OTAGO PLAYS AGAINST MINOR ASSOCIATIONS’ TEAM AT PALMERSTON N

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 January 1947, Page 3

OTAGO PLAYS AGAINST MINOR ASSOCIATIONS’ TEAM AT PALMERSTON N

(P.A.) Palmerston N., Jan. 6. Jaded and tired after a night .spent on the Auckland express, the Otago Plunket Shield cricket team was not at the peak of its form when they began a two-day game against the Wellington district Minor Cricket Association’s team here to-day. The Minor Association’s team includes players from Manawatu, Nelson, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Southern Hawke’s Bay, and Wanganui. Otago, unfortunately, lost the toss and had to spend the day in the field. They began well, taking three wickets for 43, but J. A. Ongley, the Wellington representative, in a brilliant captain’s innings, wore down the bowling of Overton. Smith, McDougall, and Duncan, and the remaining batsmen scored freely to make 256 when the innings was closed after 324 minutes at the crease. Otago will bat to-mor-row. Hadlee and Roberts returned direct to Otago and were not available, while Freeman was left behind in Auckland, where he was admitted to hospital. To-morrow Otego wiH meet the bowling of Cave and Downes, who probably will form the backbone of Wellington’s attack against Otago in the next Plunket Shield match, to be played at Dunedin at the end of January. Top scorers for the Minor Associations were Ongley 46, Collis (Manawatu) 16. T. P. Reaney (Hawke': Bay) 38, J. D. Ridland (Taranaki) 43