EXCITING CRICKET

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 January 1947, Page 3

EXCITING CRICKET

AUCKLAND BEATS OTAGO OFF ALMOST LAST BALL PLUNKET SHIELD MATCH. Auckland, Jan. 5. In an atmosphere, brimful of excitement, Auckland beat Otago outright in the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park on Saturday by scoring the required runs off the second to last ball of the day. Rarely, if ever, has there been such an exciting finish to a match on this ground or to a Plunket Shield fixture. The players were all pent up in the final stages and there was a good crowd, so much so, that few left the ground until the decision was reached in the last and vital final over. Either ’side could have won outright, and the day’s play had been so enjoyable not even the most partisan enthusiasts would have cared which way the result went. Otago could not be said to have been favoured by winning the toss, and their splendid second innings recovery was a great effort. The fourth and final day on Saturday developed into a race against time for either team to gain an outright win or for Auckland to win on the first innings. Otago, who had lost eight wickets for 359 runs at the conclusion of the third day’s play, carried their total to 432, due chiefly to an aggressive display by the lefthander L. D. Smith. He ran to 60 before being bowled, his 51 runs in the morning being made in 88 minutes. Otago batted for 487 minutes. Left with 237 to win outright in 262 minutes, there was a little constern-

ation in the Auckland camp when there watt a doubt, about either Wailace, captain, or Scott being able to bat. Wallace was suffering from a. badly bruised thumb and Scott from an injured wrist, these injuries necessitating a change in the bat ting order. Five were required in the last over of the day, and the batsmen held a conference, evidently intent on snatching singles. This was successfully done when Scott patted Overton’s first ball toward point, amid cheering. Cowie back-cut the next delivery for a brace, missed the third. lashed out at the fourth and missed, back-cut the fifth for another brace, and the match was won with one ball lo be delivered. Bowlers' honours for Otago were divided between McDougall, four for 44, and Overton, four for 57. Otago’s fielding was excellent, with Roberts in great form. Scores:— OTAGO. First innings 153 Second Innings. W. A. Handlee, c. Burke, b. Snedden IfiS G. H. Mills, b. Wiles 35 A. H. Cutler, l.hw.. b. Cowie . 4 A. W. Roberts, b. Sutcliffe . 7 R. H. Robinson, c. and b. Sutcliffe 74 D. S. St. John, 1.b.w.. b. Cowie 31 D. J. Blakely, st. Kent. b. Burke 0 j T. A. Freeman, c. Wallace, b. Taylor 13 D. Smith, b. Cowie Gfi A. W. McDougall, run out 6 G. Overton, not out 13 ' Extras 23 Total 432

AUCKLAND. First innings 349 Second Innings. P. E. Whitelaw, c. Roberts, b. Overton 11 G. C. Burgess, 1.b.w., b. Robinson 13 D. D. Taylor, c. St. John. b. McDougall 27 B. Sutcliffe, c. St. John, b. McDougall 74 A. V. Wiles, b McDougal] . 40 W. M. Wallace, 1.b.w., b. McDougall 17 C. Burke, c. McDougall, b. Overton 13 C. A. Snedden, c. McDougall, b. Overton 9 V. J. Scott, not out 16 L. A. Kent, c. Roberts, b. Overton 5 J. Cowie, not out 8 Extras - 4

Bowling; Analysis. o. M. R. w. J. Cowie 44.4 12 113 3 B. Sutcliffe 23 8 47 2 D. D. Taylor 3 0 8 1 C. Burke 36 6 1 A. V. Wiles . . 32 10 83 1 C. A. Snedden 30 7 81 1

Total for nine wickets 237 Bowling Analysis. o. M. R. W. A. McDougall 21 7 44 4 G. Overton 23.5 6 57 4 R. H. Robinson 14 9 38 1 A. W. Roberts 19 4 50 0 L. D. Smith 11 2 40 0 T. A. Freeman 1 0 4 0