BRIGHT BATTING

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

BRIGHT BATTING

CANTERBURY COLTS IN FORM MATCH WITH WELLINGTON P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 2. An interesting finish on the fourth and final day of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Wellington seems certain. At stumps Wellington, without loss, had scored 9 of the 417 runs needed for an outright win, leaving a full day to score 408. To-day’s cricket was easily the best of the match. In the morning Wellington took its first-innings score from 257 for five to 323 all out, giving Canterbury a first-innings lead of 139. Canterbury, after a bad start, batted brightly, the colt O’Malley making a flawless 91. B. Smith made a bright 78, and W. McD. Anderson a very quick 66. All three batted excellently on a wicket which still shows little sign of wear. Wellington had to struggle hard for runs all the morning. Only five had been added when E. Dempster played a ball from Burtt on to his wicket. This ball was one of the few bad ones sent down by Burtt during the morning. It was a full toss, and Dempster tried to sweep it to leg. Wellington never recovered. Browne played some forceful shots, but all the batsmen were worried by Burtt’s left-hand spinners. With the total at 313, Browne, who had made a bright 32, was well caught by Britton behind the wicket, ahd at lunch the score was 322 for nine wickets. The innings ended in the first over after lunch. Hadlee Scores One Canterbury began badly. Hadlee was caught by the wicket-keeper, Tindill off Murray after only one run was scored, and Leggat, who had begun especially well, was caught in the slips off Wilson, with the total at 22. Then O’Malley and Smith were associated in a fine partnership, which produced the best cricket of a game which had never lacked in interest. Smith played one or two uppish shots, but they were all safe, and his strokemaking was perfect. O’Malley batted even better than in the first innings, making some effortless drives and easy on-side placements. These young players scored at a great rate, and their running between the wickets was excellent. The 50 was raised in only 40 minutes, OMalley scoring 10 off an over from Browne with three perfect square cuts. The partnership was worth 50 in 40 minutes, and the large crowd enjoyed the colts’ exhilarating display. At tea the score was 137, and these batsmen had been associated in a century partnership for the second time in the match. Anderson Aggressive After the interval Smith was dropped twice in the slips, and then bowled by Browne when going down the wicket. With O’Malley, he had scored 129 in 98 minutes. Anderson, the next batsman, immediately jumped into form, square-cutting and driving powerfully. The score was taken to 200 in 153 minutes. Batting with abundant confidence and producing a variety of forceful strokes, Anderson reached the halfrcentury in 47 minutes and 50 runs were scored in half an hour. Anderson continued his onslaught, and the partnership realised 100 in 67 minutes. This was the third time in the match that O’Malley had taken part in a century partnership, but two runs later he was out. Anderson followed two runs later, after scoring 66 in 74 minutes. The Canterbury innings was closed at 5.43, with the total at 277 for six. Wellington was left 367 minutes to score 417, and at stumps the tail-

enders, Murray and Little had scored nine of them. Gate takings for the day were about £240. Scores:— Canterbury First innings .. .. .. .. .. 462 Second Innings W. A. Hadlee, c Tindill, b Murray , 1 J. G. Leggat, c Wilson, b Murray 13 P. O’Malley, c McLean, b Wilson 91 F. B. Smith, b Browne 78 W. McD. Anderson, c Browne, b McLean 66 T. Burtt, b McLean .. .. .. .. 7 A. R. Mac Gibbon, not out .. .. 11 Extras .. • • 10 Total for six wickets (declared) 277 Fall of Wickets. —One for 3, two for 22, three for 151, four for 253, five for 255, six for 277. Bowling Analysis.—R. Little, 10 overs, no maidens, 46 runs, no wickets; R. McK. Murray, 16, 1, 68, 2; D. S. Wilson, 10, 2, 49, 1; M. Browne, 14, 0, 57, 1; A. McLean, 13.1, 2, 47, 2. Wellington First Innings E. W. Tindill, c Britton, b Burtt 112 C. S.| Dempster, b Small .. .. 12 J. Reid, c Small, b Burtt .. .. 79 J. A. Ongley, c and b Burtt .. 9 R. Crawford, c Small, b Burtt .. 1 E. Dempster, b Burtt 17 D. S. Wilson, c Leggat, b Snook .. 14 A. McLean, lbw, b Burtt .. .. 15 M. Browne, c Britton, b Small 32 R. McK. Murray, not out .. .. 11 J. Little, c Britton, b Mac Gibbon 2 Extras 19 Total .... 323

Fall of Wickets.—One for 39, two for 194, three for 208, four for 217, five for 230, six for 253, seven for 260, eight for 303, nine for 313, ten for 323. Bowling Analysis.—A. R. Mac Gibbon, 23.5 overs, 6 maidens, 55 runs, 1 wicket; C. G. Snook, 34, 11, 50, 1; P. Small, 34, 7, 68, 2; T. B. Burtt, 51. 16. 94 6; W. McD Anderson, 4,0, 18, 0; W. A. Hadlee, 6,1, 19, 0. Mac Gibbon bowled five no-balls, Snook two, Hadlee two and Small one. Second Innings R. McK. Murray, not out 9 J. Little, not out 0 Total for no wickets .. .. 9 Bowling Analysis.—A. R. Mac Gibbon, 1 over, no maidens, 8 runs, no wickets; P.’ Small, 1,1, 0,0; W. A. Hadlee, 1,0, 1. 0.