Shield Players in Form In Club Cricket Matches

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26959, 20 December 1948, Page 6

Shield Players in Form In Club Cricket Matches

The excellent form shown by a number of the players of Otago’s Plunket Shield team was a pleasing aspect of the fourth series of matches, completed on Saturday, in the Otago Cricket Association’s senior competition. The representative captain, L. D. Smith, made the highest score of the season, his 160 for Albion-YMCA aiding his side to gain an outright win against North-East Valley. Smith has scored 343 runs in club games, with an average of 68.50. L. J. Groves, playing for High School Old Boys against Dunedin, gave a chanceless display for 116, his second century of the season. He has scored 308 runs and has an average of 77.00. In spite of his valiant effort, however, Old Boys suffered its first reverse since the 1946-47 season, Dunedin winning on the first innings. Other good scores were made by R. T. Hunt (University) 61, J. A. Warner (Grange) 55, R. W. Orr (University) 52, L. C. Baker (University) 52, A. Fleury (Carisbrook) 43, and T. C. Fraser (Carisbrook) 43. The outstanding bowling performance of the day was accomplished by the former New Zealand representative, C. J. Elmes, of Grange, who took nine Kaikorai wickets for 42 runs. Others who bowled well were J. Valentine (Carisbrook) five for 60, I. Walsh (North East Valley) six for 71, E. Watson (Albion-YMCA) four for 40, Smith (Albion-YMCA) three for 30, R. H. Robinson (Albion-YMCA) two for 8, R. Carter (Carisbrook) four for 55, and E. Kruskopf (Dunedin) six for 123. The matches were played in ideal weather, and in most cases the wickets had dried out well after recent rain.

The results of the games were: — Carisbrook, Zl4 and 156 for seven wickets (declared), defeated University, 166 and 158 for six wickets, by 48 runs on the first innings. Grange, 84 and 171 for six wickets, defeated Kaikorai 154 and 100, by four wickets. Dunedin, 345 for eight wickets (declared), defeated High School Old Boys, 293, by 52 runs on the first innings. Albion-YMCA. 300 and 22 for one wicket, defeated North East Valley, 200 and 121, by nine wickets. The championship points are:— Carisbrook 28, Grange 28, High School Old Boys 19, University 15, Albion-YMCA 14. Dunedin 11, North East Valley 8, Kaikorai 7.