Ptunket Shield Cricket Commences

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 545, 24 December 1928, Page 13

Ptunket Shield Cricket Commences

WELLINGTON V. OTAGO SOUTHERNERS OPEN Press Association WELLINGTON, To-day. The first Plunket Shield match of the season —Otago versus Wellington—commenced here to-day in glorious weather. Otago won the toss and elected to bat on a perfect wicket. McGirr opened the Wellington attack and his first over proved disastrous to Otago, H. Alloo being caught off the last ball after scoring six. Blunt joined Knight, the other opening batsman, and singles took the total to 14 ■when Badcock was replaced by Rotherham. Both batsmen were playing carefully, McGirr’s bowling not giving them much opportunity to score. At 28 Henderson took the ball from McGirr, ji runs coming off the over. The change was appreciated by the batsmen, both of 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 four. Play had now been in progress 45 minutes. With the total of 58 Knight touched a rising ball from Henderson, who was bowling the off theory and was beautifully taken by James behind the sticks with a one-handed catch. At noon Otago bad lost two wickets for 64. With 30 more added to the score blunt who was batting well, scoring with some very nice off-shots fell into the same trap as Knight. His score included four fours. Monk joined Eastman, and the first fcentury went up after 80 minutes play. A double change was made in the bowling, McGirr and Badcock coming on, and Eastman ran to 30 with a neat late 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 48 minutes. At the luncheon adjournment file Score was 157 for three wickets. Blunt caught James, bowled Henderson 39; Eastman, in, 68; Monk, in, 20; extras 6. OTAGO First innings H. ALLOO. c Foley, b McGirr .... 6 A. KNIGHT, c and b Henderson . . IS R. BLUNT, c James b Henderson 39 EASTMAN, not out 68 MONK, not out 20 Extras 6 Three wickets for 157