MILLS MAGNIFICENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 50, 27 August 1931, Page 10

MILLS MAGNIFICENT

HALF NEW ZEALAND'S SCORE

MATCH AGAINST KENT

(United I'ross Association—By Electric Tolagraph— Copyright.) (Special to Press Association.) (Received 271h August, 10 a.m.) CANTERBURY, 26th August. A brilliant century by Mills was a feature of the day's play in the match between New Zealand and Kent. The New Zealanders, winning the toss, started well with the bat, Dempster and Mills making a good opening stand. The weather was fine, and the attendance was estimated at 6000. Tho teams are:— New Zealand: Lowry, Dempster, Mills, Weir, Blunt, Vivian, James, Allcott, Merritt, and 'Matheson. Kent: Chapman, Legge, Hardinge, F. E. Woolley, Ames, Todd, Ashdown, Levett, Valentine, Freeman, and Marriott. Early in New Zealand's innings, Freeman was compelled to retire through being struck on the shoulder when attempting to stop a powerful pull by Mills. Dempster was dismissed shortly before lunch, when he skied a catch to point. Weir was run out after lunch through failing to start quickly. Blunt and Vivian were caught in the slips, and the score then was 161 for four wickets. A valuable partnership between Mills and Lowry added 80 runs for tho fifth wicket before Lowry was caught in the "gully" in attempting to drive a ball that was going away. Meanwhile Mills was playing all tho bowling with ease and confidence. In a delightful exhibition of stylish batting his driving, hooking, and cutting ■were superb. He was bowled in attempting to pull a straight ball. Mills batted for four hours, and his score included 23 fours. He gave one difficult chance—when his score was 145. Page batted steadily, but the others were disappointing. Kent batted for ten minutes. The batting order was changed, and, Matheson, bowling with considerable pace, captured two wickers. Details:— NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, c Ashdown, b Marriott 34 Mills, b Marriott 163 Weir, run out 8 Blunt, c Woolley, b Hardinge .... 9 Vivian, c Woolley, ,b Hardingo .. 14 Lowry, c Chapman, b Ashdown .. 34 Page, not out 26 James, b Hardinge ....' 8 Matheson, st Levett, b Marriott . 1 Merritt, c Levett, b Marriott .... 8 Allcott, c Tj>dd, b Marriott 17 Extras 4 Total 326 •Bowling Analysis.—Ashdown took one wicket for 63 runs, Freeman none for 29, Marriott five for 102, Hardinge three for 83, Woolley none for 21, and Ames none for 24. KENT. First Innings. Ashdown, not out 4 Levett, b Matheson .•....-.. 0 Marriott, b Matheson ...• 0 Extras >i#- q Total for two wickets 4