PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 20057, 24 December 1928, Page 10

PLUNKET SHIELD CRICKET

OTAGO V. WELLINGTON THE VISITORS’ BATTING [Pek United Press Association.] , WELLINGTON, December 24. The fifstPl unkot Shield match of the season commenced here to-day in glori-r ons weather. Otago won the toss, and elected to bat on a perfect wievet. M'liirr opened the Wellington attack, and his first over proved disaslvoms to Otago, 11. AHoo being caught off the last ball alter scoring (5. Blunt joined Knight, the other,’, opening batsman, and singles took the total to 14, when Badcock was replaced by Rotheram. Both batsmen were playing carefully, M‘Gin ’s bowling not giving them much opportunity to score. At 28 Henderson took the hall from M‘Girr, 11. runs coining off the' over. The change was appreiatod, h.v. the batsmen, both ot whom scored with crisp shots on the off from Henderson’s fast deliveries. Fifty went up when Blunt lifted a ball just clear of the slips off Henderson for 4. * Play had now been in progress 4oihin'. With the total at 58 Knight touched a rising ball from Henderson, who was bawling the o(f theory, and was beautifully taken by James behind the sticks with a onc-hauded catch. At noon the score was 64 lor two wickets. With 30 more added to the score, Blunt, who was batting fell, scoring with some very nice off shots, fell into the same trap as Knight, His score, included four 4’s. Monk joined Eastman, and the century went up -after eighty minutes’ plav, A double change was made; in the"bowling, M'Girr and Jlndcoek going pn, and Eastman ran to 30 with a neat ]ate cut. Eastman was nOw shaping confidently, and was putting plenty of power into his shots, his off-side play’ being particularly attractive. Eastman reached 50 in forty-eight minutes, and at the luncheon adjourn-, mont the score was 157 for three wickets. Details: — . OTAGO. First Innings. H. Alloo c Foley b "M'Girr 6 Knight c an db Henderson'' 18 . Blunt c James b Henderson 39 Eastman not out ... ... ... ... /68 Monk not out 2(1 Extras' ■■■■-..... ... *... 6 Total for three wickets ... 157