DOMINION CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19799, 21 November 1927, Page 12

DOMINION CRICKETERS.

PLAY STOPPED BY STORM. NEW ZEALAND'S GOOD LEAD. BATTING NOT IMPRESSIVE. * [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The cricket match between the New Zealand team and The Rest was again marred by rain to-day. Play was resumed this morning in warm sunshine, although the wicket and outfield were still slow and uncertain after the recent rain. Play went on under pleasant conditions until about half-past three o'clock whp.n the temperature dropped and heavy storm clouds gathered. At 4.15, when the tea adjournment was taken, rain began, and for an hour a downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, soaked the less fortunate spectators not in stands. Further play was out of the question, oven though the sun came out shortly after five o'clock and play was abandoned for the day. The batting display of the New Zealand side, although superior to that of The Rest, was still not impressive. Much of this failure of the batsmen to reproduce brilliance must be attributed to the condition of the wicket. Lowry and Dempster resumed batting to the bowling of Newman and McEwin. Runs came slowly, the batsmen playing themselves in, and when Road took over from McEwin the scoring rate still did not rise above a run a minute. The century was reached in 65 minutes, 69 runs having been scored. The pair was still unbeaten at luncheon, and eventually the score was raised to 169 before the partnership was broken. This happened when McEwin, who seemed to bowl without any luck, knocked down Lowry's middle stump. AUcott's Vigorous Display. j Blunt came in, but soon lost Dempster, who played on a ball from Read. 173—4 —77. Page followed, and with Blunt seemed to have got the pace of the wicket safely when he, too, pulled a ball from Read on to his wicket. 205—5—10. Allcott, who followed, was vigorous, attacking anything loose, and his scoring rate was rather faster than any other batsman's. However, he was not quite as safe. He gave a chance behind the wickets off Read, which was dropped by Boon. He had another " life " at 20. when he gave a chance to Langridge off Badcock in the slips. The ball actually hit the fieldsman on the chest, but he fumbled it. Cunningham was given his second try with the ball, and showed that the accounts of his almost complete loss of bowling form were only too true. He wa3 often badly off the wicket and his length was erratic. He was relieved by Massev after a few expensive overs, and this change was effective, for the young bowler dismissed Allcott by catching him brilliantly off his seventh delivery. McGirr played confidently and looked like staying, while Blunt, who had been playing stylish cricket, scored many more runs. Unfortunately, however, a misunerstanding between the pair saw Blunt trapped half-way up the pitch. Blunt Run Out. Blunt cailed and MGirr began to run. McEwin, at cover, stopped a fast ball, but dropped it to his feet. When Blunt set out on his run the fieldsman picked the ball up in a flash and returned it to Boon, who broke the wicket while Blunt was yards out. There never had been a run in the shot Blunt had scored 48, and seven wickets were down for 283. James and McGirr carried on until the tea adjournment, raising the score to 292. The bowling had not been remarkable at any stage, but the batsmen had never really mastered it. Even Lowy and Dempster had been very respectful of it, and Blunt had also treated it with care. Read kept the best length and got his reward by taking two wickets, the only bowler to achieve this modest feat on the day. Badcock and McEwin, the former by varying his pace, and the latter by varying the break, often had tho batsmen puxzled, but they were never masters of tho situation. J Details are:— THE REST. First innings * . . 141 NEW ZEALAND. —First Innings. C. Oliver, b Badcck 3 J. Mills, c F°ley, b Newman .. 0 C. S. Dempster, b Read . .. 77 T. C. Lowry, b McEwin .. ~ 78 M. L. Page, b Read 10 C. F. Allcott, c and b Massey .. 36 R. C. Blunt, run out 48 11. M. McGix-r, not out . * .. 12 K. C. James, not out .. . . 2 Extras . . .. * / .. 26 Total for seven wickets . * . . 292

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday At the annual meoting of the New Zealand Cricket Council the following officers were elected :—Patron, the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson; president, Mr. H. F. Arkwright; vice-presidents, the presidents of affiliated associations; management committee, Messrs. D. Reese, J. S. Barrett, E. R. Caygill, A. T. Donnelly and H. M. Taylor; treasurer, i Mr. W. H. Winsor; auditor, A. E. | Byrne. Mr. Arthur Sims was elected a life member. Mr. Donnelly said Mr. Sims had been tho ambassador of the council for years in Australia and England. It was decided to record in the minutes appreciation of the services of Mr. D. Hay, manager of the New Zealand team on tour, and Mr. T. C. Lowry, tho captain. The New Zealand team was tendered a welcome by the council at the luncheon interval in the match yesterday. Mr. E. Hentbcote Williams proposed thg health of tho team and the toast was supported by the Mayor of Christchurcb, the Rev. ,T" K. Archer, and Mr. D. Reese, Mr. Lowry. responding, said that if he had any mission to perform it was to urge unswerving loyalty to tho M.C.C. It would have been better had that body been consulted before the tour. .