MERRITT IN FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 124, 30 May 1927, Page 5

MERRITT IN FORM

SIX WICKETS FOR 92

MATCH AGAINST SUSSEX

HOME SIDE SCORES 316

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, 28th May.

The New Zealand cricketers commenced their match against Sussex at Brighton to-day.

Merritt, whose bowling was the feature of the match, was mainly responsible for the early batting failures in the Sussex team, the Gh ristchurch bowler^taking, in 'all, six wickets for just over 15 runs apiece. His record was quite good, having re-

gard for the free scoring of the later Sussex batsmen. Arthur Gilligan, in particular, was aggressive, and scored his 86 in 80 minutes. Gilligan's innings included a 6 and ten 4's. - The first three wickets fell quickly, but Parks and Langridge made a stand before the luncheon adjournment, and carried the total to 79 for three wieketSj Parks;then being 19 and his partner 16. The pair,'continued to add runs atfer lunch, ian^'roh'Ctheir. departure a useful partnersiip; b'y.vJurfhur Gilligan and Cox followedi >,Cox',was.dismissed just before -the tea adjournment, when the score had mounted.to 251 for seven wickets, Gilligan .then Having '46 to his credit. The 30fftmatk.w s as>,passed before Gilligai; was dispoßed of. ; Merritt then los.t:no-time-in?finishing off the innings. '■ . '•■'.'■' ~:"~ : *■".;..:;".; : . ■' ■ With the exceptioh'vof M'Girr and Merritt, the bowlers.did;not trouble the Sussex batsmen jsejibusly. Blunt had a

day off, failing to take a wicket. The New Zealanders went in twenty minutes before close of play for the day, and had scored 11 ~ runs without loss, when stumps were dfawn. The following are the detailed scores: -.'• .; Sussex. First Innings. A. H. Gilligan, b Merritt - 8 A. F. Wensley, st James,.b Merritt 21 L. R. C. Isherwood, b ,M'Girr .... 7 J. H. Parks, c Dempster, b'M'Girr 63 J.. Langridge, st James, b Merritt 37 K. A. Hollingdale, c Dacre, b Mer- ... -..■..•.:.-^v^. .:.>,....... 17. G. Cos, c Page; b M'Girr .......i 35 A. E. R. Gilligan, b Merritt 86 W. Cornf ord, b Bernau .......... 18 H. Parks, not out ..;; l L. A. Waghorn, c Allcott, b Merritt 0 Extras ...'...;....-.,....... 23 Total :.~316 Bowling Analysis.—Bernau took one wicket for 43 runs, M'Girr three for 81, Merritt six for 92, Allcott none for 37, Blunt none for 38, Lowry none for 2. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. „ R. C. Blunt, not. out ; 3 C. S. Dempster, not out 8 Total for no wickets il