The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 33: Sutcliffe's centuries and dramatic catch v MCC (1947)
Many wondered if this young chap from Auckland would live up to all the hype.
Any doubts people had quickly dissolved following his remarkable debut for the province. His back-to-back 100s against the mighty MCC is part of Otago cricket folklore and is still a much-celebrated achievement.
Huge crowds flocked to Carisbrook to see the game. The Otago Cricket Association reported a record gate and the fans were treated to some wonderful batting from the great left-hander, and earlier than expected.
Sutcliffe had never opened in a first-class game but strolled out alongside Walter Hadlee on the opening morning of the three-day game.
He had a slice of luck early when he was dropped by Bill Edrich in the slips when he was on six, and gave three other opportunities on 149, 176 and 186.
But for the most part Sutcliffe ploughed ahead, punching drives through the covers and dabbing neat little back cuts on his way to 197.
He brought his century up in style, lofting a delivery for a straight six - a shot which was considered quite audacious at the time.
But it was his second innings which many, including Sutcliffe, considered the better knock. In The Last Everyday Hero: The Bert Sutcliffe Story, author Richard Boock wrote "he'd play what he always regarded as the best century of his career, an immaculate and chanceless 128".
Sutcliffe's team-mate, Iain Gallaway, told Boock there was a lot of suspicion in Otago when Sutcliffe was named in the team.
"As ridiculous as it seems now, people at the time really did wonder if all the hype over his ability was justified."
The match is also memorable for the remarkable catch Sutcliffe took to dismiss Edrich.
"He pulled [the delivery] hard and wide to Sutcliffe's right," the Otago Daily Times reported.
"The left-hand batsman and fieldsman raced a good 20 yards to the ball which was swinging away from him and gathered it up inches from the grass in his right hand at full stride. It was as magnificent an effort in its way as his innings earlier in the day."
Sutcliffe died in April 2001 and, in a private ceremony, some of his ashes were interred at the spot he took the catch. Efforts to find and relocate the ashes last year were unsuccessful.
