NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS ON THE MARCH IN ENGLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 148, 13 September 1927, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS ON THE MARCH IN ENGLAND

RAIN STOPS PLAY WHEN GA DEMPSTER AND ALLCOTT PUT AGAINST WARWICKSHIRE—ALLCO' After the Civil Service match we met the Army team at Folkestone, but after each side had an innings each we got “washed out” and the game had to be a draw. Thus a good game was spoilt. Next day we went to Birmingham, and there also the rain stopped play, and with another half an hour of play we would have won by an innings. Allcott and Dempster batted very well in this game, and each got a good century, the pair also put on 300 for the first wicket—a good performance. Dempster, who is at the top of his form, played a good knock, his driving being a big factor in his innings. Allcott also batted well, and showed some of his old form. Kilner, for Warwick, played a couple of good innings for 86 and 60, and never gave a chance. Most of the county teams seemed to be troubled with our slow bowlers, and Merritt gives them a lot of trouble. After the rain had washed us out at Birmingham we went on to Exeter to play the West of England, but found the weather conditions there even worse than they were at Birmingham, and after a, day's delay we managed to get a start on a sodden ground and a “glue-pot” wicket. We looked like winning by an innings when next day the weather was so unkind that we 1 hacl to draw stumps once more, and were thus robbed of another win. THE CARDIFF MATCH Our next game was against Cardiff, and here the weather conditions were : very kind to us. We managed to complete a game in glorious sunshine. i After a good start by Dempster and Blunt, we carried our score along at a good rate. Dempster got a good

MMES ARE WELL IN HAND—- ' ON 300 FOR FIRST WICKET >TT BACK TO NEW ZEALAND FORM century, and Blunt batted well. Bernau, who has not struck form, came to light in good style in this match, getting six whickets for 36, knocking the middle stump out of the ground five times out of the six. Clay, the Glamorgan skipper, made a beautiful century and delighted us with his beautiful hitting, but our bowling was too good for the rest of the team, and we ran home easy winners, thanks to Bernau’s fine bowling performance. The next important match was against Surrey at the Oval, and after losing the toss we saw a good innings by Hobbs and Sandham. Hobbs opened our eyes by his correct methods of batting, and soon got his century, while his parner got 60. With all the team out for 377 we got them out reasonably cheaply, all things considered, and a good start by Mills and Blunt soon carried our score along. Mills got a great hundred, and was given a fine reception on returning to the pavilion. We struggled on, to be beaten by 60 runs on the first innings. HOBBS MAKES A “DUCK” Surrey’s second innings opened with a surprise. ’ Hobbs got out first over, being well caught by Merritt for a “duck.” With things going well, we got right down to it, but a brilliant century by Ducat changed the complexion of the game. Things were up and down in this match. The game might have gone anyhow, and it looked as though we were in for a win, but thanks to a good innings by Barling, he saved Surrey from defeat. Dempster batted well in this match and got a good hundred. This match was the best of the series. It was in the balance ail through and a splendid game ended in a draw. We next met Somerset on a bad wicket, and we enjoyed some very lively cricket with small scoring. The ball seldom rose, and when it did it fairly sat up and talked. White, of Somerset, bowled well; so did Allcott, who got five for 3. With 150 runs to win it looked a poor chance for Somerset, as Allcott was deadly. He made the ball talk, and at times he was unplayable. Somerset could muster only 67, and we won by nearly .90 runs. The batting on both sides was weak, Blunt being top scorer for us with 44. White, of Somerset, is a fine left-hand bowler, and wound up our second innings with eight for 28—a good performance.

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