CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 2 January 1930, Page 3

CRICKET

COMPETITION. The following players will represent Hokitika in the Keller Cup Competition to he played on the Mental Hospital grounds. on January oth. 1930 against ltinui Cricket Club. Thomas, Stapl!el*on, / Nightingale, Bannister, King, Fi'eiWs,, Hale, Cooper, Gilchrist, Ferguson, Milner. Emerg. A. King and L. Hughes. Play to commence at 11, a.m. sharp.

THE TEST TEAM

It was generally expected states a Wellington critic that Wellington would get five men in the New Zealand team, and the other three provinces two each. The man in the street picked the team, with the exception that Matheson (Auckland) was expected to win place for his bowling. Roberts (Canterbury) has earned a place for his batting. Canterbury thus has three representatives, and Auckland only one. The side is very strong in hatting, there being no fewer than eight really good batsmen. Even the remaining three—Merritt, Henderson, and Dickinson—are capable of making the tail wag to some purpose. Eight of the eleven were in the New Zealand team that toured England a couple of seasons back. Dempster, Blunt, Mills, Page and Lowry are in the very first flight of New Zealand batsmen, whilst Roberts, James and Rad cock follow them closely. It was a foregone conclusion th,fit Lowry would oe chosen to captain the side, and it was equally certain that James would be. the wicket-keeper. 'The latter, besides being one of the best wicketkeepers in New Zealand, has' the additional advantage of having '‘kept', to Merritt on the English trip. He i also a very sound batsman. The brunt of the attack will frill o.i Dickinson, Henderson, aigl Badcock, r last to medium bowlers, whilst Merrit and Blunt will supply the slow howling Others who can take a turn are Rob erts, Lowry and Page. This is a fairly good fielding combination. The side is probably the best that has ever represented New Zealand, and it will be surprising if it does not at least hold its own with the M..C.C. eleven. A CLOSE FINISH. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. WELLINGTON,; Dec. 31. The Plunket Shield match concluded this afternoon in a victory foi Wellington by nineteen runs. Can torburv put up a : great fight, and throughout the day the tatsmen -simp ed so well that at times it appeared likely they would win. The mate! ended in as thrilling a manner as ever occurred in shield contests, being a win under the rules, Scores: — Wellington, 9 wickets for ; ... 366 Second innings, .... , ry 2so Canterbury, Ist Innings- ... ... 209, Second Innings,. Crpmh, b McGirr ... 8 Allen, c James b Henderson ... 17 Roberts, e Airey, b Lambert ... 70 Page, b Badcock ... 19 Talbot, c Badcock, b Lambert ... 113 Harris, c Dempster, b, Lambert ... 5 Lester, b. Lambert ... C- : Powell, e Hope, b Lambert ... 7 Merritt, 1.b.w., b Lambert , 57 Burns, c. James, b. Henderson ... 3 Simmonds, (not out) ... ... ... 1 (Extras ... ... ...* 2-J Total . ...- 388 Bowling analysis: McGirr 1 fur 54, Badcock one for 66, Henderson 2 lor 80, Lowry 0 for 18, Hope 6 lor 41. Lambert 6 for 102. CANTERBURY DEFEAT BULLER. WESTPORT, Jan. 1. The Canterbury and Duller cricket teams concluded their two days’ bucket match to-day the former winninp by 188 runs. WEST COAST V. CANTERBURY B. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan,

The Canterbury B. team batting first against the West Coast, team, made 321 runs. Davis scored,s9, a'.d W. C. Dailey (retired) 61,. being the principal 'contributors. When rain stopped play, West Coast had lost eight wickets for 56. Smith made 21 (not out), and Nightingab 15. ■ Davis took four wickets for 10. Bonn 3 for 11, and Giobs 1 for C GOOD BOWLER FOR WELLINGTON. MELBOURNE, Jan. 1. Having ‘been called to the English bar, and having renrosonted his university at cricket for two consecutive seasons, Air E. D. Blundell, of Wellington, has arrived at Melbourne by the liner “Ormonde,” on route to New Zealand. He will practice in Wellington. Interviewed he described himself as the world s worst batsman, adding that last season he took four more wickets than his total number of runs. M. Blundell gained prominence, as a medium pace bowler in his first match with Cambridge against Leicester. He took six wickets for 25 runs. DPoussUm the forthcoming cricket tests, lie said Australia would need her host bowlers in order to refrain the ashes. The Englishmen who returned Horn Australia were surprised that the Australians did not make greater of Blaokie, of whom they had a high opinion as a bowler.