North Otago, after a bad start in which three wickets were lost for 21 runs, had scored 116 runs for the loss of four wickets at the end of the first day's play against a Dunedin Metropolitan team. Metropolitan batted first and declared with the score at 297 runs for the loss of six wickets. Centuries were scored by W.S. Haig (112) and G.M. Aim (105).
The North Otago bowling was without life and the field was below standard. Haig appeared to sense this and was not afraid to hit the ball into the air. He as dropped from a "sitter" in his 80's and gave two other chances.
The next 50 took 25 minutes to add, the 250 being hoisted in 180 minutes. Haig, a likely prospect for this season's Plunket Shield side, was not troubled with the "nervous nineties". He hit two 6s to the on-boundary, one of which gave him his century in 103 minutes. It was a stylish display which included 11 4's and two 6's. He too, was a leg-before victim after he failed to connect the hook shot.
After Metropolitan lost the wickets of Dick and his Kaikorai team-mate, T. Flaws, without addition, Haig closed the innings. The 297 runs for six wickets had taken 225 minutes to register.
It had been a gruelling time for the North Otago bowlers. Most of them were not able to control length and direction. Several chances were missed, and the wicket-keeper, I. Geddes had to perform like an acrobat repeatedly to take a wild returns to the wicket. Geddes took three catches but his task was a difficult one because of the nature of the bowling.
Metropolitan's opening pace bowlers were F. Cameron and W.D. Frame. Both were accurate in the early stages but Cameron in particular failed to maintain his length in the latter stages of play.
J.B. Carleton, a young batsman who scored 74 and 54 for a combined South Canterbury-Ashburton team against the Fijian team in the 1953-54 season, assisted D. Malloch to retrieve the position with a fighting partnership worth 85 runs.
Malloch was undefeated with a half century to his credit and his innings was a patient one. Carleton, a stylish batsman, scored with attractive off-drives.
The figures returned by the Otago bowlers were flattering, but the batsmen were not prepared to take full advantage of the many loose deliveries. The fielding of the Metropolitan side was sound.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Friendly -
North Otago vs Dunedin Metro at Logan Park, Dunedin
Dunedin Metro 296 ( W. Haig 112, G.M. Aim 105, G.B. Alabaster 46, A. Dick 23, M. Collings 2-29, M.F. Sandri 2-131 ) & 141 ( T. Flaws 40, G.B. Alabaster 25no, A. Dick 23, G.R. Home 16, D. Malloch 4-20, J.C. Brown 2-7 )
North Otago 162 ( D. Malloch 62, J.B. Carleton 37, M.F. Sandri 14, R. Hill 13no, T. Neave 12, Frame 4-18, Alabaster 4-34 ) & 85-9 ( I.T. Geddes 19, D. Malloch 11, Sawers 3-7, Cameron 3-18, Graves 2-14 )
First innings win to Dunedin Metro
Full scorecard for the match