MEDIUM INNINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 10

MEDIUM INNINGS

N.Z. PLAYS MIDDLESEX BATSMEN COLLAPSE FAIL ON DAMP WICKET By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. r New Zealand cricketers today commenced a match at Lord’s against Middlesex. When stumps were drawn the visitors had been disposed of for 234 runs and the county had lost one wicket for 11. A heavy shower fell prior to the opening of the match. This steadied Blunt and Mills, whose batting before luncheon was dogged and stodgy. They were specially careful of Hearne’s deliveries. It was 50 minutes before the first boundary was hit. There was a sensational collapse of the New Zealanders after luncheon. Haig dismissed Page and Dacre with successive balls. Lowry was missed in the slips and then forced the game resolutely and stopped the rot. Merritt again showed that he is a reliable batsman. Showers frequently interfered with the game. King George arrived when the teams were sheltering and the New Zealanders were presented to His Majesty by the High Commissioner, Sir James Parr. Rain fell at intervals during the whole of the King’s stay, and he had no opportunity of seeing much cricket. The Middlesex captain, Mann, is not playing owing to an attack of tonsilitis. Allcott has recovered and will play against the Navy at Portsmouth on Wednesday. The following are the scores: •NEW ZEALAND First Innings Mills, b Durston 40 Blunt, c Livock, b Durston 42 Page, c Stevens, b Haig 0 Dacre, c Hendren, b Haig .. v .. 0 Dempster, c Allen, b Stevens .... 10 Lowry, c Haig, b Durston 34 James, lbw, b Stevens 5 McGirr, st Livock, b Stevens .. 6 Henderson, c Haig, b Durston .. 30 Cunningham, b Haig 4 Merritt, not out 37 Extras 26 Total 234 Bowling.—Haig three wickets for 64 runs, Durston four for 42, Allen none for 28, Stevens three for 52, Hearne none for 22. MIDDLESEX First Innings Lee, c Page, b Blunt 4 Stevens, not out 7 Allen, not out o Total for one wicket .. .. .. 11 —A. and N.Z.-Sun.