NEGATIVE BATTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26982, 18 January 1949, Page 6

NEGATIVE BATTING

OTAGO’S SHIELD PROSPECTS ENHANCED

Wellington’s Innings

SLOW BOWLERS’ SUCCESS

- Wellington played almost negative cricket on a wicket which, apart from an occasional ball popping ” a little, played perfectly, • in its second innings of the Plunket Shield match against Otago jj , at Carisbrook yesterday, and did almost everything possible \to nullify the advantage of its lead on the first innings. After } '«■ batting for just on five hours, the side was dismissed for 200 runs. J Batting for 43 minutes, Otago lost the valuable wicket of R. T. Hunt right on time, with 24 runs showing. ; . With a day left for play, Otago requires 189 runs for an outs ‘ right win. Should it be successful, this would bring the home '•’! -.side level on points in the shield competition with Canterbury, •<; - and to capture the trophy on the averages Otago would require \\ to win the game by two or three wickets. Anything short of an '■! outright win to Otago will give Wellington the shield, so that the h stage is set for a day of interesting cricket Vhen the game is •i' resumed this morning. ‘-J The honours yesterday unquestionably rested with the Otago * ' slow bowlers who, especially after lunch, had the Wellington batsmen pegged down to a deadly slow rate of scoring which the crowd of about 2500 found very wearisome. Instead of consolidat--4 ing the position after losing two early wickets cheaply, Wellington found itself fighting for runs with its back to a wall which it had '■ erected itself. There was, however, little excuse for the occasional loose one, certainly more frequent in the morning than after lunch, being allowed to pass harmlessly by or to be tapped gently back to '■ the bowler. There were occasions, too, when the batsmen were content to take singles instead of the easy 2’s which seemed possible. The takings yesterday were £ 148, making the total proceeds for the three days £614 10s.

When play was resumed, there was A fresh north-easterly breeze, but the sun shone from a clear blue sky. The • playing conditions were good, and the ’bbwlers were assisted by the breeze resumed with one wicket •down for seven runs. G. Rabone still had to open his account, and J. Reid’s score stood at 6. Early Thrills Reid began quickly and when he cover-drove I. Walsh, who had taken over from L. D. Smith, the crowd settled down in expectation of some entertaining cricket. . Walsh, however, .as on the first day, had an early success. When Reid, who had scored 13, -endeavoured to repeat the cover 'stroke, he was beaten by the late swing and was bowled. Play had then been in progress only 19 minutes, and two wickets were down for 22; R. J. Kemp, the new-comer, survived a confident appeal for a stumping off Walsh before he had been long at the • crease. This was a particularly smart piece of work on the leg side by G. H. Mills, who was keeping very well. . Kemp drove a ball from G. W. F. Overton through the covers for 4, but when he had taken his score to 15 he failed to connect properly with an 'over-pitched ball from Smith, and Overton took a simple catch at mid-on. Three wickets had fallen for 45 runs when the captain, J. A. Ongley, joined Rabone, and again Ongley was forcecr to play a fighting knock for his side. He was quickly into his stride, however. and the 50 came up in 63 minutes. Ongley,* with well-timed drives and neat placements, ran to 20 .in 35 minutes, but Rabone watched the ball very closely and took no risks at ' all. This negative type of cricket continued until lunch, which was taken with the score at 88 for four wickets — : Rabone 26, Ongley 31. When play was resumed, the Otago ‘slow leg-break bowler, L. J. Groves, ifound the pitch responsive to his spin. -He had Rabone anchored in his crease. 'Groves was flighting the ball well and ’bowling a very consistent length. •■Ongley brought 100 up in 143 minutes, 4 and at this stage had caught up on Rabone, each batsman having made 34. . v Slow Scoring •, Robinson was operating with Groves, "and the two slow spinners brought the -rate of scoring almost to a standstill. 'Ongley livened proceedings by driving Groves to the boundary, but the next ‘ball, the last of the over, he drove 'hard and high back to Groves, who •took a splendid catch, v Ongley’s 41 occupied 111 minutes, 'and his score included four 4’s. His 'partnership .with Rabone was worth >63 runs, and his innings completed a 'very useful double. Ongley was less ‘Subdued than his partner and had 'occasional fairly free-scoring periods. 5* When F. L. H. Mooney joined •Rabone, the score was 108 for four, but Rabone’s patient but unentertaming innings came to an end when 23 runs had been added to the totaL Groves, who had been bowling remarkably well, enticed the Wellington opener with a full toss, and Rabone drove it hard to the boundary with one of his best scoring strokes. The next he jumped into in an attempt to play it on the half-volley, and was nicely taken by Overton at mid-on. Rabone, who had opened the innings just before stumps on Saturday night, was the highest scorer with 49. including four 4’s, and most of his runs came from strokes behind the wicket. He batted for 201 minutes. Mooney, who was scoring steadily and giving an attractive display, was joined by D. S. Wilson with five wickets down for 131. The newcomer scored only 1. when he was out to a good catch by Mills off Robinson. The ball came straight through and the batsman deflected it into Mills’s hands behind the wicket. With 22 minutes to go nefore the 'tea adjournment, six wickets were down for 136, and Mooney continued to play brightly. He was particularly effective in his on-side play, and got most of his runs with strokes between mid-on and forward-leg T. P. L. Reaney was with Mooney when the latter drove an over-pitched ball from Grove to the boundary to bring 150 up in 233 minutes, and at the tea adjournment the score was 160 without further loss—Mooney 28. Reaney 8. The adjournment once again proved effective in bringing about a separation, for in Groves’s second over after tea the left-hander, Reaney. jumped oiit to drive the slow bowler, mistimed it and snicked the ball straight to the wicket-keeper. Mills juggled with the ball, but held it. Reaney’s score was 14 and seven wickets were down for 169. •; With the wicket taking plenty of spin the slow bowlers were retained, and ’ H B. Cave, who had partnered Mooney, was far from comfortable facing Groves. The last-named had bowled 33 overs during the day, 28 of them without a change, when Overton was brought on to relieve him. ]he new ball could have been taken after 65 overs, but 102 overs had been bowled when Overton was brought on. and the new ball appeared after the fast-medium bowler had sent down two deliveries. Walsh came on at the other end in place of Robinson, but a change of ends was then effected, Overton bowling with the breeze, which had now dropped a little. Fine Double The change proved effective, although Mooney was unlucky to go out to a ball from Overton which kicked up awkwardly and came off the shoulder of his bat. enabling D. S. r St. John to take a simple catch in the gully. Mooney batted 132 minutes fo; 47, and hit six 4’s. It was a stout effort for his side and completed a fine double, as he played a fighting

knock for 89 not out in the first innings. With two wickets to fall, 197 runs were on the board, but the remaining batsmen made no marked addition to the score. Cave had scored 11 when Walsh, who was bowling with plenty of fire, beat him with a ball which swung late, the score then being 199. The innings, which had occupied 290 minutes, closed at 5.5 p.m. when C. L. Randall, who was facing Walsh, played the ball towards deep point. A. E. Cresswell called for a run and Watt's return sped straight to the wicketkeeper. He lifted the bails before Cresswell could reach the crease. Cresswell had not scored, while Randall was not out with 2, the total being 200. Attack Well Handled The Otago attack was again well handled by the captain, Smith. Although on the first day the fast bowlers dominated the situation, it was tlslow spinners. Groves and Robinson, who carried the main burden yesterday. Groves, wfio was suffering from a knee injury on the northern tour, was treated with the utmost respect by all the batsmen.- He bowled his leg-breaks, pitched on the leg and middle stumps, and employed a well-disguised “ wrong ’un.” In contrast to the first innings, his length v was excellent without overpitching, and assisted by the breeze he registered a very fine effort in taking three wickets for 67 runs off 33 overs, of which 10 were maidens. Robinson, whose 24 pvers included 13 maidens, captured one wicket at a cost of 21 runs. He, too, bowled an immaculate length, although his deliveries did not turn as much as those of Groves. He also bowled a “wrong ’un” most effectively. Overton, the fast-medium bowler, got very little movement in the air although one or two balls broke both ways off the seam. Overton always displayed plenty of vim, but was scarcely as hostile as Walsh although his two wickets were obtained for 39 runs off 22 overs. Although the day was not conducive to swing bowling, Walsh made good use of the new ball, and occasionally swung very late. He bad one or two particularly dangerous bursts and finished with two wickets for 34 runs off 18.5 overs. The lefthand slow bowler, L. D. Smith, used himself as a change, and from 13 overs

took one wicket for 31 runs. The placing of the field to good bowling was effective because of the negative batting and as a result an attacking field was possible. It must have been a long time, however, since slow bowlers were able to operate for such iong periods without the use of a long field. Otago’s fielding was excellent, and Mills gave one of his best displays behind the wicket. .In addition to taking two catches, his work throughout was smart and clean in spite of the fact that he received a painful knock on the shoulder early in the day. No catches were dropped, and in this department Overton, Groves and St John also showed up well while the ground work of St. John, Watt, Robinson, Smith and McGregor was first-class. Otago’s second innings opened at 5.17 p.m. with Hunt and Watt, who were both very watchful at the crease. Both appeared to be going nicely when within a minute of time Reid, the Wellington fast bowler, placed a good ball past Hunt to knock back his off stump and send the bail flying 20 yards behind the wickets. Hunt had scored 13, and stumps were drawn with 24 runs on the board. Watt having 11 not out. Scores:— Wellington First innings • • 245 Second Innings E. W. T. Tindill, b Overton .. .. 0 G Rabone, c Overton, b Groves .. 49 J Reid, b Walsh 13 RJ. Kemp, c Overton, b Smith .. 15 J. A. Ongley. c and b Groves .. 41 F L. H Mooney, c St. John, b Overton 47 D S. Wilson, c Mills, b Robinson 1 T. P L. Reaney. c Mills, b Groves 14 H. B. Cave, b Walsh 11 C. L. Randall, not out -2 A E Cresswell. run out 0 Extras (byes 5, leg-byes 2) -. 7 Total 200 Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/22. 3/45, 4/108, 5/131. 6/136, 7/169. 8/197. 9/199. 10/200.

Otago First innings 233 Second Innings R. T. Hunt, b Reid 13 L. A. Watt, not out 11 Total for one wicket .. .. 24 Fall of wicket: 1/24.

G. Bowling Analysis O. M. W. F. Overton 22 6 R. 39 W. 2 I. Walsh .. • ■ .. 18.5 7 34 2 L. D. Smith .. .. 13 4 31 1 R. H. Robinson .. 24 13 21 1 L. J. Groves .. .. 33 10 67 3 D. S. St. John .. .. 2 1 1 —

Bowling Analysis O. M. R. W. A. E. Cresswell .. 6 1 11 — H. B. Cave .. .. 7 — 11 — J. Reid .. .. .. 1.2 — 2 1