DISASTROUS START

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 48, 19 May 1927, Page 1

DISASTROUS START

NEW ZEALAND V. CAMBRIDGE

OPENING BATSMEN FAIL

PAGE’S BRILLIANT INNINGS

NEW ZEALAND, playing Cambridge University at Cambridge, opened their first innings disastrously, losing Blunt and Dempster for a “duck” each. The batting, however, recovered magnificently, Page scoring 134 in a fine innings. The side’s total was 315. Cambridge have lost one wicket, Morgan, the best bat, for 10 runs. Blundell, a New Zealand freshman at the University, played for the visitors.

By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 8.15 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday. The match started disastrously, Allom having the deadly score of two wickets for 3 runs, when Lowry resolutely stopped the rot. The most outstanding effort was Page’s 200 minutes of faultless, dashing play. He hit 16 fours. He and McGirr added 82 in 45 minutes. McGirr should have been stumped

before he scored at all. After Page, the most valuable was Merritt, who enhanced his reputation as a sterling tail-ender. He was missed twice and remained in for 80 minutes, while 92 runs were added.

The splendid recovery was acknowledged by the sporting Varsity crowd. Cambridge lost its finest batsman, Morgan, in the last over, cheap, thus breaking a dangerous opening partnership. Blundell, a freshman, who comes from Waitaki High School, played for the New Zealanders. The following are the scores: NEW ZEALAND First Innings R. C. Blunt, c Machin, b Allom . . 0 C. S. Dempster, b Allom / 0 J. E. Mills, c Morgan, b Lowe .. 14 T. C. Lowry, b Allom 46 K. C. James, b Longfield 3 C. Oliver, c Lowe, b Longfield . . 18 H. McGirr, c Cobbold. b Lowe . . . . 39 M. L. Page, c and b Longfield . . . . 134 K. H. L. Bernau, 1.b.w., b Longfield 10 W. E. Merritt, c Robins, b Morgan 34 Blundell, not out 0 Extras 17 Total 315 Bowl i ng Allom three wickets for 79; Longneld. four for 71; Morgan, one for 33; obbold, one for 48; Lowe, two for 38; Robine none for 29. CAMBRIDGE First Innings Morgan, 1.b.w., b Merritt 3 Dawson, not out 5 Extras 2 Total for one wicket 10 -—A. and N.£.

A GREAT RECOVERY

PAGE SHOWS HIS TRUE FORM rpo have scored 315 runs after losing two of their most prolific rungetters, Blunt and Dempster, for a couple of “ducks,” is one of the finest performances the New Zealand team could have registered in their first Varsity match. An outstanding effort was Page’s brilliant century. The Canterbury batsman was evidently in his best New Zealand form, and that is saying something, as several of the Melbourne team which was in New Zealand a few months ago, ranked Page as one of the finest batsmen they had ever played against. The point about the New Zealand batting that appeals to the English critics and public is this. When a disastrous spell comes—and it is always on with the best of batsmen—the New Zealanders do not play 'for safety as exemplified by the wearisome stonewalling tactics that even the Australians indulge in at times. Every man is out to get runs, and if one man fails, there is a happy confidence amongst the team that someone else will come to light. In this case it was Page who .filled the breach. On New Zealand form, the South Island batsman was due for a score. He had a splendid record in Plunket Shield cricket last year, and topped the Canterbury averages. Strangely enough, he never got a century, but he had the happy knack of turning in sound, solid knocks, ranging from round about the half-century to the sixties and seventies. FAST SCORING That the early dismissal of Blunt and Dempster did not daunt the New Zealanders is shown by the almost hurricane scoring indulged in at times. McGirr and Page at one stage put on 82 in 45 minutes, which is ex eeptionally fast for first class cricket. Most cricket teams dread having to go in to bat in the last half-hour or so ; of play when the light is generally fading. It was in this manner that Cambridge lost one of its best bats yesterday, Morgan losing his wicket before he had a chance to get going. It is not clear yet whether Duleep sinjhi, “Ranji’s” nephew, is playing in this match, but if he is. and is in form, the New Zealand bowlers will have something to think about to-day. He has turned in two three figure sc .res i already this year, and a week or two