COUNTY’S OPENING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 221, 15 June 1931, Page 9

COUNTY’S OPENING

New Zealand’s Bowling Lacks Usual Sting A. FINE DAY AT LAST Dy Telegraph—Prees Assn.—Copyright. (Re©. June 14, 5.5 p.m.). Derby, June 13. The New Zealand cricketers commenced their match against Derbyshire in glorious summer weather. The wicket was easy and the attendance totalled 4500. The teams were:— New Zealand.—G. L. Weir, J. E. Mills, H. G. Vivian, A. M. Matheson, T. C. Lowry, C. S. Dempster, K. C. James, W. E. Merritt, J. L. Kerr, I. B. Cromb, R. C. Blunt. Derbyshire.—Storer, Smith, Aiderman, Townsend, Worthington, Ford, Walker, Slater, Richardson, Elliott, Mitchell. Lowry’s Generalship. Lowry lost the toss. : Derby’s innings was notable for the sound batting of Worthington and Townsend. The New Zealand bowling was not quite up to standard, but was admirably handled by Lowry. Matheson developed pace occasionally and bowled Storer with a beautiful ball which came in sharply from the off. Cromb evidently was feeling the ef-

fects of the prolonged spell in the Gloucester match, while Merritt and Blunt were inconsistent. Weir was perhaps the steadiest. Smith and Aider man both played a useful innings Townsend was dismissed after lunch with a brilliant lefthanded catch by Dempster at third

slip. Worthington’s Innings. Worthington played an exceedingly solid innings, but keen fielding robbed him of several boundaries from powerful drives. After tea Vivian dismissed the talk He developed his real spin for the first time on the tour. New Zealand batted for ninety minutes, scoring 89 for three wickets. Dempster hit eleven in the first over off Slater, but in the second over was caught behind. Mills went out l.b.w. to the first ball of Mitchell’s, the leg-break bowler. Blunt made 50 in 70 minutes. Although he gave two chances, it was a valuable innings. Weir and Lowry played out time. Details:— DERBYSHIRE. First Innings. Storer, b. Matheson 9 Smith, 1.b.w., b. Cromb 26 Alderman, c. James, b. Blunt 28 Townsend, e. Dempster, b. Matheson .. 40 Worthington, not out 60 Ford, b. Merritt 5 Walker, e. Matheson, b. Merritt 2 Sinter, c. Cromb, b. Weir 23 Richardson, run out 5 Elliott, b. Vivian 8 Mitchell, c. Blunt, b. Vivian 6 Extras 18 Total 230 Bowling Analysis.—Matheson took two wickets for 49 runs; Cromb, one for 34; Merritt, two for GT; Blunt, one for 20; Weir, one for 20; Vivian, two for 4. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, c. Elliott, b. Slater 14 Mills, 1.b.w., b. Mitchell 6 Blunt, c. Mitchell 50 Weir, not out 13 Lowry, not out 2 Extras 2 Total for three wickets 80

GLOUCESTER MATCH Visitors Manage to Draw SCARCELY A FAIR TEST Gloucester, June 12. After an eventful day’s cricket New Zealand managed to draw with Gloucestershire. The pace was forced after lunch, when the wicket, comineneing to dry, became sticky and almost ideal for Parker and Goddard, Gloucestershire’s famous bowlers. When the match was resumed the weather had cleared, but the wicket was fairly dead. Fine bowling by Cromb and Merritt allowed the visitors to dismiss Gloucestershire for 132. Hammond made a better showing, hut was unable to play Cromb with confidence. Stephens batted soundly. Cromb swung the ball well and had thirty overs, fourteen of which were maidens. After lunch New Zealand was dismissed for 89. Even Dempster was lucky in reaching 37. Hammond and Sinfield gave sound displays in Gloucestershire’s second innings, which was declared closed with the total at 86 for four wickets. The use of a heavy roller between the innings improved the wicket. The New Zealand team was left with 90 minutes in which to score 130 for victory. Parker and Goddard were again difficult, the former securing his one-hun-dredth wicket of the season in dismissing Dempster. New Zealand had made 65 runs for the loss of six wickets when stumps were drawn. Lowry and Blunt defended soundly. Gloucestershire had the honours of the game. With play practically confined to a single day it was hardly a fair test. Nine l.b.w. decisions against New Zealand were a disappointing feature. Details:— GLOUCESTERSHIRE. First Innings. Dipper, c. Lowry, b. Cromb 21 Slnfleld. c. Lowry, b. Cromb 19 Hammond, 1.b.w.. b. Cromb 47 Neale, c. and b. Cromb 3 Daere, e. and b. Blunt 5 Stephens, not out IS Barnett, b. Blunt Smith, c. Page, b. Cromb 0 Rogers, st. Janies, b. Merritt 0 Parker, c. Lowry, b. Merritt 0 Goddard, e. Dempster, b. Merritt .... 4 Extras 3 Total 132 Bowling Analysis.—Cromb took flvewicirets for 42 runs: Weir, none for 10; Merritt, three for 28: and Blunt, two for 54. Second Innings. Dipper, e. Lowry, l>. Merritt 6 Slnfleld. not out 29 Hammond, 1.b.w., b. Cromb 28 Dacro. c. Blunt, b. Weir 12 Barnett, c. Cromb, b. Weir 0 Extras 11 Total for four wickets 86 (Innings declared closed.) Bowling Analysis—Cromb took one wicket

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for ST runs; Merritt, one for 24; Blunt, none for 6; and Weir, two for 8. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Cromb, c. Stephens, b. Parker T Dempster, 1.b.w., b. Parker 8< Mills, c. Hammond, b. Parker ...... 3 Blunt, 1.b.w., b. Goddard 2 Page, b. Parker •••»••• 1* Talbot, 1.b.w., b. Parker 2 Lowry, b. Goddard 1 Weir, not out 8 Vivian, st. Smith, b. Goddard .......... S James, 1.b.w., b. Goddard 0 Merritt, 1.b.w., b. Parker ...', 3 Extras 7 Total «) Bowling Analysis.—Slnfleld took no wickets for 2 runs; Rogers, none for S: Hammond. none for 2; Goddard, four for 36; Parker, six for 34. Second Innings. Dempster, c. Rogers, b. Parker 4 Mills, b. Goddard 9 Weir, 1.b.w., b. Goddard S Page, 1.b.w., b. Goddard ...,...,vr. 0 Blunt, 1.b.w., b. Goddard A.'.... 26 Lowry, not out 13 Cromb, 1.b.w., b. Parker ; 0 Talbot, not out ....,• 0 Extras 5 Total for six wickets 65 Bowling Analysis.—Slnfleld took no wickets for 9 runs; Hammond, none for 2; Goddard, four for 21; Parker, two for 28. JARDINE’S ABILITY London Critic Has Doubts London, June 12. “I suppose the selectors are thinking really more about 1932 than New Zealand,” writes M. D. Lyon, in the “Daily Mail,’’ criticising Jardine’s selection. “Has Jardine the personality for a Test captain?” asks Lyon. "He is quiet, cool, and determined, but uninspiring, and it is doubtful whether he would get 100 per cent, value from the field. “Whether the selectors are justified in giving him the captaincy in a three-day Test, when obviously all they have in their minds is to find a captain for Australia, it is of great psychological importance that England should beat New Zealand decisively. . I query whether Jardine is the man to do it.” COUNTY MATCH RESULTS London, June 12, County cricket was again affected by rain all over the country. Results:—. Middlesex v. Worcestershire, at Lord’s. —Worcester 194 (Peebles five for 6S), and 202 for live wickets, declared (Nichol 116. Gibbons 53); Middlesex 250 (Hearne 68. Foot five for 66). Middlesex won on the first innings. Kent v. Nortluuits, at Tonbridge.— Kent 331 (Woolley 168, Matthews five for 79) ; Northants 134 (Freeman six for 68). second 79 (Freeman six for 26. Watt four for 44). Kent won by an innings and 118 runs. Sussex v. Glamorgan, at Brighton.—Sussex 226 for nine, declared (Cook 67), and 36 for one. Glamorgan 141 (Wensley five for 45). Sussex won on the first innings. Notts v. Essex, at Nottingham.—Notts 295 (Carr 75), and 246 for four, declared (Keeton not out 100, Carr 67); Essex 228 (Pearce 78) and 211 (Cutniore 53, Arthur Staples five for 47). Notts won by 102 runs. Lancashire v. Hampshire, at Southampton. —Lancashire 157 for four (Iddon not out 51); Hampshire 112 (R. TyMosley seven for 57). Lancs won on the first, innings. * Cambridge University v. Leicester, at Cambridge.—Cambridge 126 (Snnry seven for 31), and 191 (Hunan 67, Geary seven for 57); Leicester 203 (Browne seven for 59) and 115 for five. Leicester won by five wickets. GENTLEMEN v. PLAYERS London. June 12. The Gentlemen v. Players match was drawn. Players, 329 and 135 for three (declared). Gentlemen, 205 (Wellard five foy 45) and 94 for tbrMr