DEMPSTER AND DUSTIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1932, Page 9

DEMPSTER AND DUSTIN

OPENING^PARTNERSHIP

MATCH - WITH CANTEKBTJRY

AVellington. enjoyed one .-or' -its most successful cricketing days oh record "when the. Plunket Shield" match with 'Canterbury" was continued'afthe Basin Reserve on' Saturday under excellent conditions. !>?ot only were "the bowlers on toy-in' Canterbury's innirigsi:but-the batsmen also took command : when" "it came to"- "Wellington's: turn' to ba'C on the first day made 199 for the loss of four-wickets, but on Saturday [Wellington .-captured the remaining, sis-wickets at a-cost of "only 77 runs. Then followed..*,?, ju'olifie first-wicket stand by Wellington's, opening.pair, C. S. Dempster and :W. Dustiu, who remained inseparable from 12.44 p.m. to 4.-5S p.m. (adjournments included).-': Canterbury's ■' attack'- was .mastered so completely that the opening partnership realised 239 runs in 179 minutes, that total-constituting a new record -for Plunket-Shield cricket. The previous first-wicket record in Plunket Shield matches was established by E. Horspool and A. Anthony, batting for Auckland ajfainst AVellington at Auckland in the". 1924-25 season, when 201 runs were made' before: the first wicket fell. Wellington's previous .best opening partner-ship-was-that of J, S. Hiddleston and E. de ,B.- Worker against Otago at Wellinßton"iH./tha 19?ff-27 season, when the pair put on Uff runs before being separated. The magnificent stand by Dempster and Dustih :.6ri-SatiiriTay-afternoon' was only brokeii. wheQ- iDustiii Afois stuniped smartly in stepping-fopward t.Q a' ball from Merritt, and it-was then-that .there was a show of genuine regret, jiot -at: Canterbury's sue-, cess, at long last .'in separating the pair, but -at .BuHtinX."misfortune in. losing his wicket-when he required Cmly eight runs for his first century in Plunket Shield cricket. :. Even so, the merit of young Du'stin's performance was fully recognised by the crowd of about 5000 spectators. Dempster carried" on until-he had made, a new achievement.in Plunket Shield cricket. A. spectacular catch ended his masterly iiiJiings when he had made Wai— his highest ecore" m Plunket Shield cricket. The coach ■was also-given a line ovatioir oh returning to. the •pavilion:- Wellington'finished' up the- day- with; the handsome total of 325 lor. .two wickets, compiled in four hours; It.w-as a. great day/s.cricket from Wellington g ppint'of view, and it was thoroughly enjoyable'for the large assemblage. at the Basin- Reserve." The takings for the day vrefe. £204, but those who paid for adiniswion did: not represent bj' any means: the full number in -the Jtbserve. - : ' : pjl'Ay;in: detajj.. With.-M'errittv and- Burrows bowling a good scoring rate was maintained ■by Dempster", and. Dustin without the semblance of sTekmce being given.. For. the second; time, in the, present series of Shi bid matches -Wellmgton's opening pair " had formed a ce'iitury' partnership, and the' farther they went the more difficult was Canterbury^: .task.- Thay -tookvno-' risks, and npw.and, again ..were..content to play outran--over: without-scoring. Gn: -the other' ;h'anb!/thei'e Were occasions' -when they-punched-■ the'-ball hard, find'in' one of Merritt's-o:vers--.Doiirpstßr made two beautiful; dnyss: to • . the : bouridaay. The score ■was.-- -;)iltei -from- .100 to- 130 in seventseu .minuteK,, and ; at" this point Cromtr..gave, jelief to...Burrows .(none for 20 off: ten'; :'oyers.)'... .Belliimy was -" also brought back;'taking■ over, from" Merritt, whose■ jrine -ov;ers-had' cost. 41 runs; The pair':reniained'as:sound' as ever.:' "•■ -■■'-' .WitK the-.'sccre-at 14i./there1, was ■;& stoppage ;for :ten minutes' owing to the disturbing, effect of-the-.sunbeating on the glass of.^na.of--the,ifloodligHts used for night, 'functions :.at'..the. Reserve..": Wlien play. was.Vesumed the pair quickly raised the'Bcore to: 150; the result of 113 minutes' batt'ingi";rjem'pster was now keeping a little'ahead of -Dustin' "3i> the riin-getttn" process,. atid. he--did rh'dt: r.egiect to ■punish-anyi'King'of'-a.-tdpsc-.characto-;: ;At.the-tda^ adjournment the-- total- wa-s 167—Dempster BS^ Dustin 70. - - ; ■ ..;; .^LIMPIRE INJUREP, ■Soon aftet1-the Dempster hit a balUhara- to, s^uari" legi .'where the umpire (Mr.; Webbl -received, the: full force- "61 it on a .leg.' Pla.y .was ■ hel^. .u|>. for a' ihinute of two until the -umpire was able-'to cany on, although--still affeefetf "by the injury.' The;bQwl-erß/aftep'tea we.re'-Burrows-and" Lester, but; -As.iieior6y.. they were played with, confidence, .Dempster -batting -more l'reely.-thaii his,.partner;--A-run of singles waa broken-by Dempster- in forcing,a.--ball to the" houn'dary.",, ATerritt took over', from Burrows," an.4- still', the'/.scpre -. mounted, .Dempster rfmjririg close ■to - the century mark-arid" Dustin -carrvirig liis" score over 80. :■■••: ".•::-■: .-.; A:" .-' ;■••..- -; ; .--.-.■ .'; DEWPiSTER'?; CENTURY; ■Tliere/was a'gb:6d'Vleal/6f scoring from the New ■2eala'nd.;;s'lbif"'bowler, and when Dempster- agafiv faced" Lester" a loose ball received it=: (fessfir'ts, and Dempster ran into three-figures'. This fine achievement, occupying; ,145 min.ut.es, received a roundof applause, .Wellington's, score was;-108: when Cromb relieved Lester, (twelve.overs, 2a ninj)., -A .Di;q.ce'.b.y-Dempster' made the total-';200 - a;f^el-; -ISO ; minutes' batt.ing-^a gFea.t": perforrriance lor.- the"opening pair, and one which" -brought- fof til Another welldeserved round:, of- applause." - Bunows was tried, again, "replacing-.•Merritt'.'.-(11 overs, 52, runs)/ -. ■:- v -•■ ••- ■• •■; .-.,- - . '.Cantor-bury, -wore.-.having a hard timo of if in the field,-but "they.. Arete to. tHeir-worfc imflinchingtv:.. Another change was: made .in.bringing Lester back to the southern.lgnd F Vand: Burrows was tried at the /ofh'er- end.; At- this there" was again a lull,- Mii-'it" was "soon broken 'by: Dustin ii\ iiitting a: ball. :from -Lester :to leg for fourVr T/.his niade Djistiii's.-total 90. There was'another: brief stoppage,• this time to replace a bail which- had been, broken. Dempster continued to do most of the scoring, ..and- with 'a.series of forcing shots he .took-his-?corc.to 125-in quick time. At this'period .of. .pJay' Dustin was."receiving very ..few ■ opportunities' of' advancing his total.:': •"• •- • ■:'■;-. \ DUSTIN OUT. ileifitt- was called upon -again, to break »,. partnership. :whicli had yielded 229 runs, and .then Kobef ts was' brought on. Still, the changes were ineffective,. Dempster in particular being severe in his treatment, of- the;'.bawling. ■In ■ Jlemtt's next over, - however, -Dustin - stepped out and missing, he had'to get back to his ""crease smartly. Burns whipped off the bails' o.uiekly,-and, on appeal, ihe great partner-? ship was broken, "Dustin having failed to reach-the century by. eight runs. There was genuine "regret:-all round that the colt did hot get-the. century for which he appeared to be-_well set, ■ but a splendid ovation; was accorded -him -on hiii .wonderfully: fine." performance.. He' had been associated" with .^Dempster for" 179 minutes, snd thepartriership had realised 259 runs, Dustin s cbntributiph being a soundlyplayed 95, which-included only three fours Pu*ti«.:p)Byed.with the confidence of a weU-seasojied :bnts'mari: 239-1-92. OEMPSTER;S. DISMISSALHepburn filled the vaoancy ajid: strai^ht*ivay registered a" fdnr off Herritt: Dempster, helped-himself to another parcel of runs,"'before a - straight drive by Hepburn made Wellington's total 250. The innings- had been" gohii* £or 185 minntes. Dempatep.was now. .-within easjr leach of '!•%,; ;having -made -his-highest ■ score in Plunket .Shield, ciickcl,.. Hepburn was Tiot .neglected," .and .in making a neat'shot ■behind..the..:wickf:t': lie obtained another four, tuns/ the"'batsmen haying to run all ths way;;-"fm:; {hem; -Hepbu'rii reached double- .figure?' "and tbeii":"quickly ' placed anothqr rmneTfuniS'to'the account; -eight of them from: boundary, hits to leg. .:Only.six runs.Avere;how- required tt>. brinj; Weilin»r----ton!» total tip- to.- -that-of Canterbury,- and Dempster - wanted .one-for his-luO, which niarE-'liapassed with" a.nice square^cut Cor two... ".'DompHter had been at the wickets for 197 nii'mites.. -.Bellamy Avas used a"am at 274, anil- BiirroVs- fodlr over" at" the other end. v-;:- zl: .".■.-■ J. .::::: :■-:;•; i •;■••■ .it .'lohgilast:-tbc' dismissa']' of" Demnstor was.-effected,: rand;, it:::-took:.Tt spectacular catch tp. : .do .-the-triok.;: -Kobertsj covering tip a ga-p- on .the on through' "whicli Dempster had made many rims, jiimped-for a balj. lifted ..by. .Dempster, ajul, appeared to be ,as_ sui'prised as anybody on the ground at making a- fine. one-handed, catch." Dempster' never looked ]ike going onfe during hj&^s.tays 6f:"204 min«tcs,-"aiitl,-"-nltliou'<jii not o'Ahß da'shnas'.type, hisrrnnings .'was-"that "V i,-i;. master; JjWliff:- ;H -was = Dempster's host pcrl'orniaiioeito.fJate in'l'/nril;et Shipfd <-i'ickr>(, and it" provided" n fiiic"'losso;n""'in" i)l»c!i>g the ball, with evidence- in pleutv

of the value of-'on-side''play''in liftingI 'the score. Dempster's.scoro. of 154 included nineteen fours. 275—2—154. RUNS TO THE GOOD. McGirr was next, and immediately gave Wellington the lead with a stroke to leg for two. Hepburn had been at 19 for some time, but McGirr kept the ball moving from the bat, one ball going hard to the boundary. . A smart run for a single gave.Hepburn' his 20, just after which itcGirr ran to double figures. A couple of fours were netted by Hepburn from one of Burrows's overs,, and..wheu the score was 299.'Cromb relieved . Burrows. ' The third century was hoisted when McGirr squareicutii- hall, from -.this bowler for a' single, after .which Hepburn rearhed ;>0 with a stroke" to. square-leg, McGirr was employing some of his good forein-; slrok'es, and with one he sent, the bull sailing hard over the bowler to ' the .boundary. At 309Powel( was brought into the attack'for. the first time, and sent down a 'maiden over to -Hepburn. . .

When Merritt was brought back to the southern end his first two deliveries wore no-balled. - Several others earlier in the day had been "ruled out. With a splendid off-drive in Powell's next over McGirr. sent-the leather hard to the boundary, and then lifted a ball to the outfield, where it dropped safely. Hepburn increased the score by three runs in the same over, but treated Merritt with respect, until he drove a ball hard to long-off. Two runs were lost for this stroke .through McGirr not backing up, he evidently "being of the opinion that the bali would reach the boundary. The pair remained unbeaten until stumps were drawn, Wellington's total. then being 325 for two wicketsHepburn 41, McGirr 24. Aw unbroken partnership had accounted for 50 runs being added to the score in the last thirtythree minutes of the day's play.