PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3960, 4 February 1930, Page 27

PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH

OTAGO v. WELLINGTON

AI’GIRR AND BADCOCK IN FORM. In dull and showery weather the Plunket Shield cricket match between Otago and Wellington was commenced at Carisbrook on Friday. Light rain fell during the greater part of the morning, and a heavier fall caused an adjournment for an hour and a-half in the afternoon. Neither team was at full strength, Wellington being without such players as Dempster, Al’Leod, and Lambert, and Blunt and Dickinson were absent from the Otago team. Once more Alloo lost the toss, and Lowry, the Wellington skipper, elected to bat on an easy wicket. The opening pair were Baker and Foley, both New Zealand representatives, though the former has been out of big cricket for some time. He had scored only four when he was caught, and this early success gave the Otago bowlers some encouragement. Foley was partnered by Rollings, a very successful young batsman, who gave a demonstration of the batting ability which once made him a candidate for New Zealand representative honours. While he scored steadily with well-timed shots Foley was content to keep his wicket intact. He had scored only seven (all singles) at the end of an hour, and he went out after batting for 80 minutes for 15. His was a disappointing display. Hollings continued to score well for a short time after he had been partnered by Lowry, being dismissed with a score of 46. Lowry, who was joined by Cameron, a Rangitiki player, scored his runs in quick time, and most of Cameron’s total came from an over in which he hit three fours off Dunning. Both fell victims to Lemin after scoring 17. Al’Girr, who invariably makes a score against Otago, was partnered by Ward and Lamason, neither of whom made a lengthy stay, and the position looked rosy for Otago when the seventh wicket fell with the score at 176. The brightest partnership of the day began when Badcock joined Al’Girr, who played a fine, though not chanceless, innings. His main chance was given when he was 35, and it proved an expensive one, for he went on to take his total to 73 before he was run out. He gave an excellent display of sound, correct, and at times forceful batting. He missed no scoring opportunities, and col lected most of his runs by hard driving, though he scored many a single with a shot to third man. His partnership with Badcock realised 59. The finest display of the day, however, was that of Badcock, who has been appointed coach to the Otago Association, and who gave further indication of his ability .as a batsman by making a score of 62 in 70 minutes. He has the reputation of being a somawhat reckless starter, but on his play yesterday that reputation was undeserved, for he made a steady beginning before he opened out to score rapidly by delightful cricket. Quick to punish anything on the leg-side he scored equally well on the off, moving across to hit for four balls which most batsmen would have allowed to pass, and timing his shots perfectly. With Newman, the Nelson player, who was never comfortable, he put on 41 for the ninth wicket. When nine wiekets were down for 283 runs an opportunity of bringing the innings to a close was lost when a catch was missed off the last ball of the day. Outstanding among the bowling per formances was that of Lemin, the young Grange medium-fast bowler, who was playing in his first representative game. At one stage he had an average of three for 2G, and at the end of the day his figures were four for 61 off 29 overs. Keeping a steady length he had most of the batsmen playing him carefully, and was unlucky in having a catch missed off his bowling when Al’Girr was 35. The greasy nature of the ball in the afternoon enabled the batsmen to score off him more freely, but he was still the steadiest of the Otago bowlers. Three of the wickets fell to Dunning at a cost of 53 runs. Though he bowled very well at the start, he did not maintain his accurate length, and, while still dangerous on occasions, he sent up a number of balls on the leg-side which enabled the batsmen to score off him more frequently than usual. Elmes, who bowled with such success against the Englishmen, failed in this match to take a wicket. Alloo persevered with him, but at no stage did he reproduce his best form, 76 being hit off his 23 overs. Neither Shepherd nor Alloo troubled the batsmen, and Moloney, who found diffi culty in striking a length, nevertheless brought a dangerous partnership to an end when he disposed of Foley. A good day’s cricket was marred by the rain, which, in addition to hampering the bowlers, made the outfield slow.

HOME TEAAI SCORES 198. SHEPHERD’S FINE DISPLAY. The weather conditions were perfect and the wicket was in good order when the Plunket Shield match between Otago and Wellington was continued at Carisbrook on Saturday. On the first day Wellington had made 283 for the loss of nine wickets, and Lowry, the visitors’ captain. boldly decided to declare with that total.

Otago’s start was by no means a promising one, Knight being run out when the score had reached nine, but then Shepherd, partnered by Cavanagh, began to attack the bowling in fine style, and gave an exhibition of the fast scoring and attractive batting which a few seasons ago gained him the distinction of being considered the finest batsman in the Dominion. Hitting out at the less dangerous balls with all his former vigour, he monopolised the scoring to such an extent that he reached the half-century when the total was 57, and he had been at the wickets for only 57 minutes. That his fast scoring was not due to weak bowling was shown by the fact that Cavanagh, usually by no means a slow scorer, had a this stage scored only four. After giving a hard chance behind the wickets at 51 Shepherd went out with the total at 70 after batting for 68 minutes for 52. Hard, crisp drives were his main scoring shots, and the only weak strokes occurred when he twice cut the ball over the heads of the slips. He hit eight fours. After his dismissal a rot set in. and a promising position was converted into one which seemed to indicate disaster for the Otago side. Cavanagh went after a solid display "for 16, though he was missed when he had scored only two. Al’AJullan went for seven after a promising beginning, and Aloloney was dismissed for a single. Five wickets were down for 79 runs. Then came a partnership between Alloo and Elmes which greatly improved the position. While Alloo was content to keep his wicket intact. Elmer, gathered in runs in fairly quick time. J hough some of his shots were by no means certain. he defied the efforts of the bowlers to dislodge him, and he had made a score of 40 when he fell a victim to Badcock. The partnership, which had added 56. had been of great value to the side. AA ith six wickets down for 135. however. Otago’s position was still far from good when Dunning partnered Alloo, who was still presenting a solid front to the bowling. Dunning gave his best display since his return to Dunedin in helping Alloo to take the score to 181 for the seventh wicket. His runs were made by sound cricket, and his total of 29 included a six off Badcock. Groves made a promising beginning, but was caught at seven, and Heenan, too, had a short stay. AA hen Lemin came in Alloo evidently thought that the time had arrived to hit out, and. after sending the ball to the boundary, was howled with a score of 36. He had played a very valuable knock, and his fine stand had enabled Otago to reach 198. but the total was'Bs behind Wellingtons score.

Of the Wellington bowlers Badcock was the most successful. All of the batsmen had difficulty in dealing with his legtheory- deliveries, and he kept_such a fine length, that no fewer than 17 of his 30 overs were maidens, and his average at the conclusion of the innings was four for 41. He gave a fine display of steady bowling. A good measure of success went the way of the veteran Baker, whose slow bowling earned him three wiekets at a cost of 50 runs. He bowled steadily throughout the innings and had to be carefully wotched. Al’Girr’s medium-fast deliveries gained him a couple of wickets at a cost of 56 runs, but the hick was not with Henderson, who had two chances missed off his bowling. He did not secure a wicket, and sent up 17 overs at a cost of 45 runs.

Lowry kept wickets excellently, ami Cameron, in the outfield, and AA ard, close in on the leg side, were outstanding in the field.

Wellington’s second venture opened badly. Baker again failed to get into his stride, and Foley quickly followed him as the result of being run out, two wickets being down for 11 runs. Lowry and Hollings, scoring at a good rate, brought about a considerable improvement. They attacked the bowling with confidence, and to separate them Alloo brought on Moloney. The change proved a wise one, for, with the total at 77, Lowry, after scoring 23. hit out and was caught, and Hollings met with a similar fate when the score was 86. Hollings played another polished innings, making a score of 34 Cameron and Al’Girr then became associated, the former hitting out to some purpose, scoring 26 before he was defeated. Five wickets were down for 118 runs. Badcock quickly followed, going out ibw, and when stumps were drawn AA ellingtdr, had lost six for 122. Under better conditions the Otago men bowled with greater accuracy, and there were no weaknesses in the attack. Moloney’s success in taking two for 20 showed the value of a slow bowler in breaking a partnership. Dunning bowled well to take two for 36, and Elmes and Lemin, though not wicket-takers, were both useful bowlers. Alloo secured one for five off four overs, keeping the batsmen quiet. The attendance on Saturday afternoon was fairly large, though there were strong counter attractions. About £6O was taken at the gates, while the takings on the first day were only £l3. Scores: WELLINGTON. First Inning*. W. Baker, 4, c Knight, b Dunning .. 4 H. Foley, 11111111124, b Aloloney.. 15 A. Hollings, 311211441111111111111 4144111, b Lemin 46 T. C. Lowry, 1411111421, lbw, b Lemin 17 D. Cameron, 144413, c Elmes, b Lemin 17 H. M. Al’Girr, 112414141412111132 41111221111211111311121411, run out 73 S. Ward, 11133, b Lemin 9 J. Lomason, 22112141, b Dunning 14 F. T. Badcock, 111434111411111111 41421111144414, c Aloloney, b Dunning 62 S. Newman, 111341, not out .... 11 Al. Henderson, 11, not out 2 Byes 6 Leg byes 6 No ball 1 Total for nine wickets .. 283 Fall of wickets: One for 4, two for 61, three for 76, four for 100, five for 123, six for 141, seven for 176, eight for 235, nine for 276.

First Innings. J. 5hepherd.31114441211441411431411 b Baker 52 A. R. Knight. 121. run out 3 V. G. Cavanagh. 1111411141, b Al’Girr 16 J. Al’Mullan. 412, c Foley, b Al’Girr 7 D. A. R. Alolonev, 1. b Badcock ... 1 A. W. Alloo. 112111111121211111211! 111124, h Baker 36 C. Elmes, 1411121131123211121122212, c Lamason, b Badcock 40 J. Dunning. 11161221142111121, b Badcock 29 L. Groves, 142, c Hollings. b Baker.. 7 D. Keenan. 2. lbw, b Badcock .... 2 G. Lemin, not out 0 Byes .... •> Leg live 1 No balls 2 Total 198 I'all of AA ickets.— One for 9. two for 70, three for 76. four for 79. five for 79. six for 135. seven for 181, eight for 190, nine for 194. ten for 198. Bowling Analysis. TT Mr-' °- M ’ R - W - 11. Al Gnr ..... .. 22 6 56 2 I'. 1. Badcock .... 30 17 41 4 S. AVard 1 _ ] _ W. Baker ] 7.3 2 50 3 AL Henderson .... 17 4 45 — YESTERDAYS BLAY. AA ellington’s second innings, which was completed yesterday morning, produced 172 runs (M’Girr 40. Hollings 34. Cameron 26, and Lowry 23). Dunning took four wickets for 57 runs. Aloloney 2 for 20, Alloo 1 for 5, and Elmes 1 for 35. At 3.40 p.m. Otago had lost four wiekets for 180 runs (Shepherd 49. Elmes 14. Cavanagh 73 not out. and Alloo 12 not out) Six balls later, however, eight wickets were down for 182 (Cavanagh 80. Alloo 15, Dunning 2, Aloloney 0). Both Cavanagh and Alloo went out lbw.

BOWLING ANALYSIS. Overs. Mdns. Runs. Wkts. J. Dunning .. 21 G 53 3 C. Elines 23 4 7G - G. Lemin .. 29 4 61 4 A. W. Alloo . . 13 3 34 D. A. R. Molonev 7 — 27 1 J. Shepherd .. 7 1 19 - Second Innings. W. Baker, 4. b Dunning .. 4 IL Foley, run out 0 A. Rollings. 142413411112114111, c Alloo, b Moloney 34 T. C. Lowry. 412111141121111 c Knight, b Moloney 23 D. Cameron, 411144452, c Dunning, b Alloo . . 26 II. M. M'Girr, 14111211111. not out 15 F. T. Badcock. 2. lbw, b Dunning .. 2 S. \\ ard, not out 6 Byes 17 Leg bye 1 Total for six wicket 122 Fall of ickets. —One for 10. two for 11, three for 77, four SO. live for ] IS. S 1 X for 121. Bowling Analysis 0. M. R. w. J. Dunning 16 4 36 •J (’. Elines !) 2 21 — G. Lemin 11 • ) D. A. R. Moloney .; 5 1 20 A. W. Alloo 4 1 5 1 OTAGO.