CRICKET.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19163, 21 November 1927, Page 13

CRICKET.

ZEALAND V. THE r REST. STOPS PLAY. pB ATTING BY DEMPSTER AND LOWRY. „. d weather that has attended with such uncanny *T.,v throughout their tour kept tt on Saturday. Short., •*jnu« went in f ° r a *"t i thunderstorm with heavy of ligbtning broke ?iZJi »a dis P crsed the b ;? *", I an inercdibly short time. It *t Ir an hour, and put further "* Vrf the question. The people *L •£»*. up to the back ►?£ outside quickly filled up <J?available -.heltered spots, and *"% hurried away. However the Authorities could, congratulate ff**,'" that the rain drove the **fi»r instead of keeping it away. 2?»Sd»»ee was calculated at from fcttttouaand, and the sum of Sit** «t the gates. The storm glftbere will probably be ample the natch. Directly the the wicket was covered, gfjpOßld be in capital order for Aj&iiditioiu. until the storm broke, liSugood, » rather chill easterly S*¥e only objectionable feature of fiSH.Thei wicket looked to be *S order, and this was borne LfcTtte way it played. ,_,.,. *>b New Zealand team, who had lost *setofor 31, on the previous 2 tat possession throughout SatJL hey took, the game seriously, the fort" by thoroughly Zd tatting, batting in which few if Sil, were taken. At no time was VMCtaeular, but it was as aggrosISS bowling allowed it to be. £tot was that the bowling was too !Lml T e ood to allow of fast scorSJZb towarde the end, the New faUera held a position where a little 2Te»terpriie would havo been justi%t seeing Dempster in action on jinkr one would have little hesitaSifl picking him out as the one ,L batting had most improved as of the tour. During the abb of the 2J hours he was at the Zy be played all the bowling with kerfkodox correctness and confidence 6 ionised a good score. His deWM soundness itself. It was praoMchtnoeless innings, and rarely id t ball nonplus him. The strokes kibks he made his runs were equally iond. for be rarely lifted the ball, and Ji «onng strokes, both as to timing Mentation, were those of a highdbabaiimah. Lowry made one run «jn to Dempster. He gave one or Ifocaineei, ana there were one or two MMtkai that he was beaten by an meptjoiuuly good ball. To this extent Sfpnot quite.so good an innings as jtanffter's. But it was a fine innings jamrtbdeu. Apart from the two or im inttanees mentioned, he played *4» bowling correctly and with fine wcHenee. Though he is known as an HBmm batsman, he did not carry ttii to the point of unsoundness, but he picked out the loose ball with unerring judgment and trounced it as it deserted. His scoring strokes were powerful and well timed, and though he lifted a few into the deep field it was •Iwaji to where there was a gap. His JNtfta«kip with Dempster, which put ■ J>.s»]l*» * fine exhibition of sound wjW|gainst good bowling. Mmj|bitting on Saturday, as it Wlhfen wrooghout the English tour, WnA M to entitle him to rank with

iSßpttr-artbe best batsman in-New Ift™»\"Both in his defence and sty--*JWIW strokes, he was the highg*«*. PMsato that Christchurch PM*> hire so much adpiired. He had yjj WJodt in losing.his footing and ■™sf '?> rot, for he was at his best «l hid never looked like getting out. 4«il< - fo» tur e of Allcott's batting attractive scoring strokes. jMefenoe vas somewhat laboured at •S"*.**? » few good balls beat him, ■"• •? we came it was good batting, iSJi w ** J - timed and beautifully exe--2? ,* eor ">g strokes made up a very wjebre knock. 'Jtl oa^ ricke * of, "The Rest" was : i* *s?' Afc time was the oollared. Read rang the FWehanges skilfully, and he made *• Mrt of the abundance of good magSjW had at hand. He himself •JJW. really well, for although his •J.».. eta wsb **• he had a couple » ounces nussed off him, and on two L™?S*««fions missed the wicket by £i™r*» fraction. Newman and ff«*k both bowled really well. The C ***» inclined to be short at first, PM» n» second trial he kept the H"*»wy qniet. McEwin has rareFor a bowler of his flaw k,pt * fine length, and kept °\ their best behaviour, lott TSjI Massey and Langridgo J? bowled well )V but Cunningham WurS. "v, har ?. completely lost his SRk!j& hls Erection was dis3\2?' of "The Rest" SiiskZ B00 ?» Badcock and LangSTftSL* Whaps the best of a good *>4ab k 101 at his best at the VSiJki T s » accounted for by V fL v* V e bas not been "keep- ** a*L- d H b in all the matches and wafi thus short *•***£ rftSumed shortly after lIJ IstrF«iV Were Dempster (15) and H anJ \t » e^man ' fro ni the south McEw m had charge of the ■P»t from a pair to angles came for a time. *»all3L.- wry banged a short one thofjeg fence, but, SSsiT v"f' the bowlers were ••rJirM . °*temen quiet. Dempster •i f#LV° nMen t appeal from Mc*»aW «?•• At 51 R « ad replaced ilttJJ *?" ln "is second over Lowry 4. In Read's next **» 1 .!? l s* d one h 'B h *<> the on AfctiwT S* another 3 in the same WAiTi« *?• «ew Zealand skipper a J hi 8 h lift t0 the off &y 9 v * e » d B aT © w «y to Bad--•hrtor a cut him, DempV»m J2 4 *** r . v for 4 > a,,d Cun " "VaL!?' - d h,m aft<?r ono over--SiunSS m ¥ ht have c ° m e off. but JjZ£*«f> failed to hold a fairly 'W. T n i?V h . at LoWf y sen * hack to * ht a 31 fo »owing over Lowry got &for\!1? o ff-drive. This sent 100 *ft wL our . and 35 minutes' play. ; s*rt , had now Passed the 40 k*ri J* . , the y were 44 together. ?*&ad . a a lift orer bowl*i •* Bd * pair to leg gave him 10 fro* ifi? r i. p rt sd m by scoring **i offJi-j r" 18 Ir °ni Cunningham .Sttou-T* for 4 - a lovely square i Ce> and a P ai r to the on. ; * ,| tod\j!?. o9d Badcock. and Lowry •*»VS Jf the on fence - Dem P" t*e half-century with an ;?» WfiE^PJf 4 mid -° ff - At 132 Mas!K»,Psg« Cunningham, and beat ** «• wi-S 6 ,* 1181 miss ed the wicket i * l 'Mirattla "action. The batsmen T" 1 n P*and Dempster got his

Erst boundary of the day with a lovely off-drive off Newman. The total was advanced slowly to 153, when Lanzridge relieved Newman for the last over before lunch. It was a maiden. When play was resumed Bead bowled from the south end and McEwin from the other. Dempster hit the latter to leg for 4, and a single took him to 70. In McEwm's third over Lowry cut one hard which Badcock fielded brilliantlv, and the next ball he tried to moke "a similar stroke, but it cam© straight through and clean bowled him. 160 — Blunt's appearance was hailed with applause. In Read's next over Dempster was missed in the slips by Jscwman, but m the same over he went f ? r v ,? nve > but only partly stopped ™« b^ 11 >4 nd i fc went on to his wickot. 173—-4—o. Page followed and got a fine cover drive to the fence. Then Read beat Blunt with a ball that almost jrrazed the wicket, and it went for 4 byes. Newman replaced McEwin at 194, and Blunt reached doubles with a neat pair to leg. A moment later the 200 went up after just under three hours' play. Play was slow for a time and then a good ball from Read found Page uncertain, and he played on. 205—5—10. Allcott was the ingoer, and in Read's next over, he was missed at the wicket. Blunt passed the 20 mark with a fine 4 past point, and Allcott sent 220 up with a nice off drive to the fence. Blunt put Newman neatly to square leg for 3. Badcock relieved Newman at 233, but failed to keep a length. Allcott cut him prettily for 4. Then Read made way for Cunningham, but the latter's first four balls were two feet or more outside the off stump, and two of them went for byes. Allcott was missed at slip by Langridge in Badcock's next over, and two other balls beat him, but he got Cunningham to log for 3 in the next over, and 250 went up. After slow play, 260 went up and Blunt reached 40 by driving a full toss from Cunningham for 4. Allcott passed 30 with a fine off drive and then back cut Badcock prettily for 3. At 271 Massey replaced Cunningham and Allcott sent one back which the bowler snapped up. 273—6—36. With McGirr's appearance, Langridge replaced Badcock. The score advanced slowly until at 283 Blunt was run out. The batsmen ran a single and Blunt went up the pitch in readiness for a second run. Be slipped and could not get back, and a good return by McEwin saw him yards out. 283—7—48. James joined McGirr, but at 292 the players adjourned for afternoon tea. They had hardly got into the pavilion before heavy rain set in and there was no further play. Scores:— THE REST. Pirst Innings. J. Newman, 1213131423212221, lbw b Page .. .. 31 J. Langridge, 31121433241141, b Page .. ..30 H. D. Gillespie, 423, b Page .. 9 H. Foley, 12, b Allcott 3 F. T. Badcock, 1, b Page .. 1 H. B. Massey, 11111, run out .. 5 M. K. Boon, 121212141141, b McGirr 21 D. C. Nixon, 11241214, b McGirr .. 16 J. McEwin, 144, b Merritt .. 9 E. J. Read, c Allcott, b Merritt ... 0 W. H. R. Cunningham, 41, not out 5 Byes, 1123 .. .. 7 Leg byes, 111 .. 3 No ball 1 .. .. '1 Totaf .. ..141 Bowling Analysis. 0. M. R. W. N.B. H. McGirr .. 14 2 41 2 E. H. L. Bernau 2 R. C. Blunt .. 1 M. L. Page .. 9 3 22 4 C. F. C. Allcott 6 1 23 1 1 W. E. Merritt 10 1 33 2 NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, 11141111421111111 112111131211111121112112411211 4111212, b Read ... ... 77 0. J. Oliver, 111, b Badcock .. 3 J. E. Mills, e Foley, b Newman 0 T. C. Lowry, 11111114111114114321 4111414214434111111111211, b MoEwin 78 R. C. Blunt, 21114221121141331111 22141121, run out 48 M. L, Page, 31111111, b Read ... 10 C. F. W. Allcott, 21241221411312432, c and b Massey ... ... 36 H. M. McGirr, 111111141, not out 12 K. O. James, 11, not out ... 2 E. H. L. Bernau to bat. W. E. Merritt to bat. Byes, 221214223 W Leg byes, 1111111 7 Total for 7 wickets ... 292 Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. IBadcook 16 3 35 1 Newman ... 19 1 65 1 McEwin 16 2 44 1 Read 16 1 54 2 Massey 7 2 17 I Cunningham ... 8 0 42 0 The match -will be resumed at 11.30 this morning.

COUNCIL'S WELCOME.

TOURING TEAM ENTERTAINED. ' To comply with the expressed wishes of the touring team, the New Zealand Council made no request for a civic reception at Christchurch, and reduced the functions in honour of the players to a complimentary luncheon and welcome home at Lancaster Park.

This took place on Saturday in a large marquee erected to accommodate the guests, members of the Council, and visiting delegates. Mr E. Heathcote Williams, a pastpresident of the New Zealand Council, presided over a large attendance. After the loyal toast had been honoured, the chairman proposed the toast, "The team we sent to lingland, coupled with the name or the captain.. Mr T. C. LowTy. "This is the Council's opportunity," he said, 'to extend a welcome to the team which they so well deserve, and which we are so anxious to give them. tyignt well had the Council done the arduous work of preparation, and it was tne example given by Christchurch to the rest of the Dominion which had made possible the financing of the tour. The chairman made reference to the pioof cricket in Canterbury, mentioning particularly Messrs F. W ildin* K.C., and D. Reese, "lou will and at least five centuries in test matches agaiast the latter s name he said, "hut it is doubtful whether his sen-ices were as great c a player as those h* has rendered as an administrator." The team had piayerl 39 names winning 14. and losing fne. Eleven had been drawn and nine abandoned If the summer had been a fane one they wouH hare won more, and would probably have had a majority of wins. Added Lustre. The team had not _ only plaved bright and brilliant cricket, but had added lustre to the good name ol New Zealand by their demeanour on and off the field." New Zealand would sooner they had lost every match than that thev should have done anything to tarnish the country's good name. The Dominion had secured the development of seven or eight im-m-oved batsmen whose services would be invaluable. "We don't want swollen heads," said Mr Heatn-cote-Williams, "'but cricketers who play the game as sportsmen and ama-

teurs, without seriously affecting the interests of their employers." The toast was drunk with musical honours. The Mayor, Mr J. K. Archer, said it was a duty and a privilege to wel-1 come the team to Christchurch. He did so with the utmost heartiness, feeling that the team had the best wishes of all the citizens. Ho warmly congratulated them, and felt that the tour would be of great benefit to the good old game. Canterbury was very proud of its representatives, he said and of Blunt, although Otago, without much success, had tried to claim him. Mr D. Reese, chairman of the Management Committee, accorded the team a welcome on behalf of the cricket legislators. They were, he said, very much akin to the father or mother whose boy had made his first entry in representative cricket. ''We do feel," he said, "that we are sharing in the honours these young men have brought to the Dominion." Their batting had been equal to that of County sides, and greater than ever before. Mr Reese paid a tribute to the leadership of the captain, .Mr Lowry. He had not only oeen a captain, hut a disciplinarian. New Zealand boys were great hero worshippers and the captain of every side anions them in future would be a Lowry, and places would be found for Merritt and Blunt and the others. It was a very beautiful thing in the life of boys that they did these things. "Teach the Juniors." He appealed to the members of the team to teach the schoolboys and the junior members of their clubs. If the young players were fired with enthusiasm, there would be no need to worry about the financial loss on the tour. It was only an immediate loss, and the outcome of the tour would be a great advantage. Responding, Mr Lowry said, "It seems we have just time for another six-ball over." The Council could not have chosen a better place for its welcome. He had heard a movement existed to transfer the headquarters from Christchurch, but the members of the team looked on Christchurch as the ideal place, and would be content if the control remained in the present capable hands. The M.C.C. had treated them excellently, and he urged the allegiance of New Zealand. He thought its assistance should have been enlisted by the Council earlier in the tour. "We thank you very much for your welcome here to-day," concluded Mr Lowry. Mr F. Wilding said the hopes expressed at the farewell to the players had been fulfilled. They had been the lions of the day at Home, but they had come back the same modest, unassuming, good sportsmen. As lions they had often been .called on to roar in response to the tributes to their prowess, but it had been as the cooing of sucking doves. The bringing of professionals to New Zealand would add to' the permanent results of the tour in imparting to players variety and versatility, which were the game's chief charm.

Then Mr Heathcote Williams presented bats to Messrs Blunt, Merritt, and James. He had chosen these three, he said, because they were representative of the others. He felt the others also should be recognised, and hoped somebody else would do so. Mr Williams recalled the efforts of the late Mr C. R. Smith to establish the principle of daylight saving. After the toast of "The Chairman," had been honoured, three cheers were given for the team, and the function concluded with the singing of "For They are Jolly Good Fellows."

HAWKE CUP.

MINOR ASSOCIATIONS CONFER. Finality lias not yet been reached with regard to the future of the Hawke Cup, and on Saturday morning a conference of representatives of minor Associations was held! at Lancaster Park, Mr D. Reese presiding. 'After a good deal of discussion a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs W. Hammond (Southland), W. Millar (Manawatu), J. H. Hayhow (Wanganui), E. R. Neale (Nelson), and T. H. Bates (Taranaki), was set up to give the question further consideration and report to the minor Associations. At the conference of delegates on Friday evening Mr E. Heathcote Williams, who presided, had offered a trophy for competition in the South Island. Mr H. F. Arkwright (Rangitikei) said that Mr Millar (Manawatu) had) proposed a group system in both the North Island and the South Island. It meant that each Association would play two or three matches a year. The championship would be decided on points. In the event of teams in different groups getting 100 per cent., the championship could be settled on batting averages, and the second team could challenge the winner. Mr Hayhow supported this proposal. The chairman favoured! a separate competition for each Island, with the winners of each competition to play off. He said that the South Island would be "killed" if Nelson and Marlborough were taken out of it. The South Island should have a challenge system. Mr Arkwright explained that his motion bore reference to next year, the competition to this year as Mr Neale said that Nelson could play under the challenge system, but it would be impossible to play under the group system. Southland was in an unfortunate position with regard to the Hawke Cup at present. Mr B. R. Macdonald (South Canterbury) favoured the idea of each of the'major Associations staging a tournament among the minor Associations in its boundary. This would facilitate the selection of the best provincial side.

Mr T. W. Reese (West Coast) suggested that Nelson remain in the North Island group, and that the New Zealand Council should choose the four best teams in the North Island, teams to challenge for the right of being champion. He favoured a group system. The chairman said that there wouJd still be the difficulty of playing three or four matches a season, which the minor Associations said that they could' not manage. Mr Hammohd said his Association could not play in the South Island competition. Mr Arkwright said that his grouping scheme would be as follows: —Wangftnui, Taranaki, Manawatu; Rangitikei, "Waikato; Hawke's Bay, Southern Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa; Poverty Bay, "Wairoa, Waiapu; Nelson, Marlborough; West Coast, Buller; South Canterbury, Ashburton, North Otago, Southland.

The chairman wanted Nelson to play an annual match with the West Coast. The "West Coast was not getting enough cricket. Mr Hayhow presented the report of the sub-committee at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Council on Saturday evening. It recommended to the Council the Hawke Cup competition be continued as at present, but that it be a recommendation that the various Associations do their utmost to play regular matches with contiguous Associations: and. further, that the minor Associations be reclassified into two divisions according to playing strength, and that competitions be arranged for each division, the Management Committee to have the right to reclassify teams at the beginning of any season. The higher division to nlay for tile Hawke Cun. and the lower for the Heathcote Williams Cup. The chairman, Mr E. Heathcote Williams, asked whether the decision had not been to confine the Hawke Cup to the tforth Island and his own tronhy to the South Island. .Mr Hayhow answered in the negative.