DEMPSTER 201 NOT OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 11

DEMPSTER 201 NOT OUT

NEW ZEALAND 343 FOR 6

START IN ESSEX MATCH

United Press Association—By Electric Tclo-

graph—Copyright. (Received 7th May, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, 6lh May

The New Zealand cricketrrs opened their lour most auspiciously, tlie first day's play of the match with Essex at Leyton being a triumph for Dempster, who is die first batsman of the Dominion to make a score of 200 in a single innings in first-class cricket. To the day's total of 343 runs for six wickets, Dempster contributed 201 and was unbeaten at stumps. The weather was fine, but there was a small attendance.

The teams were: New Zealand: Dempster, Mills, Kerr, Blunt, Page, Lowry, Weir, Talbot, Allcott, Jaiues, ana Merrifct. Essex: Morris, Bray, Daer, O'Connor, Nichols, Cutmore, Hipkin, Pope, Sheffield, Eastman, and Smith. . ;

New Zealand won the toss, and Mills and Dempster opened confidently. The first hour's play yielded 71 runs, Dempster making 40 and Mills 29. Mills lost his wicket shortly before lunch to a brilliant catch by the wicket-keeper. Blunt batted-stylishly until beaten by a leg spinner. . Weir was dismissed in the same way. ' Kerr and Lowry each helped Dempster to carry on, both partnerships realising over seventy runs.

Dempster was brilliant, scoring all around the wicket and giving ono of the finest displays of his career. He was at the wickets for 320 minutes,.and gave only ono chance—a difficult one in the slips when his score was 46. The Now Zealand batsmen gave an excellent display against steady bowling, and fine fielding. ■

Details: —

NEW ZEALAND, First Innings. ,

Dempster, not out Mills, c Sheffield, b Nichols . Page.lbw, b Nichols ....... Blunt, b Daer Weir, b Daor' ............... Kcrr, b Daer Lowry, st Sheffield, b Eastman Talbot, not out 'Extras .'<i

Total for six wickets