CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 48

CRICKET

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. MATCH AGAINST CAMBRIDGE THE VISITORS BATTING. LONDON, June 3. The New Zealand cricketers have commenced a match against Cambridge University. The weather is dull and the wicket is good. Lowry won the toss. Merritt, James, and Vivian are standing down. The Cambridge team is as follows:— Kemp-Welch, Fabian, Brown, Ratcliffe, Christopherson, Baring, Askew, Webster, Dales, Davies, and Telham. Dempster and Mills opened brightly. The former has recovered from his leg injury. Both were caught in the slips. A CENTURY TO BLUNT. LONDON, June 3. In the match against Cambridge New Zealand’s batting , showed considerable improvement, and the batsmen took no risks against a steady attack. Runs came steadily. Mills batted attractively, and he hit eight 4’s. After the dismissal of Weir, Blunt and Allcott added 106 for the fourth wicket. Allcott was unusually restrained. Blunt showed a return to his best form, and his display overshadowed his fine innings at Lord’s. He batted 200 minutes and hit eleven 4’s His late cutting was again brilliant. Kerr, who batted steadily, was out lbw for the third successive time. The remaining batsmen sacrificed their wickets. The bowling was accurate but lacked variety. Brown, a slow right-hand bowler, kept an excellent length and made pace on the wicket. He bowled an occasional googly which required constant watching. Baring and Pelham, a fast medium right-hand bowler, were also very steady. Cambridge batted a quarter of an hour, Ratcliffe being dismissed in the final over. VISITORS’ SECOND STRIKE. LONDON, June 4. The New Zealand cricketers gained a first innings lead of 70 against Cambridge University. For Cambridge Kemp-Welch and Surfleet added 126 for the second wicket. The former was run out shortly’ after lunch. Snrfleet, making his first appearance for the university, batted soundly, and appeared well set for a century when he was dismissed by a ball from Matheson which just shifted his off bail. Matheson struck form with the new ball. After the second century had been registered four wickets fell rapidly. Fabian then made a stand, and greatly improved Cambridge’s score. The wicket was a batsman’s paradise, but the New Zealand bowlers kept a steady length. . Matheson bowled accurately, with considerable pace, and deserved better figures. New Zealand’s fielding was again below standard, several catches being dropped. Dempster and Mills batted brightly for 40 minutes before stumps were drawn. A DRAWN GAME. LONDON, June 5. The New Zealand-Cambridge University match ended in a draw.

New Zealand declared shortly after lunch for 226. The declaration was delayed to allow Dempster to reach his fourth century of the tour. Dempster batted very soundly for three hours, and was always master of the bowling. He hit 10 4’s. He was bowled by a no-ball when one short of the century. Mills and Lowry also batted attractively. The former was unlucky, being bowled off his pads. Cambridge was left with three hours to make 297 for victory. Matheson and Cromb bowled well at the start, and three wickets fell for 25. Kemp Welch again played a fine captain's innings. He showed sound defence and a wide range of scoring shots. He impressed as a future test batsman. He scored his century in IGO minutes, and, with Brown, added 129 runs for the fifth wicket. Brown batted with delightful freedom. When stumps were drawn, Cambridge had lost five wickets for 200. Matheson and Cromb developed slight muscle strains. The former bowled only four overs and Cromb nine. Details :— NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Mills, c Ratcliffe, b Baring 59 Dempster, c Ratcliffe, b Fabian .. 36 Blunt, b Baring 120 Weir, c Sales, b Brown 19 Allcott, c Snrfleet, b Fabian .... 25 Page, c Baring, b Pelham 1 Kerr, lbw, b Webster 31 Lowry, c Sales, b Brown 19 Talbot, c Ratcliffe, b Pelham .... 8 Cromb, c sub, b Baring 15 Matheson, not out 13 Extras 29 Total 375 Bowling Analysis.—Baring, three for 98; Pelham, two for 69; Webster, one for 27; Fabian, two for 55; Brown, two for 97. Second Innings. Mills, b Brown 40 Dempster, not out ioi Lowry, c Kemp-Welch, b Webster .. 35 Weir, run out q Talbot, c Askew, b Fabian .. ~ 11 Kerr, c Ratcliffe, b Brown ~ .. 3 Page, not out Extras Total for five wickets (declared) 226 Bowling Analysis.—Baring, none for 55; Pelham, none for 50; Brown, two for 5o; Fabian, one for 33; Webster, one for 16. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. First Innings. Kemp-Welch, run out 61 Ratcliffe, lbw, b Matheson .. .. 4 Surfleet, b Matheson 86 Davies, c Lowry, b Matheson .. .. 44 Askew, lbw, b Cromb 3 Brown, c Weir, b Matheson .. .. 8 Webster, lbw, b Page 15 Fabian, c Lowry, b Weir 54 Baring, b Weir 1 Dales, run out 0 Pelham, not out 17 Extras Total 305 Bowling Analysis.—Cromb, one for 55; Matheson, four for 76; Blunt, none for 20; Weir, two for 31; Page, one for 57; Talbot, none for 34; Allcott, none for 20. Second Innings. Kemp-Welch, not out 102 Surfleet, b Matheson .. .. ~ ~ 7 Davies, b Cromb 6 Ratcliffe, b Cromb .. ~ ~ ~ 1 Askew, c and b Weir 9 Brown, b Weir ~ .. •72 Webster, not out 2 Ex tra 1 Total for five wickets .. 200 Bowling Analysis.—Matheson, one for 13; Cromb, two for 18; Blunt, none for 41; Talbot, none for 20; Weir, two for 48; Page, none for 41; Allcott, none for 18.

MATCH AGAINST SOMERSET GOOD SCORE BY HOME TEAM. LONDON, June 6. The New Zealand cricketers commenced a match to-day against Somerset at Bath. Lowry lost the toss and Somerset batted on an easy wicket. The weather was fine and the attendance numbered 4000. Merritt, Cromb, and Matheson are standing out of the New Zealand team. The two latter are receiving treatment for slight muscle strains. New Zealand was handicapped by the absence of its three leading bowlers. Lowry handled the attack with excellent judgment. Somerset was dismissed for 244 runs. A bright partnership between Lee and Ingle added 87 for the third wicket. Ingle played particularly attractive cricket. The remaining batsmen offered little opposition. Lee became overcautious on approaching the century and was caught at third slip. Weir bowled with admirable steadiness throughout. He sent down 27 overs, 10 of which were maidens. Blunt also kept a good length and tempted the batsmen to make mistakes. He bowled 26 overs, seven being maidens. New Zealand batted for 85 minutes before stumps were drawn. Dempster and Mills opened brightly. The former was caught at fine leg off a kicking de-

livery from Wellard, and Mills was caught at long-off in attempting a big hit off White. Talbot and Blunt played out time. The New Zealand fielding showed some improvement over that in the last two matches. Following are the scores:— SOMERSET. First Innings. Young, c and b Weir 17 Lee, c Lowry, b Talbot .. ~ .. 98 M'Bryan, c James, b Allcott .. .. 7 Ingle, b Blunt .. .. go White, b Blunt 5 Case, c Mills, b Weir 2 Earle, c Mills, b Blunt 3 Wellard, b Weir 14 Marshall, b Blunt .. 29 Burrough, lbw, b Blunt 3 Pratten, not out ~ ~ 0 Extras ~ ~ g Total 244 Bowling Analysis.—Blunt, five for GO; Weir, three for 46; Vivian, none for 40; Talbot, one for 40; Allcott, one for 31; Page, none for 21. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, c Burrough, b Wellard .. 20 Mills, c Earle, b White .. ~ .. 26 Talbot, notout .. ~ 12 Blunt, not out .. .; .. ~ ~ 9 Extra ~ 1 Total for two wickets .. G 8 THE TEAM ENTERTAINED. LONDON, June 1. The New Zealand Society tendered a dinner to the cricketers at the Savoy Hotel. - The guests included Prince George, the Lord Mayor of London, the Earl of Liverpool, Sir Granville Ryrie, Mr H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, Sir James Mills, Sir Walter Braithwaite, Mr P. F. Warner and Mr A. C. Maclaren. “ Sir Thomas Wilford has invited me to New Zealand,” declared Prince George in resending to the toast of the Royal Family, which was proposed by Sir Thomas Wilford. “ I greatly want to go and hope it will be soon. My father and my brothers have often spoken of the hospitality and loyalty of New Zealanders and the beauties of the country. New Zealand sent to England the finest Rugby team in the world and it even sent cricketers who achieved the unique distinction of dismissing a first class Marylebone team at Lord’s for 48 runs. I warn the selectors of the test team against underestimating the New Zealanders.”

Viscount Bridgeman, in proposing the toast of the team, said: “ Prince George is evidently willing to lay a “ fiver ” that the New Zealanders will be successful in the test. I am most delighted to welcome them.” Mr T. C. Lowry, in responding, said he regarded the test match as England’s acknowledgment that New Zealand had passed the knickerbocker stage. “We are not ready to rival England or Australia,” he said, “but we feel that we can make a show against India and South Africa.” GENERAL IMPRESSION OF TEA AT, LONDON, June 1. The cricketing expert of The Times, summing up the New Zealanders’ play, concludes: “They have only been here a month, but already the general impression is that a nicer and keener team never visited this country.” THE TEAM’S RECORD. Following is the team’s record to date:— v. Essex—Won by an innings and 48 runs. New Zealand 425; Essex 264 and 113. v. Leicestershire—Drawn. New Zealand 434 for eight wickets, declared, and 90 for seven wickets. Leicester shire 277 and 273 for six wickets, declared. v. Hampshire—Drawn. New Zealand 271 and 161 for four wickets; Hampshire 190. v. M.C.C.—Won by an innings and 122 runs. New Zealand 302 for nine wickets, declared; M.C.C. 132 and 48. v. Worcestershire—Drawn. Worcestershire 286 and 112 for seven wickets; New Zealand 215. v. Glamorgan—Drawn. New Zealand 288 for six wickets, declared, and 190 for four wickets, declared; Glamorgan 200 and 103 for five. v. Oxford University—Drawn. New Zealand 488; Oxford 129 for four wickets. v. Middlesex —Lost by 79 runs. Middlesex 241 and 225; New Zealand 152 and 235. THE AVERAGES.

The following are the averages of the team at the conclusion of the eighth match of the tour:— BATTING.

BOWLING.

THE COUNTY MATCHES LONDON, June 2. Rain continues to spoil- the county cricket matches. Following are the results :— Essex: First innings 271 (Bray 100), second, six for 150, declared (Jupp five for 62). Northants: First innings, 147 (Smith four for 55) ; second, 169 (Bakewell uot out 90). Essex won by 105 runs. Surrey: First innings, 311 (Shepherd 73; Iddon four for 36) ; second, four for 185 (Shepherd 73). Lancashire: First innings, six for 397, declared (Hopwood not out 165). Lancashire won on the first innings. Nottingham: First innings, seven for 379, declared (A. Staples 113, Walker 135); second, none for 29. Somerset: First innings 67 (Larwood seven for 25). They followed on for 338 (White 100). Nottingham won by 10 wickets. Kent: First innings, four for 296 (AVoolley 188) versus Yorkshire was drawn. Derby: First innings, 343 (Storer 74, Alderman not out 87). Sussex: First innings, 67 (Mitchell six for 11). They followed on for 88 (Mitchell six for 19). Derby won by an innings and 188 runs. Worcester: First innings, 178 (Parker seven for 85) ; second, 248 (Gibbons 71; Goddard four for 26). Gloucester: First innings, 207; seconds 118 (Root four for 32). Worcester won by 101 runs. Leicester: First innings, 127. Glamorgan : First innings, four for 46. Match drawn.

Hampshire: First innings, 118; second 109 (Paine seven for 37). Warwick: First innings, 163; second, three for 16. Warwick won on the first innings.

In. N.O. H.S. Tl. Av. C. S. Dempster 9 3 212 646 107.66 H. G. Vivian 8 2 135 218 36.33 J. E. Mills .. 8 0 92 279 34.87 W. E. Merritt 9 4 35* 166 33.20 M. L. Page .. 10 0 113 324 32.40 T. C. Lowry 9 1 101* 247 30.87 G. L. Weir .. 10 1 100* 265 29.44 R. C. Blunt .. 10 1 82 237 26.33 R. 0. Talbot 9 1 68 206 25.75 I. B. Cromb 7 1 52* 149 24.83 J. L. Kerr .. 11 0 88 232 21.09 K. 0. James 9 0 42 95 10.55 C. F. W. Allcott 3 0 18 28 9.33 A. M, Matheson 3 3 5* 9 * Signifies not out.

A. M. Matheson Wickets. Runs. Av. 14.77 .. 9 133 *1. B. Cromb .. .. 22 334 15.18 W. E. Merritt .. 51 901 17.66 M. L. Page .. 3 61 20.33 C. F. W. Allcott .. 5 120 24.00 R. C. Blunt .. 14 354 25.28 G. L. Weir .. • • 5 213 42.60 R. 0. Talbot .. 4 222 55.50 H. G. Vivian .. 2 123 61.50 T. C. Lowry .. 0 12