OTAGO AHEAD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 954, 26 December 1933, Page 11

OTAGO AHEAD.

Home Batsmen Fail in First Innings. SECOND DAY'S PLAY. Batting yesterday on a drying pitch after Otago had scored freely on a fast batsman’s wicket, Canterbury had the worst of the change in the weather when they commenced the second day’s play in the Plunket Shield match. Otago had a lead of 136 runs on the first innings, and when stumps were drawn had scored 41 without loss in the second innings. Excellent batting by the Canterbury tail-enders averted a follow-on, but Canterbury were all out for 217, leaving Otago in a strong position. After Hadlee and Bellamy had carried the total to 43 on Saturday, play was resumed yesterday on a soft pitch that had already grown sticky under the influence of sun and ( wind, and their task was twice as difficult. Bellamy scored a single off the first ball from Badcock, and then Hadlee had to face accurate leg theory bowling that made him watchful. Badcock had every man on the leg side except midoff, two close in just in front of the wicket and three close just behind. Hadlee took stock of him for a maiden over, missing in one attempt to hit a big one. Bellamy took a four to fine leg off Nimmo. Then the hopes of Canterbury supporters went bump when the left-hander was completely beaten by a fast, length ball which swung in just enough to beat the bat. Three wickets were down for only fifty runs, a dozen of which went to Bellamy’s credit. Page came to the wickets and turned on fireworks straight away. He late cut his second ball high, luckily just over the slips head to the boundary, lie cut Nimmo again for two, and in the next over skied another one into slips, Elmes failing to hold a particularly hot chance. Nimmo was not getting great pace off the pitch, but he dropped them a trifle short and they got up in a way that suggested work for the three men in the slips. Point was playing deep and both batsmen took singles in his direction. Hadlee reached 30, and 80 appeared on the board after 83 minutes batting. Dunning replaced Nimmo when the fast man had taken two wickets for 43 runs, and Hadlee turned his last ball to fine leg for three. Both batsmen hit hard at Badcock without connecting. The wicketkeeper and the lejy cordon appeared in grave danger at times. Badcock changed to off theory. Had- ; lee taking a single off his back foot to extra cover, and Page drove the 1 same bowler for another. Hot Return Accepted. A fine knock came to an end and ] Canterbury’s hopes dropped still further when Hadlee drove Badcock hard, and the bowler took the red-hot catch as if it was no trouble at all. Four wickets were down for 96, and Hadlee made a ehanceless 42, including five fours. He batted like a champion, his time at the wickets being seventy-five minutes. D. Smith came in to stop the rot and placed Badcock for a single. The century appeared when the innings had lasted 115 minutes. Both Badcock and Dunning were keeping a good length, and the pitch assisted them so that every ball was dangerous. Page broke the quiet spell with a high on-drive off Badcock which found the boundary. Smith earned a brace with a neat leg placement off Dunning, followed by a fortunate three through the slips. Next over he had a narrow escape when he drove at Badcock, and third slip was just unable to hold a very w-idc chance. A few balls later he found the boundary with an off-drive which was just clear of a chance at mid-off. The pitch was kicking occasionally at Dunning’s end, but Smith took a fast single to square leg and Page lifted short one safely to the square boundary. Next ball Page played back a trifle late to Dunning. lie connected, but the ball went straight down and rolled on to the wicket just hard enough to displace the bails. 120—5—20. Page was playing himself steadily in when his wicket went. Cromb joined Smith in the arduous hunt for runs, but before five minutes were up Smith went leg before wicket to a ball from Badcock that kept very low. 124—6—12. Lester joined Cromb. Follow-on Likely. Cromb fell once more to his hook 1 shot. He tried to get Dunning away to' leg and was finely held, six inches off the ground by Cavanagh at silly midon. The board’s dismal tale was 124—7 —O. Riley was the next man. After both bowlers had sent down maidens, he turned Dunning for two to leg and then cut him for a single. A full toss from Badcock let Riley find the fence at long-on. Lester cocked a kicking ball from Dunning dangerously near the bowler, and then started scoring with a lucky snick for three through the slips. Over seventy runs were still needed to avoid a follow-on, a prospect which hinted of absolute disaster on the difficult wicket. Riley reached double figures with a single to the off. When Badcock had bowled thirty-two overs for three wickets and 48 runs, including sixteen maidens, he gave way to Elmes, a slow-medium left-hander. Riley drove him and Nimmo made a good but unsuccessful attempt to hold a low, one-handed catch at mid-off. At 145 Chettleburgh was brought on at the north end to try to effect a separation. He sent down slow, right-hand leg spinners, Riley placing one past mid-off for a brace. At the tea adjournment 57 runs were needed to avoid a follow-on, Riley and Lester still playing a dour defensive game. Badcock came on again at the north end after tea, and Riley clipped him through the slips for two. Nimmo was the other bowler, Lester punching a short one for a pair behind point. Riley drew applause with an off-drive which sent Badcock to the boundary, and reached twenty with a single through the slips off the fast bowler. Lester Opens Out. Next over, however, Riley hesitated a fraction before trying to cut Badcock and finished by sending an easy catch to Chettleburgh at second slip. Riley had played a plucky innings for 20, but eight wickets were down for only 156. Hope was next man. Lester raised a cheer when he put his foot down the pitch to Badcock and on-drove a great six. He sneaked a single off the last ball of the over and then off-drove Nimmo for rour. At the end of the over the fieldsmen closed in, but Lester again placed the requisite single. There was 170 on the board and only 34 were needed to avert a follow-on. A snick through the slips

gave Lester 20, and then Jie lifted Badcock high to the off pickets. He failed to get his single, though he hooked one to leg at the end of the over. Dunning came on to try to get Hope, but that batsman snicked a four through the slips and then blocked resolutely. Lester again faced Badcock, while the board showed 180. A big hit failed to connect, but the ball went off the edge of the bat to square leg for a brace. Badcock now had two men on the ; boundary, but the next big hit went between them, landing within a few I feet of the fence, bringing Lester into I the thirties. Lester turned Dunning to 1 leg for two and then cut him for three, ; getting the bowling again and posting 192 on the board. Then, with 12 wanted to avoid the t follow-on, Lester went to drive Badcock and gave Cavanagh an easy catch at mid-off. He had made an heroic effort aginst odds. 192—9—36. Last Wicket Stand. Burns and Hope were left to do the work. Burns played out Badcock’s over and Hope on-drove a full toss from Dunning for three. Burns turned him to leg for a single. Then Hope narrowly escaped being caught by Talbot at mid-off, a single resulting. Seven wanted, and Hope drove Badcock to the on-boundary, bringing 200 up. Next ball Hope turned to fine leg for three, and the follow-on was averted. Burns lifted Badcock safely wide of point for two. and both took singles to leg off Dunning. Hope reaching 10 with a hook for two. Another powerful hook went scorching to the boundary. Both hit Badcock high but safely, but two balls later Hope made another big attempt, missed and had his wicket shattered. The innings realised 217, leaving Canterbury 136 behind on the first innings, a much better result than could have been expected when seven wickets were down for 124. Badcock took six wickets for 84 runs in 41.5 overs of typicall} l - accurate trundling. Otago Again. With three-quarters of an hour to bat, Knight and Cavanagh again opened foe Otago, Cavanagh taking strike against Cromb, who bowled into the wind from the north end. Cavanagh turned Cromb to leg for three, and Knight placed a single. Hope took the ball at the south end, Knight cutting the second ball for two and turning the next to fine leg for a single. As in the first innings, the pair opened confidently and wasted no time in getting busy. The batsmen were sound and refused to be drawn into error. At stumps, 41 showed on the board without loss. Brabin Shield Team. The following; is the team chosen to pfay for the Canterbury second grade representatives against Wellington for the Brabin Shield on January 3 and 2 at Lancaster Park, starting at 11 a.m.: L. .Walsh (Sydenham), captain. IX X. M'Rae (Sydenham), R. K. Alexander (Christ’s College). R. C. Webb (Christ’s College), wicketkeeper, N. McClelland (TT.5.0.8.). K. J. M'Ewen (H. 5.0.8.), It. (Rackin (Lancaster Bark), K. Truseott (St Albans), T. Burtt (St Albans), J. Patrick (West Christchurch). R. Menzies (8.H.5.). Emergencies—V. G. Hill (1T.5.0.8.). G. C. Lewis (Riccarton). A practice will be held at Hagley Park on Thursday, December 28, at 5 P-m. Friendly Match. Carlton defeated P.allanty-ne’s on Saturday by 126 runs to 71. Batting for Carlton. Kennedy 22. NIrII 17 retired, Pilkington 16 retired, Austin IS retired, M’Donnell 13. and Werren 12. were the highest scorers. Bowling for Carlton M'Donnell was the most successful. Batting for Ballantyne’s. Weir 19. Booker IS, Evans 16, and M’Crea 11 not Ballantyne’s Booker captured the bowling honours.

GIRLS’ CRICKET.

Final Matches Played on Saturday. The final matches for the present year in the girls’ cricket competitions were played on Saturday. There will now be a three weeks’ break, as the competitions will not resume. until January 13. It would have been better to postpone Saturday’s games, as a number iof players were absent on holiday. so that most of the teams were short, and one junior side was forced to default At Malvern Park, High School Old Girls easily defeated the Argyle House side, which consisted of only seven players. Mai Moa had an easy win against Spreydon. V. J3el worthy, who took five wickets for 5 runs, playing havoc on the hard pitch. Beckenham compiled a good score against Technical Old Girls, but they were not able to hold their lead, and Technical won by 2 4 runs. Considerable interest was shown in the meeting of ITarewood and Beckenham, the unbeaten junior teams, and some good play was seen. H. Boakes. of Ha re wood, played a sparkling innings for 64 runs that included twelve fours and a six. Results. High School Old " Girls 127, Argyle House 27. Mai Moa 103. Spreydon 29. Technical Old Girls 95, Beckenham 71. Junior. Harewood. 142 (H. Boakes 64, V. Merrln 33; H. Boakes five for 15. V. Merrin two for 8), beat Beckenham. 49 (E. Hughes 14, C. M’Allister 12; P. Hodgefive for 29, M. Edwards four for 40). M’Kenzie’s, 97 (P. Kirk 31, M. Gilmour 22, C. Marks 18, E. Wilson 12; E. Wilson five for 9. K. Simmons one for 0), beat Sacred Heart. 15 (R. Rich 6; S. Rich four for 25, X. Corliss two for 30). Tohe A beat Ballantyne’s by default.