PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 23737, 8 February 1939, Page 15

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Canterbury Beats Otago

VALUABLE INNINGS BY SHAND BATSMEN SETTLE DOWN TO STEADY SCORING (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 7. The Canterbury-Otago Plunket Shield match at Carisbrook was finished at 3 o’clock this afternoon, expectations of an interesting last day disappearing vzhen the remaining Canterbury batsmen settled down to steady scoring. The result was a win for Canterbury, outright, by five wickets. Conditions today were not pleasant, particularly for the fielding side. A. strong south-westerly wind brought rain with it, and there were two sharp downpours soon after midday. The day’s play began with Canterbury in the position of having to score 178 runs, with seven wickets in hand, for an eight-point win. The wicket had dried out and was in good order for run getting, and it was soon evident that the not-out batsmen, R. C. Shand and F. W. Bellamy, were sighting the ball well. Bellamy was dismissed with the total at 150, and then Shand and R. E. J. Menzies settled down to put the result beyond doubt. They added 132 runs for the fifth wicket in even time, and Shand was not out until only 15 runs were required for a win. He had played a most valuable innings, worrying his way through a difficult pateh on Monday afternoon and moving along quietly but steadily today. . Menzies was more aggressive, being naturally a more powerful. hitter and he was not out with 80. At the close of play both he and Shand were allowed a “life” or two, but they played excellent cricket and seldom appeared to be in any real difficulty. . BLUSTERY WEATHER The south-easterly wind was blustery and cold when Shand (11) and Bellamy (9) continued Canterbury’s innings with 119 runs on the board for three wickets. The latter got off the mark again with a well-timed hit to long leg for 4, and that with 6 extras off the first over of the day from Leader soon brought 130 up. Moloney - was bowling from the pavilion end and just after he gave way to Elmes, 150 came up in 194 minutes. As was the case on Monday, he. bowled well. Both batsmen were quiet, but the partnership was broken in Elmes’s third over. He got Bellamy to nibble at one going away on the off. Mills held the snick and Elmes had two for 18. The total was still 150. Bellamy’s 27 was a very patient innings. Shand was still watchful, and the newcomer, Menzies, started off defensively. Shand drove Elmes once or twice into the covers, but the field was well packed and it was difficult to get the ball through. Silver came on at the workshops end in place of Leader, and when Menzies cut him for three he was into double figures and the total was 160.

The first hour of the day yielded 50 runs, but the pace was increased a little in Silver’s next over. Both batsmen turned him to leg several times and seven runs came off the over.

With the total at 177, Lemin, who had bowled only four overs in the first innings, was tried for- the first time this innings. He took over from Elmes, and a single off his first ball _ made Shand 30. Menzies reached 20 in the same over, and nine off the over made the total 186.

Leader was brought back in place of Silver, whose three overs had cost 11 runs, and he had his first ball snicked by Shand. Cavanagh, at second slip, could not gather the chance. Silver came on at the pavilion end. Menzies was fast between the wickets and they ran a good three off Leader, and then Shand swung on to one and it went fast to the long leg fence to make him 40. Menzies drove Silver’s first ball through the covers to reach his 30, making the partnership worth 50 and bringing 200 up in 253 minutes. Canterbury required 95 runs for a win with six wickets still in hand. CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS There was a chapter of accidents off the second ball of Robertson’s first over at the other end. Menzies swung it high to long leg, but Lemin, who made ground to the ball, could not hold a difficult catch. In the meantime, the batsmen had got themselves into a tangle and they were both almost together at the wicketkeeper’s end when the ball came back. Mills passed it along to Robertson, but Shand had time to scramble back. The batsmen were together with 41 each, when Menzies drove Silver square for four, and Shand had another life when he sliced Robertson fairly high into the gully. Fraser jumped to the ball and blocked it, but could not recover to make the catch. Molonev wastried again at the pavilion end, while Robertson was still keeping an accurate length at the other end. Rain had been threatening for some time and with only five minutes to go before the adjournment, it began to fall. One more over was completed before lunch, the players running for shelter after Robertson had bowled three of the scheduled last over of the morning. The total was 229, with Shand 48 and Menzies 47.

The weather cleared up again during the adjournment, and the sun was shining and the wind less troublesome. Menzies reached his 50 in 87 minutes and Shand followed him to his halfcentury in the same over. He had been batting for 188 minutes. After Elmes had bowled two overs from the pavilion end. Lemin was given a trial, but did not seem to worry either batsmen. Leader had bad luck when Menzies at 63 snicked one straight to Elmes at first slip, but it went through the fieldsman’s hands and hit him just below the knee. A total of 270 appeared when the same batsman hit one over Uttley’s head into the covers for four. Menzies survived an lbw appeal from Leader a few runs later. Shand drove a no-ball from Leader for two, but in attempting to repeat the stroke two balls later lifted a catch straight into Silver's hands at mid-on. The total was 282 and Shand had played a valuable innings for his 70 in 234 minutes. The partnership had added 132 runs in 130 minutes. He had hit five fours.

Anderson came in with 15 runs still required for a win and was in time to play at one ball before rain swept the ground again and caused a break of 10 minutes. The new batsman might have been out in the first over after resumption, Knight at second slip diving at a fairly wide snick off Lemin, but failing to pick it up. A succession of singles, with an odd two, brought 290 up and the game ended quietly with another single or two. A couple of twos and a single to Menzies down the gully made 297 for five wickets in 336 minutes.

The game was won and ldst at 3

o’clock. Menzies was not out with 80. an excellent innings that took 150 minutes and included four fours. Results: Scores: OTAGO First innings 266 Second innings 232 CANTERBURY First innings 202 Second Innings J. L. Kerr b Moloney 33 M. P. Donnelly b Elmes 49 I. B. Cromb c Knight b Leader 12 R. C. Shand c Silver b Leader 70 F. W. Bellahny c Mills b Elmes 27 R. E. J. Menzies not out 80 W. McD. Anderson not out 8 Extras (byes 8, leg byes 10) 18 TOTAL (for five wickets) 297 Fall of wickets—One for 67, 2 for 94, 3 for 100, 4 for 150, 5 for 282. Bowling Analysis

0. M. R. W. R. Silver 14 - 62 - G. J. Robertson 11 5 22 — D. A. R. Moloney 15 1 66 1 V. J. Leader 30 8 63 2 C. J. Elmes 18 4 40 2 G. Lemin 7.2 0 26 — Leader bowled one no-balL