BOWLING FAILS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 83, 5 October 1931, Page 9

BOWLING FAILS

A VICTORY MISSED

N.Z. CRICKET TEAM

LOWEY.IN- FOEM

(From "The Post's" Special Correspondent.) LONDON, 26th August. Another victory over Essex was within the New Zealand cricket team's grasp, but poor bowling after the county had been forced to follow on accounted for au addition to . the list of drawn games. This return match with Essex was played at Southend on the 22nd, 24th/ and 25th August, and there was an excellent attendance for the opening day, the weather, although chilly, remaining fine. New Zealand had first use of the wicket. NEW ZEALAND BATTING. The Essex captain, H. W. Franklin, opened his bowling with Nicholls, at the pavilion end, and A. G. Daer, but the bowlers changed ends after Daer had had one over. The pitch was rather wet, and Nicholls needed a supply of sawdust to help him get a foothold. When 27 runs had been made Smith relieved Nicholls,. and Dempster started by hitting him for three 4's in his first over. Both batsmen scored freely on the leg side. With the score at 81 Nicholls relieved Smith and clean bowled Weir. Kerr, who filled the breach, made 7 (which included a good 6 off O'Connor, who had rolieved Daer), when ho also was bowled by Nieholls. At luncheon the scoro ,was 89 for two wickets. Play was Very slow after lunch, M. L. Page and Dempster taking 40 minutes to score 6 runs. Theso two took the score to 150, when Pago was out leg-before to Daer. At 179 Dempster was bowled by Smith, and half New Zealand were out. With R. O. Talbot ana T. C. Lowry: together, the best partnership of the match started, and these, two were not separated till the score reached, 330,. when Talbot was caught in the deep field., J.: E. Mills and Lowry put on 40 runs before Lowry was caught at deep field leg off Nicholls. Later I. B. Cromb and Mills added a fine last-wicket partnership, and New Zealand were all out for 412 —a very good effort. "OVER THE TENCE IS OUT!" T. C. Lowry, in making his second century of the- tour, batted beautifully, and it was a real pleasure to see him cutting and driving. Ho wa. very unlucky in being given out to a catch at long-field leg, which, I learned afterwards, was a six. He batted one hour and three-quarters for his century, and two hours five minutes for 129. 0. S. Dempster batted in his usual style, and it is remarkable the way this "Don Bradman" of the New Zealand side keeps going. He was rather lucky mr this match, however, and he might have been out twice, but, as everybody knows, a batsman who has made his runs so consistently well as Dempster has must have a little luck sometimes. He batted for three hours 'and hit one, 6 and seven 4's: Going in when half the side was out for 179, B. O.Talbot batted beautifully and showed great courage and determination. . To start with, he allowed his skipper to make the runs. When ho settled down, however, Talbot showed "us somo beautiful shots all round the wicket, ■ and scenied to have a .great liking for Nicholls's fast bowling; Ho. was out to a very fino catch by Pope' in the outfield when one short of 50. Talbot has been very much out of luck lately, and this is very disheartening to those who know how well he can bat. G. L. Weir, and J. E.. Mills both"' made over 30, and_ batted well. ■ ■ . ESSEX rORM. Nieholls bowled very well for Esses, and came out with the fino figures of live wickets for 75 off 32 overs. He kept up his pace well, and seemed to be bowling better after lunch than at any other time of the innings, A. G. Daer also bowled well, and his .figures did not flatter him at all. Eastman, after bowling 18 overs, took no further part in the match, for in attempting to stop a drive from Talbot.he hurt his hand so badly that ho was forced to retire. The batting of Essex in tho first innings needs little comment. Pope and N. G. Wykcs opened the innings, and, after putting on 32 runs, Wykes was bowled by Matheson. This was the beginning of the end, as, except for Nicholls, none of the batsmen looked like making runs, and the innings closed for 150. Vivian bowled remarkably .well, and secured the fine average of four for 36 off 29 overs/ of1 which 14 wero maidens. " ■ ■ • . Being 262 runs behind, Essex followed on, and showed much-improved form, but oven when they had seven wickets down for 243 it lookod as though New Zealand wouia win by an innings. However, Sheffield joined C. Bray,: who had been batting very well, and theso two took the score to 350 before Bray was caught off Merritt. The end came soon afterwards, x but victory had slipped from the New. Zealanders hands. SPORTINO ACTION. Bray, in making 129, had batted wonderfully well; he was lucky, however, as ho had been actually given out by tho umpire and was called back. It happened in. this way: Talbot made a great dive for a catch at third slip, and appeared to catch tho ball; Cromb appealed to the umpire, who. gave him out. Talbot, when, he recovered from his fall, informed the umpire, that ho had not made a fair, catch, consequently Bray was allowed to continue his inn-, ings. This sporting action on Talbot's part cost New Zealand' the match, as Bray' at that -time' had scoreel CO runs. A chance of. stumping '...him was also missed when ho had made 99, Dempster, who was keeping wicket (Lowry being indisposed and James not playing), failing to take the ball cleanly. Enough praiso. cannot bo given to Sheffield for his fine innings; ho started very badly, but when settled down he did not look, like going out. Essex's innings finally closed at 5.15 for 372. A FOOLISH POLICY. - This left New Zealand 110 runs to mako in 65 minutes. This they had no chance of doing, and it seemed foolish that they should throw away fivo wickets in the attempt. The New. Zealand bowling in the second innings, except in tho case of Matheson, who secured four for 72 off 24 overs, was very bad. With the one exception the bowlers did not look at all dangerous. Cromb failed to secure a ivicket during, the match. , • The fielding and catching throughout the match was.very good, and I must say that • New Zealand has improved; considerably in this department of the game. -