VIVE VIVIAN!

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1931, Page 5

VIVE VIVIAN!

BRILLIANT 100 AGAINST YORKS A RUN A MINUTE (Special to Press Association.) HARROGATE, July 8. The New Zealand cricketers commenced tho match against Yorkshire in overcast weather. The wicket was easy. New Zealand omitted Cromb, Mills and Kerr. Yorkshire: Holmes, Mitchell, Oldroyd, Leyland, Greenwood, Barber, Wood, Dennis, Fisher, Macauley and Verity. Sutcliffe is 4 resting in view of forthcoming important county matches. Dempster and Weir started slowly against, the right medium bowling of Macauley and Dennis, and against the left-handers Verity and Fisher. Dempster batted attractively until he was caught behind the wicket in attempting a cut.

Brilliant batting by Vivian placed New Zealand in a. good position before rain during the tea interval, which caused an abandonment of play for the day.

Blunt, who was bowled in the last over before lunch, showed good form. He hit four fours in one over off Verity.

Vivian started brightly, after lunch, hitting Verity out of the ground with a magnificent, leg shot. Weir was sound and unruffled until ho inf. out. to a full toss from Fisher and was bowled.

Meanwhile, Vivian completely collored the bowling, playing delightful shots all round the wicket. He scored 101 out of 138 in a hundred minutes. He was caught in the slips off a mishit. Despite an early chance, it was one of the most, a ttractive innings of the tour to date. He hit four sixes and twelve fours. The Yorkshire bowling was never difficult. Vivian and Blunt played Verity’s left-handed spinners with the utmost confidence. The Yorkshire fielding was excellent. The attendance was six thousand. Scores: NEW ZEALAND, First Innings. Dempster, c Wood, b Verity .. 4G Blunt, b Macauley . .. . . 22 Weir, b Fisher .. .. .. 50 Vivian, c Mitchell, b Verity .. 101 Page, not. out .. .. .. 10 Talbot, not out .. .. - ■ *1 Extras 14 Total for 4 wickets 247 DATES OF TESTS. LONDON, July 8. The correct dates of the Test matches between England and New Zealand are: At Manchester, July 29; at the Oval, August 15. The “Daily Telegraph” says: An acknowledgment, of New Zealand’s’ cricket prowess is implied in the new Tests, and this will be heartily applauded. The Tests will be welcomed, also, because they will help in building up England’s team against the redoubtable Australians, our “dearest foes." There are problems to he solved in batting as well as in howling.

“CONSIDERABLE COMPLIMENT.”

LONDON, July 8.

Mr. Donnelly says the New Zealand Cricket Council was originally offered ono test, which they gladly accepted. After the magnificent showing at Lords, the offer of two more tests was again readily accepted, being regarded as a. considerable compliment to New Zealand cricket.

MR. D. REESE INTERVIEWED.

GISBORNE, July 8.

Mr. D. Reese, the well-known New Zealand cricket authority, in the course of an interview, to-night, said that he considered two more tests a distinct compliment to New Zealand cricket, and particularly pleasing since they were not asked for. Personally, he was exceptionally pleased with the performance;; of the team, which had exceeded tho most optimistic expectations. Only one test was sought by the New Zealand Council originally, since the view was held that, should there be a great disparity in the strengths of the two sides, it was better that, there should be only one disastrous game for New Zealand, rather than three, as was the case with the West Indies team, who were overwhelmingly defeated in the three tests. The financial side in relation to the extra, tests was also very important, Mr. Reese poitned out, for it meant that tho losses caused by rain interference so far should bo wiped out, and funds made available for the fuller development of the game in the Dominion. All tho benefits was not, however, on the side of the tourists, for the games would provide the Old Country with opportunities to build up a side for its next series of matches against Australia, which was a very important consideration indeed.

OXFORD DEFEATS CAMBRIDGE.

LONG DELAYED TRIUMPH.

LONDON, July 8

Cambridge, second 122 (Wellings 5 for 25). Oxford, second, 2 for 55. Oxford won by eight wickets. This is Oxford's first win since 1923.