CRICKET TOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 181, 3 July 1931, Page 7

CRICKET TOUR

GAME WITH STAFFORDSHIRE. NEW ZEALANDERS APATHETIC. AFTER BRIGHT OPENING. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Special to Press Association.) Received July 3, 8.5 a.m. STOKE-ON-TRENT, July 2. The New Zealand cricketers commenced their match against Staffordshire in fine weather. New Zealand batted first and scored 190. ’When stumps were drawn for the day Staffordshire had scored 78 for the loss of four wickets. The teams are as follow:

New Zealand: Allcott, Page, Demp ster, Kerr, Vivian, Talbot, Merritt. Matheson, Blunt, Cromb, Weir.

Staffordshire: Homer, Bickerton, Heath, Yates, Lee, Wilkie, Ellerker. Cross, Taylor, Barnes and Lockett. Page won the toss - and New Zealand lost three wickets early to Barnes, the famous ex-England bowler, and Taylor. The New Zealand cricketers did not appear to exert themselves greatly against Staffordshire, the only match of the tour to date which does not rank as first class.

The batsmen -were unable to take many liberties with the steady attack and they were mostly dismissed in attempting to force the pace.

Barnes, with two wickets for 58 runs, still maintained control of his length and spin. He bowled Talbot round his pads. Matheson and Cromb bowled well at the start of the Staffordshire innings, three wickets falling for nine runs, \ T ates being bowled by one of Merritt’s faster deliveries.

Homer and Heath improved the position by good batting and New Zealand s attack appeared to slacken somewhat after the early success.

Prince George arrived in the morning and met the players on the field. He presented the New Zealanders with pieces of Staffordshire pottery. Fololwing are the detailed results:— NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, st Cross, b Barnes ... 41 Kerr, b Taylor S Vivian, c Lockett, b Taylor 15 Talbot, b Barnes - Allcott. c Lee, b Ellerker 34 Cromb, st Cross, b Lee 32 Weir, st Cross, b Lee 19 Blunt, Ibw, 1) Lockett 12 Merritt, e Ellerker, b Lee 16 Page, b Lockett - Matheson, not out 1 Extras 8 Total 19 ( > Bowling analysis: Barnes 2 for 73; Taylor 2 for 40; Lockett 2 for 20; Ellerker 1 for 16; Ivce 3 for 33. STAFFORDSHIRE. First Innings. Bickerton, b Matheson f> Barnes, c Cromb, b Matheson ... 0 Yates, b Merritt ... 12 Wilkie, b Cromb 1 Homer, not out 2S Heath, not out 31 Extras 3 Total for four wickets <8 ADDITIONAL TESTS. CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN. THE OVAL AND MANCHESTER. SUGGESTED. Received July 3, 12.35 p.m. LONDON, July 2. The Board of Control and the County Committee are meeting on July 7 to consider additional Tests against New Zealand—at the Oval on July 29 and at Manchester on August 15.