PAGE, BOWLER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 17

PAGE, BOWLER.

-•—♦ — N.Z. V. THE REST. VERY LOW * SCORES. MATCH OPENS UNDER WINTER CONDITIONS. The linal act of a memorable and historical undertaking was commenced at Lanthe long-looked-for match between New Zealand's representative Eleven, and The Rest was commenced. The New Zealand team have just completed their tour of the Old Land, playing a match in Sydney on their way back and then trying conclusions with The Eest in Wellington. The New Zealanders did more than enhance their reputation in England—they set a far higher standard than even most ardent supporters expected. The New Zealanders' bad luck in regard to the weather has been phenomenal. They experienced the wettest summer that England has had for 40 years, their match in Sydney was interrupted by rain, and in their match in Wellington, two full days, and part of another were lost owing to wet weather. Their bad luck attended them to the last, for yesterday was as unsuitable a day for cricket as could be imagined. | A nor'-wester about mid-day gave signs of changing to the sou'-west. The signs were only too correct, and by the time play started at 2 o'clock a bitingly cold wind blew across the ground, with every appearance of rain to follow. It followed after a little more than half an hour's, play had taken place, and this completely spoiled the cricket for the remainder of the afternoon, for though it cleared after a time, the conditions were all against good cricket. It was hot surprising, under the circumstances, that the attendance was .poor. That the cricket was not of a high order was probably largely due to the ~deplorablo conditions. The wicket was tricky, and tho grass in the outfield was so wet thai it was almost impossible to get a ground stroke to the boundary. The greasy state of the ball was a great handicap to the bowlers. The "Eest of New Zealand" batsmen mado a poor showing, and the score sheet is not by any means flattering to New Zealand, for apart from the English professionals, Newman and Langridge, Boon was the only one to pass the 20 mark. Newman scored his runs fairly quickly, and showed good batting form, considering the conditions, and Langridge, after a somewhat uncertain start, improved greatly with sound defence, and prettily executed scoring strokes. Boon batted soundly, and made some nice scoring shots, but even his batting seemed to be affected by the unpleasant weather. Of the others, Nixon was the only one to reach double figures. He made one or two good strokes, but for the most part he was all at sea to Merritt, whilst he found the fast bowling of too good a length. The feature of New Zealand's out cricket was Page's bowling. His success with the ball in England was one of the surprises of the tour, and most people probably attributed it to that luck, or chance, that enters so largely into cricket. However, his bowling yesterday was such as to suggest that his bowling performances on the tour were the result of sheer merit. He had that greatest asset of a bowler—a splendid length. Added to this, he varied his pace nicely, and although he is supposed to be an off-break bowler, he got some of his wickets yesterday with balls that appeared from the Press stand to come in from - leg. His fine length gave the batsmen few opportunities of scoring, and for the most part it toojk them all their time to play him. McGirr also bowled exceedingly well. He kept a fine length, and his pace on the tricky wicket made him always "look difficult. The wicket was too slow to suit Merritt, but nevertheless he kept a fairly gooS length, and had most of the batsmen more or less "guessing." The I fielding of the New Zealanders was for j the most part good, and any shortcomings there were in the ground work could be attributed to the wretched ! weather conditions. Probably for the same reason, James did not show that form that gained him a great reputa- | tion as a wicketkeeper in England. He did one fine piece of work when he I took a fast return from Lowry which j came to the wicket awkwardly and ran Massey out.

The New Zealand team had a little over half an hour's batting at the end of the day, and they did no great damage, losing two wickets for 31. Dempster was not too confident at times, and seemed chiefly concerned with keeping his wicket up until to-day. However, many of his scoring strokes were made in most finished style, and probably no one will be very surprised if to-day he beats The Best's total off his own bat.

The umpires, Messrs Bilsten and Butler, went out promptly at 2 o'clock, and were at once followed by the New Zealanders, Read, who captained The Rest, having won the toss from Lowry. The opening batsmen were Newman and Langridge, and the former took .strike to McGirr, who opened the bowling from the north end. A single off "the last ball resulted, and Bernau bowled from the other end. Six came from a somewhat loose over. An ondrive for 3 to Newman sent the first 10 ,on the board,'and the same batsman reached doubles with a similar stroke. Bernau came off after bowling two overs for 7, Merritt replacing him. The latter's first ball, a full toss, was sent to the leg boundary, and a trio past third man took the Canterbury coach to 20. Bain now necessitated the use of sawdust, and with the total at 33 a sharp shower drove the players into the pavilion. After 35 minutes play was resumed. Merritt had one ball 'to go, and Newj man, stopping it with his pads, appeared to be lucky to get the umpire's decision in a confident appeal for lbw. It availed him little, for on Page replacing Merritt the Hampshire man stopped a straight one with his pads and had to go. 41—1—31. Gillespie was nest, and Alcott replaced McGirr. Langridge put his first to the square-leg boundary. A 2 and a 3 to the Enlishman off Page sent 50 up. In the same over Gillespie opened his account with a nice 4 to leg. A pair to each sent 60 up, 3nd Gillespie got Alcott to leg for 3, Langridge following with a lovely 4 past point. Singles sent 70 up, but then Page clean-bowled Gillespie with a good length ball. 70—2—9. Poley broke his duck with a sharplyrun single, but after getting a pair for an off drive Alcott beat him all the way. 73—3—3. Badcock was next, . and Langridge pasted Alcott to leg for 4. Two byes sent 80 up. In Page's next over Badcock tried to scoop a leg ball to square leg, but the ball came in from leg and clean-bowled him. SO—4 —1. Massey was the ingoer, but with a single added Page beat Langridge all the way. 81—5—30. Boon joined Massey and got a lucky pair through the slips. He then played a fine maiden over from Page. Merritt replaced Alcott, and Massey, after being in 13 min-

utes, opened his account with a single. With the score at 90 the tea adjournment was taken. On resuming, Blunt bowled at Page s end, four coming off the over. McGirr took up the bowl\ng from the north end, and a leg ball went for 3 byes. Page replaced Blunt, the latter having bowled only one over. A fine square cut to Boon went to the fence in quick time, sending 100 up. It had taken an hour and 06 minutes. Three runs later Massey was run out. He went up the pitch for a. single, which Boon did not respond to, and a smart return by Lowry was perfectly taken by James. 103—6—5. Nixon followed "and Me-rritt replaced Page. Play was slow, McGirr and Merritt both keeping a good length. Nixon at last opened his shoulders and lifted Merritt to the off fence. Boon got McGirr to fine leg, for which four were run, and singles sent 120 up : Some amusement was caused by Nixon's efforts to hit Merritt, and James appeared to miss a chance of stumping. McGirr in his next over bowled Boon. 120—7—21. McEwin filled the gap, and Nixon reached doubles by cutting Merritt for a pair. He late cut McGirr in the folowing over for 4, but the Wellington man had his revenge by bowling him in the same over. 127 — Read was next, and McEwin drove the fast bowler finely past point for 4. In Merritt's next over Kead drove him hard to mid-off, where Alcott brought off a fine catch an inch or two from the ground. 132—9—0. Cunningham was last man, and McEwin drove McGirr sweetly to the on fence. Cunningham lifted a full toss from Merritt to the fence, but in the same over McEwin was clean bowled. The innings had lasted 2J hours. The New Zealand team commenced it 3 innings at seven minutes to six. Dempster and Oliver were the opening batsmen, and the former took strike to Badcock, who opened the bowling from the north end. Two byes'only came from the over, and Newman bowled at the other end. Play was slow, only singles coming for a time. Then Dempster off-drove .Newman nicely for 4, sending 10 up. In Badcock's next over Oliver h,id a lash and was clean bowled. 13—1—3.1—3. Mills was next, but after some slow play he flicked one into the slips, which Foley held at the second attempt. 16—2—0. Applause greeted Lowry's appearance, and two byes sent 20 up. Dempster flicked Newman prettily to the leg boundary, and McEwin took the last over in place of Badcock. Stumps were then drawn for the day, the sun shining more brightly then than at any time during the afternoon. Scores:—

THE REST. First Innings. J. Newman, 1213131423212221, lbw b Page 31 J. Langridge, 31121423241141, b Page .. - .. 30 H. D. Gillespie, 423, b Page 9 H. Foley, 12, b Alcott 3 F. T. Badcock, 1, b Page 1 H. B. Massey, 11111, run out 5 M. K. Boon, 121212141141, b MeGirr 21 D. C. Nixon, 11241214, b MeGirr .. 16 J. McEwin, 144, b Merritt 9 E. J. Eead, c Alcott, b Merritt .. 0 V/. H. E. Cunningham, 41, not out 5 Byes, 1123 7 Leg byes, 111 3 No ball 1 1 Total 141 Bowling Analysis. 0. M. K. W. N.B. H. MeGirr .. 14 2 41 2 — E. H. L. Bemau 2 — 7 — — R. C. Blunt .. 1 — 4 — — M. L. Page .. 9 3 22 4. — 0. F. C. Alcott 6 I 23 1 1 W. E. Merritt 10 1 33 . 2 — NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, 111411114, not out 15 C. J. Oliver, 111, b Badcock 3 J. E. Mills, c Foley, b Newman 0 T. C. Lowry, 111, not out 3 Byes, 2212 .. ., 7 Leg byes, 111 3 Total for two wt'tikets 31