THE FIRST DEFEAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 47, 18 May 1927, Page 1

THE FIRST DEFEAT

PLAY ON STICKY WICKET

After doing so well against a powerful M.C.C. team, there would be a touch of irony in the fact that the New Zealand team went down to a county side which can hardly be classed as being in the first flight were it not obvious that weather conditions played a big part in the final day’s play.

The primary cause, however, of the New Zealanders’ defeat was the steady, all-round batting performance of the Essex XI. in their first knock, which gave the county men a lead of 84 runs on the innings.

The weather certainly seems to have left the New Zealanders with only a slender chance of wiping off the deficiency at. their second attempt and running up a sufficiently big score to win or draw the match, but that is part of the luck of the game, and no doubt Lowry and his men would be the last to advance such a reason for their defeat.

Getting New Zealand out for 208 in the second Innings, Essex had only to make 124 to gain the first victory scored against the visitors in England. As it was, it is apparent that the home side was none too comfortable on the wicket, and had the match been played out, the Dunedin man might have collected a veritable harvest. DEMPSTER IN FORM

Dempster, who distinguished himself making top score with 79 out of was one of two or three players ... whose selection

roused much conroversy before the 3am left. There ad never been tty question about h e Wanganui ian’s brilliance .'hen he was in orm, but the , n-itics most vigorously and strenuously denied that

Dempster was anything like in form However, Dempster did something tc remove that impression before he left and he appears to be going on witt the good work. He is a delightful batsman to watch, executing a greai variety of strokes with grace and ease