CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1927, Page 2

CRICKET.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM AT HOME AGAINST SURREY. (Australian Press Association & Sun.) LONDON. Aug. 3. The New Zeai'anders had a sporting crowd of eight thousand at the Oval to see them play Surrey, but it will take many big August crowds to wipe out the loss on the tour. They have deserved better attendances for the leading umpire, who has played in Australia, expresses the opinion they are just as good technically as the Australians but lack experience. This perhaps might lie remedied under coaching, for which purpose Mr Hay, the manager, has recommended the Lancashire League player, R. B. Wilson, who headed last year’s batting. New Zealand was fortunate enough to win the toss. Dempster instantly seemed to get bis eye in but then paid the penalty of scratching at a swinger from Geary. Mill's, just lacking oertain.v, which early in the tour marked him out' a coming champion, often snicked the ball to strange places, but more often effected plumb strokes, though he did not hit a four till he had been at the wickets 65 minutes. He had lives at 63 and 88.

Page was in excellent form and in one over from Shoppherd got two glorious cover drives to the boundary and another straight to the sight screen. When he left Blunt also started off well and soon was leading the crescent of fieldsmen in the sVips a lively dance in trying to stop the succession of charming cuts. Eventually he met exactly the same fate as Page at midoff. but not before he had reached his thousand runs in first class matches. Alills beat Lowry by four in attaining tlio same goal, but lie took half an hour to make tbe last five required for bis oeuturv and immediately after was caught. The innings, which had promised to reach at least 400. was brought to a conclusion at 313 after 4J hours’

hatting. Hobbs and Sandhnm played out time for the Countv without loss.

During the tea interval ATelhournc Orchard presented Lowry and Daere with hats to commemorate their cenv turies against Af.C.C. The score of the Now Zealand early batsmen gave tbe side so excellent a start that at tbe tea adjournment only three wickets were down for 2f(> and 4 for 251. but ATill’s departure was tbe signal for an amazing run of catches bv tbe wicketkeeper, who summarily disposed of three more men who persisted in feeling at fast off halls. NEAY ZEALAND.—First Tunings. Dempster, e Holmes, li Geary ... 8 Page, e Barling, b MeCanlis 88 Alills. e Afaehin. !> Petcli 103 Plant, e Barling, h Peach 57 Alleotc, h Gearv 13 Lowry, c Afaehin. h Peach 20 Daere. c Alaohin. b Peach ... ... 8 Ab-Ginx e Shepherd, b Geary ... 3 Alerritt. e Afaehin. b Holmes ... 7 ■Ta mes tnot out! 12 Henderson, e Shepherd, b Holmes 0 Extras 21 Total 31.1 Bowling.—Geary, 3 for 81 ; ATeCanlis. 7 for 41: Poach. 4 for 78; Holmes, 2 for 35: Shepherd. 0 for 45; Gregory. 0 for 32. SURREY.—First Innings. Hobbs Liot out) 31 Sandhnm (not out) n Extras 2 Total for no wickets 42 NEW ZEALAND TEAM AT HOME. Aug. 8, 8. 9.—Somerset at WestonAlare. Aug. 10. 11. 12.—Gloucestershire, at Cheltenham. \ n „ 73 I.), 18. —Derbyshire, at Derby. Vue 17. 18, 19.—Lancashire, at Manchester. Aug. 20, 22.—Cumberland, at Whitehaven. Aug. 24, 25.—Bedfordshire, at Bedford. Aug. 28. 27.—Norfolk, at Norwich.