CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 28

CRICKET

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MATCH. WEIR AND LOWRY IN FORM. LONDON, June 22. Improved batting allowed New Zealanders to gain a first innings lead over Northamptonshire. A fine fighting partnership by Weir and Lowry added 139 for the fourth wicket in 115 minutes. Lowry was cautious at the start, but later attacked the bowling with powerful drives and square cuts. He hit 13 fours and one six. Weir was caught in the slips after a chanceless innings for 81, scored in 22i minutes. It was an invaluable innings. He hit eight fours. Vivian gave his finest hatting exhibition to date. In the first 10 minutes he made 33, of which three were sixes, and three were fours. "’With Cromb he added 87 for the seventh wicket, placing New Zealand ahead. Vivian showed improved defence and neglected no scoring opportunity. His driving was delightfully free, and he was especially severe on Jupp’s offspinners. He was out last wicket to a fine catch at cover. In 103 minutes he hit four sixes and eight fours. The county bowling was steady, an occasional ball keeping low. Northamptonshire batted 40 minutes without the loss of a wicket. Bakewell early gave a difficult chance to Page in the slips off Cromb.

WIN FOR NEW ZEALAND. LONDON, June 23. The New Zealand cricketers continued their match against Northamptonshire in fine weather. Bellamy was unable to bat owing to an injury. Play opened sensationally. Lowry, howling the leg theory, round the wicket, took three wickets cheaply, getting Timms and Cox with successive balls. Bakewell again struck form, and batted with confidence and vigour. The New Zealanders gained a meritorious victory by six wickets. Bake-well-and Woolley added 90 for the fourth wicket, but the remaining batsmen made a poor shown ng against Merritt, adding only 39. Bakewell was undefeated throughout the innings, and an occasional tendency to nibble at a ball outside on the off could not spoil a fine effort of 170 minutes, with 11 fours. The feature of New Zealand’s attack was Lowry’s bowling, In the last two matches he has bowled accurately, and has fully deserved his wickets. New Zealand was left to score 155 after lunch, and the task was accomplished with 75 minutes to spare. Three wickets fell for 49. Kerr showed a return to his New Zealand form, and with Page added 49 for the fourth wicket. He was especially powerful on the leg side. The success of Kerr and Vivian increases the difficulty in the selection of the test eleven. Following are the scores:— NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. First Innings ?' .. 334 Second Innings. Bellamy (absent) 10 Bakewell, not out 83 Timms, c and b Lowry ........ 6 Cox, c Vivian, b Lowry ...... 0 Matthews, c Kerr, b Lowry .... 4 Woolley, b Merritt 20 Jupp, c Page, b Merritt 0 Snowden, c Lowry, b Talbot .... 2 Brown, c Page, b Merritt 1 Thomas, b Merritt 13 Wilson, run out 0 Extras 21 Total .. 166 Bowling Analysis.—Cromb, 0 for 18; Matheson, 0 for 9; Vivian, 0 for 6; Page, 0 for 9; Lowry, 3 for 32; Merritt, 4 for 55; Talbot, 1 for 16. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Mills, b Matthews ■ .. 16 Weir, c Timms, b Matthews .. .. 81 Kerr, b Jupp .. 12 Page, c and b Jupp 12 Lowry, c Timms, b Cox .. .. .. 85 Talbot, st Bellamy, b Jupp .. .. 0 Vivian, c Timms, b Cox ~ .. 73 Cromb, lbw, b Jupp 44 James, st Bellamy, b Cox .. .. .. 0 Matheson, b Jupp 1 Merritt, not out 0

Extras .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Total 346 Bowling Analysis. —Thomas, none for 69; Matthews, two for 57; Wilson, none for 26; Jupp, five for 99; Cox, three foi’ 73. Second Innings. Mills, c Cox, b Jupp 11 Weir, lbw, b Jupp .. 6 Lowry, b Thomas .......... 0 Page, c Cox, b Wilson ........ 34 Kerr, not out .. .. 73 Vivian, not out ............ 9 Extras 22 Total for four wickets .. 155 Bowling Analysis.—Matthews, 0 for 23; Thomas, 1 for 34; Jupp, 2 for 44; Wilson, 1 for 19; Cox, 0 for 13.