CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1931, Page 6

CRICKET

NEW ZEALAND TOUR. N.Z. MAKE 152. BEQUIPEi 315 TO WIN. (Special to Press Association). (Received this day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, June 1. New Zealand batsmen failed against Middlesex. There wa s rain overnight but no delay. At the start four wickets fell cheaply. Lowry, Cromb and Blunt saved a follow on. Peebles was always dangerous. LONDON, June 1. After the New Zealanders batting failure, the bowlers recaptured much ' of the lost ground. Middlesex with a first innings lead of 89 were dismissed the second time for 225. New Zealand has a full day to make 315 for victory. The wicket was slow and easy throughout. Peebles the test googl.v bowler kept an admirable length. After the bad start tlie batsmen played with their backs to the wall. Lowry made a valuable effort, batting an hour for 17. After the follow on had been averted Blunt attacked the bowling. He played a fine defensive innings at the critical stage. James left tire field before lunch with an injured hand but returned after Blunt’s dismissal to share the honours of plucky last wicket stand. Merritt adding 31. Henrne and Entboveu again start ed well and a big score appeared like ly, but after tea Merritt struck form and five wickets fell in rapid .succession. Hard hitting by Durston improved matters for Middlesex. Despite his injury, James kept wickets excellently. He missed a chance of stumping Hendren at 23 but it failed to mar his display. Bad catching enabled ’ the later Middlesex batsmen to increase the score. MIDDLESEX—First innings ... 24] I NEW ZEALAND—First Innings. I Mills, b Peeble s 34 j Weir, b Allen 3 Kerr, l.b.w. b Peebles ... 7 Page, b Allen ] Vivian, b Peebles 0 | Blunt, c Price, b Allen 25 Talbot, c and b Peebles 2 Lowry, c Peebles, b Durston 17 Cromb, st. Price, I) Hearn© 25 Janies, c Price, Pbecbles 5 Merritt, (not out) 23 Extras ... 10 Total 152 i Bowling analysis—Allen 3 for 51, ' Haig 0 for 7, Peebles 5 for 66, Hoarne I 1 for 12, Durston 1 for 6 I MIDDLESEX—Second Innings. 1 Efitlioven. c Talbot, h Cromb ... 40 Canning, c Page, b Merritt 3 Hearne, e Cromb, 1) Merritt 42 .Allen. 0 James, b Merritt 3 st. .Tames,, b Merritt ... 33 Newman, run out 1 Haig, c and b Blunt 5 I Hulme, b Merritt 28 ■Durston, st. James, b Weir 49 'Peebles, c Merritt, b Cromb 15 Price (not out) 5 j Extras ... 1 Total 225 I Bowling—Cromb 2 for 65, Merritt | 5 for 77, Talbot 0 for 21. Blunt 1 for .54. Weir 1 for 4, Lowry 0 for 3. I . Stumps were then drawn.