NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19730, 1 September 1927, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

MATCH AGAINST KENT. COUNTY ELEVEN BATTING. ONE WICKET FOR 43 RUNS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received September 1, 1.5 a.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Aug. 31. The New Zealand cricketers this morning commenced a match against Kent at Canterbury. The county players won the'toss and went in to bat. They have lost one wicket for 43 runs. Details are:— Hardinge, st James, b Merritt [.;« 11 Ashdown, not out .. i. •; !• < ol Woollcj", not OUt .. i.. i.»: 1 Total for one wicket Last year Kent was third in the county championship. Of 28 matches played 15 were won and two only lost. The percentage of points was 65.71. The match against Australia was drawn. The best player was H. T. Hardinge, who had a batting average of over 50 and a bowling average of 18.71. He scored seven centuries. Other prominent players were A. P. F. Chapman, who captained England in the last test match which the Australians were defeated, vVoolley, Ashdown and Hobble, the wicket-keeper. Freeman has bi'.en howling well this season. The captain this year is A. J- Evans, a former Oxford University captain. REDUCING LOSS ON TOUR. TWO MATCHES IN DOMINION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday.. It is now clear, according to a cablegram which the New Zealand Cricket Council has received from Mr. D. Hay, the manager of the New Zealand team, that the English tour is going t-o result in a heavy loss. This has been caused largely by continuous wet weather, resulting in so many matches being abandoned. Mr. Hay's cablegram, which gave the financial returns of the tour to date, was considered at a special meeting of the council last evening. After discussing the matter fully, the council decided that it was its duty to make a final effort to minimise the loss as much as possible. It is now proposed that, on the return of the team from England, it shall play matches in Wellington and Christchurch against the Rest of New Zealand, and the Wellington City Council and the Lancaster Park Board are to be asked to forego their usual charges for the use of the grounds for these matches, so that the returns will be as substantial as possible. The decision to play matches in Wellington and Christchurch should afford a splendid opportunity of including Bowley and Newman, as well as Badcock, in the team playing against the tourists.