket of 44 runs.

Another feature of Otago’s outcricket was Robinson’s keen anticipation, which saved the side many runs.

lent performance, sending down 16 overs for only 19 runs and two wickets. Cleal was inclined to bowl off the wicket, and Snedden was not particularly dangerous. The Auckland fielding, like that of Otago, was very keen, but the returns to the wicket sometimes left room for improvement.

Otago at the Wickets

Otago’s first innings was opened at 2.15 by Sutcliffe and L. A. Watt. The start was disastrous, however, as play had been in progress for only 14 minutes when Watt was bowled off his pads by Cowie with five runs on the board and Watt’s score two. R. T. Hunt joined Sutcliffe, who began confidently, but was taking no risks, picking the balls to hit. The rate of scoring was below that of Auckland, but the crowd was silent, except for some vociferous protests to the umpire to ‘‘no-ball” Cowie, even though many of these barrackers could not possibly see whether Cowie was dragging over the line or not. At any rate the burly Aucklander was no-balled only once during his 19 overs.

The gate takings yesterday were £194, representing an attendance of nearly 3000. The takings over the first two days totalled £360. Scott, whose score was 159 at the close of the first day’s play, carried on in association with C. C. Burke (9), and, although the first hour’s play was rather dull, of the 41 runs scored during that period, 29 were credited to Scott, who was playing some attractive strokes, mostly in front of the wicket. The crowd was much more appreciative of his efforts than on the opening day, and less vocal in their criticism of the rate of scoring. At any rate, they basked in the warm sunshine, and only occasionally was a lone barracker heard urging the batsmen to “give it a go.”

The first hour’s play yielded only 36 runs, of which Sutcliffe made 21 and Hunt 10. Hunt showed glimpses of his stroke-making ability, and was going along nicely when Burke, the slow leg-break bowler, tempted him with a googly, which Hunt played on to his pads and into the wicket when his score was 11. He had batted for 50 minutes. Two wickets were down for 38 runs. Sutcliffe and Robinson were together when the tea adjournment was taken with 53 runs showing without further loss—Sutcliffe 27, Robinson 9. The first 50 was hoisted in 88 minutes. Robinson scored with particular freedom on the leg side, and a glorious cover-drive went straight to the boundary. Robinson was playing copy-book cricket, but when his score was 19 he went out to play Burke and met the ball on the half-volley, sending a simple catch back to the bowler winch was easily held. His innings lasted 58 minutes and he hit four 4’s.

Excellent Partnership

Scott and Burke were together for 125 minutes in their excellent sixthwicket partnership, which added 124 runs to the score and represents the best stand in the match so far. A neat placing shot for a single brought Scott within one run of 200, but just when the double century was within his grasp he had a narrow escape from being run out. He played a ball to the gully, where Sutcliffe gathered it smartly and made a lightning-like return to the wicket as Burke shouted for Scott to go back. Scott was some yards out of his crease, but the ball grazed the wicket and the batsmen were able to run one for the overthrow. Scott reached his 200 in 336 minutes.

Good Partnership

Soon afterwards Burke, who had been content for the most part to let Scott monopolise the scoring, was well taken behind the wickets by G. H. Mills off Overton’s bowling, after he had scored 30.

Three wickets had fallen for 77 runs when Milnes joined Sutcliffe. The newcomer was a little uneasy when facing the left-hand slow bowler, Hemmingson, giving a possible stumping chance when he was 1, but Kent, the wicket-keeper, did not take the ball cleanly, although his work generally was good. The 100 came up in 150 minutes, and

Scott’s long and painstaking innings came to an end a few minutes later, when he edged a ball from Overton into D. S. St. John’s hands at secondslip. Scott’s 204 took 351 minutes, and, although he had added 55 runs

Milnes ran to 1 6 in 18 minutes. Sutcliffe never looked like going out, but he was more subdued than usual and took 160 minutes to reach 50. His scoring strokes, however, included five 4’s at this stage, most of the boundary hits coming from powerful hook shots, while he also exploited the on-drive surely. After passing 50, Sutcliffe batted with restraint, adding only one run in 28 minutes. At stumps Otago had 121 runs on for the loss of three wickets —Sutcliffe, who had batted for 205 minutes, being 60 not out, and Milnes 17. The latter’s innings occupied 78 minutes and included in his scoring strokes were two 4’s. Cowie and Burke were the mainstays of a steady Auckland attack, although Hemmingson also bowled well. Before the Auckland team began its southern tour, Cowie injured his knee and there were some doubts at first as to whether he would make the tour. He appeared to be bowling at slightly less speed than hitherto, but he retains all his old hostility. An occasional shortish one got up rather awkwardly. From 19 overs he took one wicket for 40 runs. Burke appears faster through the air than formerly, and the Auckland Blow bowler accomplished an excel-

to his overnight score in 80 minutes, his scoring strokes included only one 4. His placements, rievertheless, were surely and deftly made, and he collected many runs because of the rather open on-side field. He gave a chanceless display and received a rousing ovation from the crowd. At this stage seven wickets were down for 383 runs, and L. A. Kent, who joined J. Cowie, did not stay long, as he played across - a short-pitched ball from Robinson when he had scored 9, and was bowled. The board showed 398 for eight wickets when C. A. Snedden became associated with Cowie, and the 400 came up in 448 minutes. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the score at 408 for eight wickets —Cowie 18, Snedden 1. Overton Rewarded The break proved effective for Otago, and in Overton’s first over after lunch the persistent Southlander clean bowled Cowie without any addition to the score. Cowie’s 18 occupied 43 minutes, and included two 4’s. The Auckland innings closed when Hemmingson was caught at first slip by Freeman off Robinson’s bowling without scoring, the total of 415 occupying 478 minutes. During yesterday’s play 103 runs were added in 130. minutes Snedden was 6 not out. Much , credit must be given to the

Otago captain, L. D. Smith, for his handling of an Otago attack which admittedly was not regarded as being particularly strong or over-rich in variety. Overton, who bowled so well on. the first day, achieved early success yesterday. He kept an excellent length, and finished up with four wickets for 114 runs. His figures yesterday were three for 39 off 13 overs, and altogether he sent down 47 oVers. The slow spinner, Robinson, bowled no fewer than 48.5 overs for 117 runs and three wickets. He was particularly effective yesterday, and flighted the ball well, his 18.5 overs giving him two additional wickets at a cost of 33 runs. T A. Freeman was also treated with respect, and his nine overs yielded only- 11 runs, though he did not claim a further victim. From his 39 overs 'Bl runs were scored for one wicket. The Otago fielding was always good —particularly the ground work and returns to the wicket. G. H. Mills, the Otago wicket-keeper, again gave an excellent display, and, besides taking two good catches, allowed only eight byes in Auckland’s big total. Scores:—

AUCKLAND First Innings I. Wyatt, lbw, b Payne ...... 33 H T Pearson, c Wills, b Overton 3J V' J. Scott, c St. John, b Overton 204 D. D. Taylor, b Freeman 24 K. R. Deas, lbw, b Robinson .. . • 23 O. C. Cleal, run out .... . • • • 20 C C Burke, c Mills, b Overton .. 30 J. Cowie, b Overton L. A. Kent, b Robinson 9 C. A. Snedden, not out 6 F. E. Hemmingson, c Freeman, b Robinson .. • • • • “ Extras (byes 8, leg byes 1) .. 9 Total 415 Fall of wickets: One for 59, two for 96, three for 143, four for 223, five for 250, six for 374, seven for 383, eight for 398, nine for 408, 10 for 415. Bowling Analysis

OTAGO First Innings B. Sutcliffe, not out 60 L. A. Watt, b Cowie 2 R. T. Hunt, b Burke U R. H. Robinson, c and b Burke .. 19 L. A. Milnes, not out 17 Extras (byes 3, leg byes 8, no ball 1) 12 Total (for three wickets) 121 Fall of wickets: One for 5, two for 38. three for 77.

MATCH WITH SOUTHLAND OTAGO TEAM SELECTED The sole selector, Mr S. F. Duncan, has announced the following team to represent Otago in the match against Southland at Carisbrook on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:— L. D. Smith (Albion-Y.M.C.A.), captain. T. A. Freeman (Grange). L. Watt (Kaikorai). R. T. Hunt (University). I. W. Payne (Grange). G. H. Mills (Old Boys). J. Valentine (Carisbrook). L. A. Milnes (Carisbrook). L. C. Baker (University). V. A. C. McArley (University). D. A. Morrison (University). N. McGregor (Grange), twelfth man.

O. M. R. W. T. A. Freeman .. 39 6 81 1G. W. Overton .. 47 10 114 4 R. H. Robinson 48.5 12 117 3 L. D. Smith .. 18 2 41 0 I. W. Payne .. 15 2 36 1 B. Sutcliffe .. 5 0 17 0

Bowling Analysis 0. M. R. W. J. Cowie 19 6 40 1 O. C. Cleal .. 13 7 10 0 C. C. Burke 16 6 19 2 C.A. Snedden F. E. Hem8 3 24 0 mingson .. Cowie bowled 12 one 4 no-ball. 16 0