BIG CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 217, 27 August 1927, Page 7

BIG CRICKET

N.Z. v. NORFOLK

COUNTY FAILS ON BAD WICKET

MERRITT’S DAY OUT.

(By Cable —Press Assn. — Copyright.)

(Received 27, 9.30 a.m.) London, Aug. 26. Th© New Zealanders began a match with Norfolk, another second-class county, at Norwich to-day. They won the toss but on looking at the wicket, which had suffered severely after the recent rains, decided to put the county in. This policy was amply justified seeing that eight wickets fell for 80 before lunch.

Colman was unlucky enough to be beaten by Allcott from the first ball of the day and then Merritt dismissed three more batsmen in quick succession. Page got Stevens caught at short leg 'in his first over and thus half of the side were out within an hour for less than 50. Nichols did a little better and Low made a short stand with R. Bought, but Merritt got the latter with the last ball before lunch.

The young slow bowler had the most devastating spell he has experienced during the tour and had all the batsmen in trouble. The innings was finished off in 100 minutes. WICKET IMPROVES. When the New Zealanders went in die wicket was improving but only enough at first to permit runs being obtained slowly. The bowling also kept a good length and by the tea adjournment the score was one for 54. After the fall of the third wicket Blunt and Dacre completely mastered the attack, though it included Falcon, who had long been one of England’s best amateur bowlers. Both men hit merrily and have so far put on 158 for their partnership. Dacre. who had nearly reached the century when stumps were drawn, hit three sixers. Details :—

NORFOLK. First Innings.

Colman, b Allcott 0 Lord, st Lowry b Merritt o Coldham, b Merritt 9 Falcon, c McGirr h Merritt 2 Stevens e McGirr b Page 5 Nichols, b Merritt 18 B. Rought, c Cunningham b Page 4 Low ,b Henderson 20 R. Rought, b Merritt It Mower, l.b.w. b Merritt 12 Williamson, not out 2 Extras j 16 Total lot

Bowling Analysis Allcott I for 16. McGirr 0 for 4. Merritt 6 for 34, Blunt 0 for 21. Page 2 for 7, Henderson 1 for 6.

NEW ZEALAND, First Innings.

Page, b Mower 17 -McGirr, l.b.w. b Nichols 26 Mills, b Falcon 32 Blunt, not out 79 Dacre, not out 93 Extras ’. ’. ’ \ 12

Total for three wickets ... 259

ENGLISH COUNTY GAMES.

SUSSEX BEATS LANCASHIRE.

(Received 27, 11.40 a.m.)

London, Aug. 26. Ram interfered with most of the cricket matches. Kent in the first innings made 199 for three wickets and declared (J. Bryan 60. Woolley 66). Middlesex, in the first innings, made 46 for three. This is not counted for the championship. Yorkshire in the first innings made 249 for five and declared (Leyland 127). Essex in the first innings made 128 for five. The game was drawn. • Lancashire in the first innings made 99 (Browne took four for 29) and in the second 76 (Browne took four for 21 and Tate six for 26). Sussex in the first innings made 371 (Holdsworth 159, A. E. Gilligan 103). Sussex won by an innings and 196 runs. Foi Worcester against Gloucester, Root took six for 75 and for Gloucester Parker took seven for 38. Gloucester won.

For Notts against Glamorgan Barratt too kfive for 47. Notts won.— (A.P.A. and “Sun” cable.)

EXCITING RACE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

(Received 27, 11.40 a.m.) There is an exciting race for the cricket championship as a result of to-day’s play, Lancashire, previously unbeaten, headed the list with Notts second. Lancashire’s heavy defeat combined with Notts’ outright win gives thegives the following percentages. Notts 69.23, Lancashire 68.98. When Notts met Lancashire in the middle of August the cricketing public hoped for a decisive encounter, but met with great disappointment when rain saved Lancashire from certain defeat.

Most cricketers seem to sympathise with Notts, which, like Yorkshire, only plays men born in the couhty, whereas the Australian, MacDonald, is a tower of strength to Lancashire. When Notts’ captain learned to-day that Lancashire had been beaten by Sussex, he immediately declared with a view to forcing a win.—(Sydney “Sun" cable.)