OTAGO BATSMEN OPEN INNINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18040, 28 December 1926, Page 11

OTAGO BATSMEN OPEN INNINGS.

EARLY BATSMEN MAKE A PROMISING START. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. December 28. There was a marked improvement in the weather conditions for the continuation of the Plunket Shield match Wellington v. Otago to-day. Knight (0) and Green (0) resumed the visitors’ first innings on a good wicket. Brice took up the attack, Green clear ing the field for a couple off the fourth ball. Badcock bowled against the

wind, sending down a maiden to Knight, who was disinclined to ta‘C* any risks with the coach’s leg theory. In Brice's next over Green again cleared the field for a couple. Knight opened his score with a single off Badcoclc and then he got the same bowler away for three, Dempster falling in fielding the ball. This brought 10 up. Knight scored the first boundary of the innings, glancing Brice to the fence at fine; leg. Soon after Green was dismissed, Kortlang taking a great catch close in off Badcock. 19 —I—S.1—S. Blunt was next, and opened nicely with three through the slips. In facing Brice he had a lucky escape, cocking one up just clef.r of the field. Misfielding by Lambert allowed Blunt to get a couple off Brice. Knight continued; but with great care, and gave Brice a maiden. Blunt cut Badcock nicely for three and this brought 30 up. A little later he sent Brice to the fence, a nice shot. The ex-Canterbury man was shaping well. At 38 M’Girr went on in place of Brice (0 for 21), Blunt sending his first delivery for two. Two singles brought his total to 20, Knight being 13. Blunt continued to hit attractive! y, placing M’Girr nicely for three. With the total at 47 Rollings was given a trial in place of Badcock (one for 16). Blunt was not disturbed by the change, bringing 50 up with a shot through the slips to the boundary. At noon the score was one for 54. WELLINGTON, December 28. There was no check in the scoring rate so far as Blunt was concerned, and he reached the 40 mark with good strokes off Hollings, who proved expensive. There was a change at 69. Badcock was brought on again, and he succeeded in keeping Blunt fairly quiet for an over. Knight in the meantime was playing safe very efficiently. With the total at 77 Blunt hit out at one from Badcock. but he edged it and Kortlang brought off another fine catch. 77—2 —45. Shepherd filled the vacancy. At 79 Lambert replaced M’Girr (0 for 12). Shepherd did not have a very long life In feeling for one from Badcock he gave M’Girr a catch at point. 81—3—2. A. W. Aloo was next, and the rate of scoring became very slow, both Lambert and Badcock. bowling several maidens. Eventually Lambert got one past Alloo. 92 —4 —5. Blamires filled the vacancy. With 100 on the board Iliddleston replaced Badcock (three for 27). At lunch the score was JO7 for four.

WELLINGTON. First Innings. j. S. Iliddleston, c Dickinson b Zimmerman 121 R. rie R. Worker. Ibw b Blunt .... 73 B. J. Kortlang, b Blunt 60 C. S. Dempster, c Torrance b Blunt 9 T. C. Lowry, std Green b Blunt 90 H. N. Lambert, Ibw b Blunt 49 11. M. M’Girr, c and b Blunt 0 A. M. Hollings, b Blunt 0 K. James, not out 16 F. T. Badcock, b A. W. Alloo .... 4 W. S. Brice, c Zimmerman b A. W. Alloo 1 Extras (Byes 22, no balls 2, wide 1) 25 Total 448 Bowling analvsis—Dickinson, 29 overs, 1 maiden, SO runs; Torrance, 30 overs, 6 maidens, 91 runs; Blunt, 25 overs, 96 runs, 7 wickets; Shepherd, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 45 runs; A. W. Alloo, l 24.5 overs, 5 maidens, 79 runs, 2 wickets; Blamires, 4 overs, 10 runs; Zimmerman, 8 overs, 1 maiden, 22 runs, 1 wicket. OTAGO. First Innings. L. Green, c Kortlang b Badcock .. s!

Knight, not out 26 Green, c Kortlang b Badcock .... 8 Blunt, c Kortlang b Badcock .... 45 Shepherd, c M’Girr b Badcock .... 2 A. W.'Alloo, b Lambert 5 Blamires. not out 5 Extras 16 ! Total for four wickets .... 107