MILLS ARRIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 7

MILLS ARRIVES.

"A GREAT BATSMAN. ,, Bowlers Made to Look Second Rate. DACRE HITS SIXERS. [<By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.! (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON , , May 9. The New Zealand cricketers, playing tgainst Mr. H. Martineau'e eleven at Holyport, batted first, and at the lunch adjournment had put on 149 runs without loss—Blunt 96 and Mills 48. Dacre's innings was the feature of the. afternoon's play to the tea adjournment. He scored 85 in 31 minutes, but went soon after the resumption. He hit three sixes and twelve fours. Miils soon followed Dacre. His 188 included 30 fours. His easy style and beautiful timing attracted the attention of the critics. Mills should return to New Zealand a great batsman. Blunt'e innings lasted two hours and Mills was 250 minutes at the wickets. Bernau's 41 was vigorous and included many crisp shots. At stumns the score wan SRrt f nr «;«.

av ctuuija me score was o»o ior nine wickets. STOEY OP THE PLAY. The weather and the wicket were perfect, and, despite the trickinese of Tanner's swingers, Blunt and Mills scored most rapidly, and 50 went up in 45 minutes. Blunt was driving on the leg side brilliantly, though he snicked a wide dangerously through the slips when he was 37. Mills, with easy confidence, was pulling the medium-paced straight balls as he wished. Blunt was missed by the wicketkeeper at 79. The batsmen were level pegging for a long time. Blunt brought the century up with a leg glance for four, all run out. Repeated changes of bowling failed to separate the pair, and Blunt outstripped his partner in scoring during the last half-hour before lunch. After lunch Blunt batted freely all round the wicket, and a separation was not effected till the score was 186. This is Blunt'e fourth consecutive century. Dacre and Mills were both dazzling, and made the bowling look as impotent as though their opponents were not first rankers. Scores:— NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Blunt, b Tanner 119 Page, c Tanner, b Joy 4 Dempster, c Sharp, b Hartley 42 Mills, c Wood, b Hyndson '. 188 Dacre, c Dempsey, b Martineau.... 101 Bernau, b Tanner 41 James, st Woods, b Dempsey 29 Lowry, c Wilkinson, b J0y........ 32 McGirr, run out 2 Merritt, not out 11 Henderson, not out 5 Extras 12 Total for nine wickets 586