CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1927, Page 2

CRICKET.

N.Z. CRICKETERS. CONFEB HNCE Ai ATCH. (Australian Press Association & Sun.) LONDON, June 3. A two-day match yesterday began at Ealing between the New Zealanders and the Cricket Club Conference team. The C'luh side included several players who have occasionally assisted Counties, including Hunt, a member of Barclay’s Bank C'luh, who played for Middlesex. Ho dominated the hatting of the home side, who went in first and made 2(4 runs. At the end ol the day the New Zealanders had on 159 runs for the loss of six wickets. Hunt made a century, and his innings consisted of two parts. He went in when the position was serious, ana his first fifty occupied 110 minutes. The first two hours’ batting only provided 97 runs, hut after lunch, when the situation was improving, Hunt hit more freely, showing crisp cutting and powerful driving. His second titty were made in under 75 minutes. Hunt and Bloomfield added G2 runs in an hour, the former hitting fift-gen fours.

Dempster ended the Club innings with a brilliant one-banded catch in the slips, which disposed of Save. James and Allcott opened the New Zealand innings. They played confidently, and were seldom in difficulties. The only howler to give them any trouble was Hnzloton. James’s innings was a stylish exhibition. Dacre started off well, and lie got in some delightful strokes before he fell a victim to Hn.zleton.

Prince Arthur of Connaught watched the play in the afternoon, and he took tea with the New Zealanders.

Following are the scores:— CLUB CONFERENCE—First Innings. Newman, c James, b McGirr ... 19 Cbilds-Clark, c Cunningham, b McGirr 10 Bryan, run out 4 Hunt, e James, b McGirr 100 Grin ter, st. James, b Cunningham 5 Soole, b McGirr 20 Bloomfield, c Dempster, b Merritt 2fi Clark, b Merritt 3 Heelis, 1.b.w., b Merritt 13 Hazleton (not out) 0 Seven, c Dempster, b McGirr ... 0 Extras 4 Total 204 Bowling analysis.—McGirr, 5 for 71 ; Cunningham, 1 for 32; Allcott, 0 for 24; Henderson. 0 for 35; Merritt, 3 for 38. NEW ZEALAND.—First Tunings. Mills, b Hazleton 2

Dempster, c Clark, b Hazleton ... 22 Page, e Bryan, b Hazleton 23 James, c Clark, b Hazleton 54 Oliver, e and b Childs-Clnrke ... 7 Dacre, c Clark, b Hazleton 19 Allcott, c Bryan, b Hazleton ... 4fi McGirr. c Clark, b Fezev 5 Merritt (not out' 24 Cunningham, st. Clark, b Hazleton 1 Henderson, st. Clark, b Hnzloton 1 Extras <) Total 213 Hazleton took 8 wickets for 83. But lor Hunt, tbe Club would have fared badly. McGirr and Merritt were both in form with the ball. and. tlianJcs chiefly to the former, five wickets were down at lunch time for 97. Hunt was then 33, and when lie was joined by Bloomfield, after the interval, they offered a good resistance for some time. Hunt had just reached his century, when he was caught at the wickets. Merritt then came on again, and he quickly finished the inning* off.

New Zealand did little better than their opponents. As Blunt was resting. Mills and Dempster opened the batting, but the former was bowled at once.

Dempster and Page took the total to one for 34 by the tea adjournment, but, on resuming, they more both caught off Hazleton. James alone made a stand. Hazleton bowled with effect, and Dacre also felt a victim to him. so that at the drawing of stumps, the total was only 159 for the loss of six wickets.