CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 29

CRICKET

MATCH AGAINST M.C.C. A CENTURY TO LOWRY. LONDON, May 18. The match New Zealand v. M.C.C. was resumed at Lord’s at 3.30 in the afternoon. The weather was cold, and a dead wicket gave no assistance to the bowlers, while the outfield was heavy. The New Zealand batsmen continued their innings, and had scored 302 for nine wickets by the time stumps were drawn. Talbot again lived up to his reputation as a forcing batsman, and drove powerfully. He scored 06 in 50 minutes. He hit six 4’s and one powerful 6 into the pavilion. Page ran several audacious singles. He ■was dismissed with a fine lefthand catch by White, who also took his third catch in the slips in dismissing Cromb. A fine partnership followed between Lowry and Weir. The former started carefully, but afterwards attacked the

bowling confidently, with forceful shots all round the wicket. Against Jupp's leg theory the New Zealand captain stepped to the leg and hit past point. He was never seriously troubled by the attack, and reached his century in 135 minutes. Weir steadily assisted Lowry before he over-balanced and was stumped off Jupp. Merritt attacked the bowling and hit White into the stand for a great six. CROMB’S FINE BOWLING. LONDON, May 19. The New Zealand bowlers routed the strong English batting side at Lord’s this morning. Lowry declared, and the M.C.C. batted on a wicket that was assisting the bowlers. Cromb struck his best form and had all the batsmen troubled. At one stage his figures were five for 15. Page took two brilliant catches in the slips. FINE BOWLING BY MERRITT AND BLUNT. LONDON, May 19. The success of the New Zealand bowlers at Lord’s in the early stages of M.C.C.’s first innings was only a shadow of what followed. The home team’s first innings closed for 132. Lowry enforced the follow-on rule, and Merritt and Blunt dismissed the side, which, with two exceptions, is probably the best amateur eleven in England, for 48 runs. New Zealand gained a sensational victory by an innings and 122 runs in only nine hours’ play. The wicket enabled the bowlers to turn the ball, but the principal reason for New’ Zealand’s success was its accuracy of the attack and also its brilliant fielding.

The home team’s first innings was notable for Jardine’s solid batting and Cromb’s fine bowling. The second innings lasted for 65 minutes. Merritt has seldom bowled better, and completely baffled the batsmen. Blunt’s success was also fully deserved. Chapman went out first ball in both innings. New Zealand’s success has aroused considerable interest among the critics, who believe that the Dominion’s attack is stronger than was previously considered. Scores: — NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. James, lbw, b Allom 1 Blunt, b Robins 5 Dempster, c and b White .. .. 45 Kerr, c Dawson, b Jupp 24 Page, c White, b Jupp 14 Talbot, c Crawley, b White .. .. 66 Lowry, not out 101

Cromb, c White, b Robins .. .. 8 Weir, st Franklin, b Jupp .. .. 12 Merritt, c Franklin, b White .. .. 15 Matheson, not out 5 Extras 6 Total for nine wickets (innings declared closed) 302 Bowling Analysis.—Allom, one for 57; Hearne, none for 17; Robins, two for 50; Jupp, three for 106; White, three for 66. M.C.C. First Innings. Dawson, c Lowry, b Cromb .... 1 Crawley, c Page, b Matheson .... 0 Hearne, b Cromb 12 Jardine, not out 62 Turnbull, lbw, b Cromb 0 Jupp, c and b Cromb 12 Chapman, c Page, b Cromb .... 0 Robins, c Blunt, b Matheson .... 16 White, c Page, b Cromb 17 Franklin, lbw, b Merritt 2 Allom, c Kerr, b Merritt 0 Extras 10 Total 132 Bowling Analysis.—Matheson, 2 for 16; Cromb, 6 for 46; Merritt, 2 for 49; Blunt, 0 for 11. Second Innings. Jardine, b Blunt 19 Hearne, b Merritt 0 Dawson, c Merritt, b Blunt .... 2 Crawley, b Merritt 1 Turnbull, st James, b Merritt .. 2 Chapman, c Page, b Merritt .... 0 Jupp, c Lowry, b Merritt 5 Robins, b Merritt 0 White, not out 7 Franklin, c Kerr, b Merritt .... 2 Allom, c Weir, b Blunt 9 Extras 1 Total 48 Bowling Analysis.—Merritt, 7 for 28; Blunt, 3 for 13; Matheson, 0 for 6. MATCH AT WORCESTERSHIRE. HOME SIDE BATTING. WORCESTER, May 20. The New Zealand cricketers commenced a match against Worcestershire in fine weather. The wicket was slow. Weir, Blunt, and Cromb stood down from the New Zealand team. The Wor cestershire side is as follow:—Quaife. Bull, Nichol, Gibbons, Martin, Walters. Ahl, Winwood, Root, Brooks, and Perks. Lowry lost the toss for the first time, and the county scored slow.ly against steady bowling by Alleott and Vivian.

HOME SIDE’S USEFUL SCORE. LONDON, May 20. Lowry won the toss, and put Worcestershire in to bat. The county scored the largest total yet registered against the New Zealanders, due principally to a fine century by Gibbons, and a plucky effort by Perks, who, with Gibbons, added 60 for the last wicket, although Perks himself scored only 4. Gibbons started uncomfortably against Merritt, but later gained confidence, and batted attractively. Nichol, who shaped well, was dismissed immediately after lunch. New Zealand’s attack was slightly below the team’s standard, but the wicket was easy throughout. Vivian bowled steadily before lunch, sending down 31 overs, of which 16 were maidens. Merritt and Matheson were somewhat erratic.

New Zealand batted for 50 minutes. Mills shaped well before he was dismissed. There was a good attendance in the afternoon. HOME SIDE’S SECOND STRIKE. LONDON, May 21. New Zealand’s batting hardly realised expectations, and the team was dismissed in its first innings for 215. Worcestershire is the only county so far to gain a first innings lead. Dempster was out early, caught by the wicket-keeper. Page punished Root’s leg theory until he was brilliantly caught at mid-on. Kerr drove powerfully and stylishly, and was unlucky to be bowled by a shooter. Vivian batted most attractively, hitting with plenty of freedom and showing his best form. He was dismissed in trying to pull a bumping ball, which he deflected into the slips. Root bowled very steadily, and after lunch the last six wickets fell for 48. Worcestershire’s batting was uninspiring in the second innings. The New Zealand attack was hampered owing to Matheson having to leave the field with a strained leg muscle.

Merritt and Vivian bowled excellently. After the dismissal of Quaife five wickets fell for 20. Scores:—• WORCESTERSHIRE. First Innings. Bull, b Merritt 8 Quaife, c Lowry, b Matheson .. .. 29 Nichol, c Page, b Merritt .. .. 39 Gibbons, run out 118 Martin, lbw, b Matheson 4 Walters, e Vivian, b Page .. .. 23 Ahl, run out 26 Winwood, c Merritt, b Alleott .. 5 Root, b Matheson 5 Brookes, c James, b Merritt .. .. 2 Perks, not out .. .. 4 Extras 13 Total 276 Bowling Analysis.—Alleott, one for 32; Vivian, none for 52; Merritt, three for 98; Page, one for 19; Matheson, three for 54; Talbot, none for 8. Second Innings. Quaife, c Lovyry, b Vivian 37 Bull, b Merritt 6 Nichol, not out 48 Ahl, st Janies, b Vivian 4 Walters, b Merritt 5 Winwood, run out 5 Gibbons, c and b Merritt 0 Perks, c Lowry, b Merritt 0 Extras 7 Total for seven wickets .. 112 NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, c Quaife, b Root .... 16 Mills, lbw, b Perks 19 Kerr, b Ahl 42 Page, c Ahl, b Brook 24 Vivian, c Root, b Perks 49 Talbot, b Martin 26 Lowry, c Quaife, b Root ...... 10 Alleott, b Root 8 James, lbw, b Martin 2 Merritt, c Ahl, b Perks 6 Matheson, not out 2 Extras 11 Total 215 Bowling Analysis.—Root, 3 for 60; Perks, 3 for 27; Martin, 2 for 31; Brook, 1 for 53; Ahl, 1 for 18; Nichol, 0 for 15. RAIN ENDS PLAY. LONDON, May 22. Heavy rain overnight left the wicket sodden, and rendered play impossible. Tim match was drawn. At the conclusion of the second day’s play Worcestershire had scored 276 and 112 for seven wickets in their second innings. New Zealand scored 215 in their first innings.

AGAINST GLAMORGAN. RAIN AGAIN STOPS PLAY. LONDON, May 23. The New Zealand cricketers commenced a match against Glamorgan, but rain caused the abandonment of play an hour after the start, robbing the Now Zealanders of another Saturday gate. Lowry, Matheson, and Mills wer? omitted from the New Zealand team. The Glamorgan team was as follows: — Turnbull. Bates, Bell. Mercer, Jones, D. Davies, E. Davies, Dyson, Lavis, Duckfield, and Every. „ Page won the toss, and Dempster and Weir opened on a good wicket, scoring 44 before the cessation of play. The wicket was covered to enable a continuation of play if possible on Bank Holiday (Monday). Scores:— NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, not out 26 Weir, not out 16 Extras 2 Total for no wickets .. .. 44 The following is the bowling analysis for the Worcestershire second innings: — Matheson, none for 8; Talbot, none for 15; Merritt, four for 52; Alleott, none for 9; Vivian, two for 21. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. LONDON, May 19. The New Zealanders were entertained at dinner by the M.C.C. last evening. Viscount Bridgeman presided, and others present included Earl Jellicoe, Viscount Plumer, Sir Kynaston Studd and many prominent cricketers. BETTER THAN 1927 SIDE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 20. Commenting on the New Zealand cricket team’s win, Mr H. B. Whitta, a Dominion selector, says: “ The performances to date clearly show that the present team is superior to the 1927 side: but personally I do not think the batting is as even as one could wish. I would not like to say that New Zealand is a good side until it has been up against such counties as Middlesex, Notts, Sussex, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, where the bowling is better than that met with in the M.C.C. match. The outstanding success among the newer Dominion players is undoubtedly Cromb.” P. F. WARNER’S COMMENT. LONDON, May 20. P. F. Warner, writing in the Morning Post, says. “May 19, 1931, may be the starting point of a new era in New Zealand’s cricket just as May 27, 1878, was in Australia’s. It is unwise, however, on the strength of a single match,

to say that the New Zealand cricketers are a great team, but it is so vastly improved that it would be foolish to underrate them.” The match to which Warner refers as the starting point of a new era in Australian cricket was that in which the first white Australian team to visit England defeated M.C.C. and Ground in a single day. The team, which was captained by Dane Gregory, did not play any test matches, but it created a very favourable impression, and from that time Australia has never failed to hold her own with England. GLOWING PRESS TRIBUTES. LONDON, May 20. The morning papers refer in glowing terms to the New Zealand cricketers’ victory at Lord’s. P. F. Warner, writing in the Morning Post, says: “ Their victory at the headquarters of cricket will add immensely to the visitors’ growing reputation. Merritt dominated the batsmen in the second innings, and appeared unplayable. Cromb looks as if he could bowl well all day. He certainly bowled well yesterday. At this stage of the tour Merritt and Blunt are the most dangerous.” H. J. Henley, in the Daily Mail, says: “The New Zealand bowlers completely fooled the batsmen. The wicket was little different from that on which the visitors scored 302.”

The Daily Telegraph says: “A surprise may be in store for the cricketing world when the New Zealanders play the test. The visitors’ youth and zest are creating a big impression.”

COUNTY MATCHES. FINE PERFORMANCE BY VERITY. LONDON, May 19. Rain seriously interfered with county cricket. Surrey, first innings 245 (Kennedy six for 86); second, two for 103, declared. Hampshire, first innings, none for 127, declared; second, five for 125, Surrey won on the first innings. Sussex, first innings, three for 278 (Bowley 103, Cook not out 101). Gloucester, first innings five for 289, declared (Hammond not out 168). Gloucester won on the first innings. Worcester, first innings 169 (Sibbles four for 43, R. Tyldesley five for 31); second, 117 (R. Tyldesley six for 28). Lancashire, first innings 75 (Parks five for 19); second, 85 (Root nine for 23). Worcester won by 126 runs. Northants, first innings 211 (Bakewell 75, Larwood six for 44) ; second, two for 78. Nottingham, first innings three for 302, declared (Walker not out 102, Carr 140). Nottingham won on the first innings. Essex, first innings seven for 245, declared (Cutmore 69). Leicester, first innings eight for 246 (Nichols six for 1 81). Leicester won on the first innings. Warwick, first innings 201 (Macaulay four for 61); second, 72 (Verity 10 for 36). Yorkshire, first innings 298 (Sutcliffe 67, Mayer six for 76). Yorkshire won by an innings and 25 runs. Derby, first innings 150 (Freeman five for 63) ; second, 137 (Watt four for 5). Kent, first innings 170 (Slater eight for 63); second, one for 119. Kent won by nine wickets. Cambridge, first innings 239 (KempWelch 101, Wilcox not out 84, Hurston five for 80); second, three for 87. Middlesex, first innings 185 (Fabian five for 36). Cambridge won on the first innings. The critics regard Verity, a slow left-. hander, as Rhodes’s successor. He celebrated his 26th birthday by taking all Warwickshire’s wickets. This is only his second season in first class cricket.

ANOTHER CENTURY TO HOBBS. LONDON, May 22. County cricket was again interfered with by rain. Surrey : First innings, 232 (Hobbs 117 ; Tate six for 48) ; second innings, twi for 34. Sussex: First innings, seven for 470, declared (Bowley 144, Dulecpsinhji 162). Sussex won on the first innings. Derby: First innings, eight for 435, declared (Smith 131, Lee 147, Townsen-1 80 not out). Essex: First innings, 187. Derby won on the first innings. Lancashire: First innings, 247 (Iddon 73). Second innings, six for 307, declared (Watson 96, E. Tyldesley 78, Iddon 88 not out). Glamorgan: First innings, 138 (R. Tyldesley four for 36). Second innings, 170 (R. Tyldesley seven for 79). Lancashire won by 246 runs. Nottingham: First innings, 168 (White six for 77). Second innings, seven for 240, declared. Somerset: First innings, 62 (Larwood five for 30). Second innings, 207 (Young 76). Nottingham won by 139 runs. Northants: First innings, 188 (Bakewell 88: Freeman five for 85). Second innings, 136 (Hardinge five for 12). Kent: First innings, 223 (Jupp six for 99). Second innings, none for 103. Kent won by ten wickets. Middlesex: First innings, 267. Second innings, eight for 142. Leicester: First innings, 150. Middlesex won on the first innings. Warwick: First innings, 209 (Croom 71). Second innings, seven for 172, declared (Wyatt 90) Cambridge University: First innings, 155 (Paine seven for 37). Second innings, 117 (Paine four for 47). Warwick won by 109 runs. Gloucester: First innings, 374 (Sinfield 162 not out; Owen-Smith four for 45). Oxford University; First innings,

eight for 398 (I’ataudi 169). The match was drawn. SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM. MELBOURNE, May 19. The Australian Cricket Control Board will meet next month to decide whether the South Africans should come to Australia. SYDNEY, May 20. The Cricket Board of Control favours the South African Board's suggestion that the expenses of the South African tour should be paid by the Australian Board of Control in addition to providing them with 15 per cent, of the profits, and a cablegram has been sent to South Africa to this effect. The final arrangements for the tour will be made next month.