PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 23734, 4 February 1939, Page 9

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO SCORES 266 ON GOOD WICKET

CANTERBURY NONE FOR EIGHTY-THREE

(United Press Association)

DUNEDIN, February 3. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Otago and Canterbury began at Carisbrook today in bright sunshine and on a fast wicket and ground. There was a light north-easterly wind to temper the heat. Otago won the toss and made a disappointing start, three good wickets falling cheaply, Knight (6), Robertson (5) and Moloney (7) each falling to the medium-paced bowler Mulcock. Five wickets were down for 110, but V. G. Cavanagh (89), Uttley (50), Elmes (39) and Silver (37), retrieved the position to a considerable extent, the last wicket falling at 266. , Canterbury opened its innings with Kerr and Bellamy and had made 83 at “stumps” without loss. Scores:

OTAGO First Innings K. F. M. Uttley run out 50 A. R. Knight b Mulcock 6 G. J. Robertson c Webb b Mulcock 5 D. A. R. Moloney c Bellamy b Mul-

cock 7 C. J. Elmes c and b Mulcock 39 V. J. Leader c Webb b Davis 1 V. G. Cavanagh lbw b Mulcock 89 G. H. Mills c Kerr b Newton 0 T. C. Fraser lbw b Cromb 20 Silver c Mulcock b Davis 37 G; Lemin not out ° Extras 4 TOTAL 266

Fall of wickets: One for 17, 2 for 23, 3 for 32, 4 for 96, 5 for 97, 6 for 131, 7 for 131, 8 for 176, 9 for 250, 10 for 266. Bowling Analysis

Davis bowled three no-balls. CANTERBURY First Innings J. L. Kerr not out — 48 F. W. Bellamy not out 28 Extras 7 TOTAL for no wickets 83 Bowling Analysis

Lemin bowled one no-ball. GAME IN BRILLIANT SUNSHINE

OTAGO’S DISAPPOINTING

START

(United- Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 3. Dunedin cricketers have not been enjoying one of the most .successful seasons on record so far but members of the Otago Plunket Shield side along with a sprinkling of spectators at Carisbrook today could have had no complaint to make against the conditions for the match with Canterbury. There was brilliant sunshine all day, a light north-easterly to temper the heat and the wicket and outfield were in splendid order. In these circumstances it was expected that* the Otago batsmen would take advantage of the opportunity made when V. G. Cavanagh won the toss but they made a disappointing start, three good wickets being lost for only 32 runs. Cavanagh himself was responsible for a fair recovery and the total was 266 when the last wicket fell. Canterbury batted for an hour and a-half in which time the opening pair scored 83 runs by good cricket so that the honours of the first day certainly went to the visitors. Canterbury has a chance of winning the Plunket Shield this season but it is dependent on an eight-point win against Otago. Then if Wellington beats Auckland or holds its to a first' innings win only the shield would come south again. There were not many highlights in today’s, play. E. Mulcock, Canterbury medium-paced bowler, who has made a specialty of the leg theory, was the destructive agent early in the day getting rid of A. R. Knight, G. J. Robertson and D. A. R. Moloney in quick succession, and at that stage had three wickets for 12 runs. Bowling to a packed leg field and with a breeze to suit him he was swinging the ball disconcertingly and the batsmen appeared unable or without sufficient enterprise to play him confidently in front of the wicket. He was the mainstay of the Canterbury attack, bowling 37 overs in long spells for five wickets and 97 runs. Those five wickets, incidentally, were the best in the side. K. F. M. Uttley and C. J. Elmes looked like staging . a recovery for the fourth wicket, bdth batting well before lunch, but Elmes was out immediately play was resumed and another wicket followed without addition to the score. GOOD INNINGS BY UTTLEY

Cavanagh at once adopted more aggressive tactics and it was bad luck for Otago when Uttley was run out when responding to a call for a sharp single. His 50 was a good innings, and after his first 30 runs he was beginning to hit the ball with some power and go for his strokes confidently. T. C. Fraser stayed with Cavanagh for

a time and then unexpected support was provided by R. Silver, the pace bowler of the side. He and Cavanagh added 64 runs for the ninth wicket, both scoring freely from both ends. Cavanagh was playing dashing cricket by this time and a century for him appeared a cricket certainty until with his total 89 he was given out lbw to Mulcock. He had been fortunate in that an easy chance was missed when he wss only 12, another slightly more difficult when ho was 28 and a very difficult one when he was 58. Apart from these blemishes he played his best cricket in the compilation of his biggest score in Plunket Shield cricket. It was a worthy captain’s innings. Silver was the last man out with a well made 37 to his credit. It was not a “long handle” innings either, his strokes being well produced and forceful. Apart from Mulcock’s swingers bowled to a steady length Canterbury’s attack was by no means impressive. The fielding was very keen and the ground work good, M. P. Donnelly being applauded frequently for his activity and sharp returns. The display of the Canterbury opening pair, J. L. Kerr and F. W. Bellamy, was most hopeful for the visitors appeared not greatly troubled by the Otago bowling although there was a fair variety in the time available, and in the last 30 minutes of the day they seemed quite satisfied to peg along quietly and take no chance of losing a wicket.

Kerr showed a return to his best form, making his strokes with beautiful crispness and ease. He was 48 at “stumps,” Bellamy having scored a quiet 28 in the same time. This star, of 83 runs without a loss is the best given to the Canterbury side so far this season and if these two get off the mark again tomorrow some attractive batting can be expected. Otago’s work in the field was not as snappy as that of the visitors, although there were no chances to be missed. A thoughtful action early in the afternoon was the stoppage of play for a minute or two while the players stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of James Clark-Baker, a former Otago and New Zealand representative, whose funeral took place today.

AUCKLAND PLAYS WELLINGTON

GOOD BATTING BY WEIR AND WHITELAW

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 3.

Fortunes fluctuated in the Plunket Shield cricket match between Auckland and Wellington which was commenced at Eden Park today, the home side at “stumps” having lost seven' wickets for 332 runs. On winning the toss the Auckland captain, A. J. Postles, _ had no hesitation in batting. The wicket and outfield, however, proved to .be slow, and during the morning period the ’Wellington bowlers pinned the batsmen down to defensive tactics. Auckland at one stage had lost three for 68 runs and the visiting bowlers were well on top. As the wicket gradually dried the batsmen were able to become more free, but it was only in the later stages of the afternoon that the scoring rate quickened to any extent. A fine innings was played for Auckland by P. E. Whitelaw, an opening batsman, who was in for 195. minutes for 56 runs. In association with G. L.Weir (54) he added 87 for the fourthwicket. Weir was fortunate to be missed with his score a± 14, but nevertheless he played a most useful innings for his side. The two colts, V. Scott and V. S. Sale, livened the proceedings by good running between the wickets. Sale made a bright 38, while Scott was more subdued for ,a solid innings of 61. The New Zealand representative, W. N. Carson, batted particularly brightly for 66 not out. > The Wellington fast bowler, T. L. Pritchard, put up a fine performance in taking two wickets for 62 runs in 25 overs, six of which were maidens. J. Ashenden bowled much better than his figures of one for 79 indicated. The other wickets were evenly divided. Scores: AUCKLAND First Innings A. J. Postles b Ashenden 8 P. E. Whitelaw c and b Harpur 56 W. M. Wallace c Ashenden b Gallichan 23 H. G. Vivian c Rairibird b Pritchard 5 G. L. Weir c Ell b Browne 54 V. J. Scott c Tindill b Lamason 61 V. S. Sale c Lamason b Pritchard 38 W. N. Carson not out 66 A. M. Matheson not out 5 Extras 16 TOTAL for seven wickets 332

MINOR ASSOCIATIONS’ TEAM (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, February 3. The following minor association’s cricket team has been selected to play Sir Julien Cahn’s eleven at Palmerston North on February 20 and 21: D. A. Cameron (Rangitikei), E. Evans (Hawke’s Bay), N. Gallichan (Manawatu), J. Meuli (Taranaki), J. Murchison (Manawatu), A. W. McCoy (Taranaki), W. E. Norris (Manawatu), W. Peterson (Wairarapa), T. L. Pritchard (Manawatu), T. P. Reaney (Hawke’s Bay), M. Turbott (Taranaki), G. A. Robertson, twelfth man (Manawatu). The New Zealand Cricket Council has appointed W. E. Norris captain, of the team.

0. M. R. W. H. Davis 20.2 3 75 2 E. Mulcock 31 7 97 5 F. W. Newton 14 2 49 1 I. B. Cromb 8 1 34 1 F. W. Bellamy 1 0 7 0

0. M. R. W. Silver 9 2 29 0 Lemin 4 1 15 0 Robertson 5 1 14 0 Leader 5 1 7 0 Moloney 4 0 1 0

Bowling 0. M. K. W. Pritchard 25 6 62 2 Ashenden 26 3 79 1 Gallichan 26 6 70 1 Lamason 9 1 29 1 Browne 8 0 41 1 Harpur 10 1 28 1 Ell 2 0 7 0