NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

GOOD SCORE AT LEYTON. DEMPSTER IN FINE FORM. A DOUBLE CENTURY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Special to N.Z. Press Association.) (Received May 8, 1.15 a.m.) LONDON. May 6. The New Zealand cricketers opened their tour most auspiciously against Essex. The first day's play was a triumph for Dempster, who is the first batsman from the Dominion to score 200 runs in a single innings in first-class cricket. Mills lost his wicket shortly before luncheon to a brilliant catch by the wicket-keeper. Blunt batted stylishly until he was beaten by a leg spinner. Weir was dismissed in the same fashion. Kerr and Lowry helped Dempster to carry on, both partnerships realising more than 70 runs. Dempster was brilliant. He scored all round the wicket, and gave one of the finest displays of his career, lie batted for 320 minutes, and gave only one difficult chance in the slips, when he had made 46. The New Zealand batsmen gave an excellent display against steady bowling and fine fielding. Details of the scores are as follows: — NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Dempster, not out .. .. .. 201 Mills, c Sheffield, b Nichols >. 33 Page, lbw. b Nichols .. .. 5 Blunt, b Daer .. .. 25 Weir, b Daer ... 0 Kerr, b Daer .. .. ... t ,. ; 25 Lowry, st Sheffield, b Eastman >.„• 33 Talbot, not. out tt> . 31 Extras ... >. 10 Total for six wickets ~M K< 343 A. G. Daer, who took three of the New Zealand wickets in succession, is an amateur player who met with a good deal of success as a bowler last year, when he took 51 wickets. RESUMPTION OF PLAY. TOTAL TAKEN TO 425. LAST WICKET DOES WELL. (Received Mny 8, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. When play was resumed to-day at Leyton, the New Zealand first innings was taken to 425 runs. Dempster and Talbot continued to bat well. Dempster played down to a shooting ball from Nichols. James was dismissed cheaply, but Allcott and Merritt, in a brisk last wicket partnership, added 46 runs in 20 minutes. Daer was the most dangerous Essex bowler.