PLUNKET SHIELD

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20125, 22 February 1937, Page 8

PLUNKET SHIELD

OTAGO’S SCORE MOUNTS. UTTLEY PASSES CENTURY. MAPPLEBECK INNOCUOUS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Monday. The Otago batsmen were favoured with a fast, true wicket for the resumption of their second innings in the third day’s play of the Plunket Shield match against Canterbury at Carrisbrook this morning. Uttley (74) and Cheftleburgh (19) were the batsmen, the former opening the proceedings by square cutting Mapplebeck’s first ball to the boundary followed by a two and a beautiful stroke to fine leg for four, all at the expense of the medium-fast bowler.

The Otago captain was now well into his stride and rapidly approached his first Shield century with a variety of glorious strokes. Operating from the other end, Mulcock forced Chettleburgh to play quietly when Uttley placed a ball from Mapplebeck down the gully for a certain two. A wild return by Kerr enabled the batsmen to run another three, bringing Utlley’s score to 98.

He reached his century with a characteristic shot to the boundary. It was an innings that contained only one chance and was compiled in 163 minutes. Uttley’s century also signalised the appearance of 200 and it could now be safely stated that the tide of fortune definitely favoured Otago. Slower Scoring. Neither batsmen had any difficulty in playing Mapplebeck, who was quite innocuous compared with his first innings triumph. He was replaced by Cromb, Mulcock and he slowing up the rate of scoring considerably. So far Mulcock was the best of the visitor’s battery of bowlers and at all times had to "be carefully watched. After a quiet period of purely defensive batting Uttley made an electrifying stroke past cover point for four off Cromb. The visitors’ fielding was very keen and it had to be a hard shot that would penetrate the closely packed ring. Runs Come Freely. Several changes were effected in the attack in an attempt to destroy the partnership but the runs continued to come freely. Otago’s advantageous position was now being consolidated. Forsaking his restrained policy, Chettleburgh scored seven off an over from Bellamy and later entered the fifties by sweeping the same bowler to the on for four and collecting a similar amount by lifting the ball from Mulcock to the off fence. When the total was 262 and Uttley’s score 130, Hadlee replaced Bellamy but there was no abatement in the rate of scoring, neither batsman looking like being dismissed. Mulcock appeared the most dangerous of the string of Canterbury bowlers and when he was replaced by Cromb again his 19 overs this morning had cost only 20 runs. Erratic Returns. Though the ground fielding of Canterbury was safe the returns to the wicket were very erratic, enabling the batsmen to sneak short runs with safety. Chettleburgh was 60 when he skied Hadlee to the off but there was no one handy. The reappearance of Mapplebeck was an invitation for the batsmen to collect runs, 11 coming off an over, including two boundaries. Chettleburgh was now 75 and impressed as a likely century maker. Three hundred was hoisted just before the luncheon adjournment. Partnership Ends. The adjournment proved fatal for both Uttley and Chettleburgh. The latter’s splendid innings ended at Sharpe's fifth ball of his first over The Otago captain reached forward to the highly flighted ball and tapped an easy catch to Cromb at mid-off. The partnership had been worth 158 runs and he had been at the wicket for over four hours. He hit 13 fours. Almost immediately Chettleburgh played across a delivery from Mapplebeck and five wickets were clown for 314 runs. It was a pity that a fine innings was terminated by such a poor stroke. Badcock and Kerr were now together and hatted brightly. Scores:— OTAGO.—First Innings 124. Second Innings. Uttley, c Cromb, b Sharpe .... 145 Knight, b Cromb . . . 22 Mills, b Cromb 0 Elmes, b Mulcock 4S Chettleburgh, b Mapplebeck .... 84 Badcock (in) 2 9 Kerr (in) j) Extras JO Total for 5 wickets 34 7 CANTERBURY.—First Innings. Kerr, b Dunning 27 Hadlee, b Elmes 13 Menzies, lbw, b Dunning 12 O’Brien, lbw, b Dunning 113 Page, lbw, 1) Dunning 15 Cromb, c and b Elmes 3 Bellamy, b Nimmo 14 Sharpe, run out. 28 Jackman, c Mills, b Dunning . . l Mulcock, by Badcock C Mapplebeck, not out 0 Extras 17 Total 243 Bowling: Nimmo took one wicket for 19; Silver none for 67: Elmes two for 50; Dunning four for 4b, Badcock two for l ; Groves none for 35. SATURDAY’S PLAY. CANTE RBU R Y MAK E * 24 3. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN. Saturday. When stumps were drawn in the Plunket Shield match on Saturday, Otago, in llieir first innings, had lust three wickels for 170, Canterbury being all out for 243. Changes were being tried lo dislodge Sharpe, whose patience defied all efforts. Interest con I red on whether O’Brien would make his first Plunket Shield century. He brought up 200 ami his own total to 86 bv a leg glance for four. Shortly a t ier, when 95, O’Brien skied Silver to Groves

at mid-on, but the fieldsman dropped the catch. Three off Silver and a single gave O’Brien his century, made in 201 minutes. Badcock was given his first trial when the total xyas 230. When O’Brien and Sharpe appeared set, a smart return by Groves to Badcock saw Sharpe run out. The partnership

Jackman was splendidly caught by Mills at the wicket off Dunning, and O’Brien was} trapped lbw by Badcock. Then Badcock bowled Mulcock, closing the innings. Otago’s Second Innings. A deficit of 119 runs faced Otago when the second innings was commenced by Knight, and Uttley at 3.45. Proceedings again nearly opened disastrously, for Knight popped up a simple catch to O'Brien forward of leg, which was dropped, and then skied the ball to Hadlee, who just failed to get underneath it. Knight was taking full advantage of his few scoring opportunities, his runs mostly coming through smartly-run singles. Then lie introduced a bright interlude by placing a ball off Mulcock down the gully for four, while Uttley turned his next delivery sweetly to the leg fence for three, a further run coming as the result of an overthrow. The otago pair were now shaping very soundly, runs coming in quick succession. Mulcock was not nearly as dangerous as in Otago’s first innings, his length and direction both being too changeable. In comparison, Cromb flighted the ball cleverly and neany tenipted Knight into being slumped. With his next delivery, however, CromD took Knight’s wicket, the batsman making a very weak stroke and chopping the ball on. Knight's contribution was 22. Ttien Cromb met with further success when Mills, the newcomer, played outside a leg break. 43—2—0. Uttley was joined by Elmes, who opened by off-driving Mulcock for four, and then placed the next delivery through the covers for three. Uttley helped himself lo a similar amount by leg-glancing the same bowler, while in the next over Elmes collected two successive boundaries. Bowling changes had little affect until Elmes failed to connect with one from Mulcock and was clean bowled. At stumps Otago had lost three wickets for 170.