ALL TEN WICKETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 9

ALL TEN WICKETS.

MERCER'S FINE FEAT.

Unique Performance by Voce

and Larwood,

SUTCLIFFE SCORES 202

United Press Association.—Copyright,

(Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON", July 31,

Playing on the Worcester ground, for Glamorgan against Worcestershire, John Mercer took all 10 wickets for 51 runs.

The feat had only t>een performed in England once since 1032, by T. B. Mitchell for Derbyshire against Leicestershire last season.

In the course of the Xotts v. Kent match, at Irent Bridge, IT, Larwood and W. Voce each reached 100 wickets for the season in the second innings of the visitors.

Herbert Suteliffe, who did not appear in the lest trial in June, or either of the international games against the Indians, made 202 for Yorkshire against Middlesex, at Scarborough. In the same innings M. Leyland also got a century.

Results and principal performances in the series of county matches, which began on Wednesday:—

Middlesex: First innings, 127 (Smailes seven for 72); second, 172 (Bowes five for 42). Yorkshire: First innings, 409 (Sutcliffe 202, Leyland 107). Yorkshire won by an innings and 170 runs.

Kent: First innings, 415 (Aslidown 101); second, 143 (Voce four for 70, Larwood six for 04). Xotts: First innings, 283 (Hardstaff 78); second, 181 (Wright six for 72). Kent won on the first innings.

Northamptonshire: First innings. 100 (Timms 97 not out; Tate five for 00); second, five for 105. Sussex: First innings, 231 (Partridge seven for 78). Sussex won on the first innings.

Worcestershire: First innings, 143 (Mercer 10 for 51); second, five for 163, declared. Glamorgan: First innings, 151 (Howorth four for 31); second, four for 50. Glamorgan won on the first innings. Lancashire: First innings, 08 (Herman four for 21, Boyes six for 10); second, 00 (Creese eight for 37). Hampshire: First innings, 143 (Hopwood five for 10, Booth five for 51); second, two for 55. Hampshire won by eight wickets.

Mercer, a medium-paced right-arm bowler has taken 100 wickets in a season eight times. He was out of action for most of the 1934 season, when his tally was 41. His performance against the Australians for Glamorgan have been: 1920, five for 74 and none for 52; 1930, three for 70 and none for -15; 1934, four for 91 and none for 36.

The taking of all ten wicktes in an innings in first-class cricket was first performed by W. Clarke for Notts against Leicestershire in 1845. Altogether there are 45 cases on record. A. I'. Freeman (Kent) leads the way, three times; the only other player to take all the wickets more than once is H. Verity (Yorkshire). Three Australians were successful against county teams: W. P. Howell, v. Surrey, 1899; A. A. Mailey, v. Gloucestershire, 1921; C. V. Grimmett, v. Yorkshire, 1930. The mast recent effort by an Australian was by T. W. Wall for South Australia against New South Wales, in 1932-33.

The classic New Zealand example was by A. E. Mess, probably the fastest bowler ever seen in this country. Playing for Canterbury against Wellington, at Christchurch in 1889-90. his analysis was: 22 overs, 10 maidens, 28 runs, 10 wickets. He took three for 44 in the second innings, and Canterbury won by 39 runs.

In a minor game in Australia, F. R. Spofforth _ (the "Demon") bowled down all ten wickets in each innings.