NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

LEICESTERSHIRE MATCH.

FINE START AGAIN MADE.

FOUR WICKETS FOR 334. BIG OPENING PARTNERSHIP. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Special to N.Z. Press Association.) (Received Mnv 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. May. 9. The New Zealand cricketers to-day commenced a three days' match against Leicestershire at Leicester. The visitors again started well, occupying the wicket all day and scoring 334 for four wickets. The weather was fine and the wicket in good condition. The attendance totalled 6000.

Matheson, Vivian and Allcott were omitted from the New Zealand team. The Leicestershire team comprised Dawson, Shipman, Berry, Armstrong, Riley, Bradshaw, Astill, Coleman, Geary, Sidwell and Snary.

Lowry won the toss and sent in Dempster and Mills, who gave their side a great start, scoring 172 for the first wicket. Mills played a delightful, chanceless innings for 67 before ho was bowled in attempting to hook one from Snavy, Dempster struck his best form and appeared to be set for another century, but was trapped leg before by Astill eight short of that figure. Pago and Blunt also batted steadily. Blunt scored well through cover. He also was out leg before for 44. Kerr was more restrained than usual, nor did Page adopt forcing tactics. The Leicestershire bowlers appeared to be moro intent upon checking the scoring than getting tho New Zealanders out. The ball generally was pitched just short of a good length. The batsmen were undaunted by Geary's test match reputation. Keen fielding assisted to keep the runs down. Details of the score are:— NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Dempster, lbw, b Astill ~ . . 92 Mills, b Snary .' . . 67 Blunt, lbw, b Snary . < .. . . 44 Page, not out . . k k , 68 Kerr, b Snary . , h .■ . . . 24 Weir, not out ■. * . v . 7 Extras . * . . . . . 32 Total for four wickets t .■ v . 334 Leicestershire were not so successful last year as in 1929, and won only four of 31 matches, and lost 10, finishing 12th in the championship. The former captain, Mr. E. W. Dawson, played in few matches, and was a great loss to the team. His place was taken by Mr. J. A. do Lisle. Astell again did well, and scored 1010 runs and took 106 wickets, while Geary headed the bowling averages with 89 wickets for 18.83 runs each. Snary, who spins from leg, took 54 wickets.

DEFEAT OF ESSEX. MERRITT'S DEADLY BOWLING. DECISIVE VICTORY SCORED. LONDON. May S. The New Zealand cricketers' match against Essex ended at 4 p.m. to-day in a meritorious victory for the visitors by an innings and 88 runs. Sunshine followed rain and tho wicket was somewhat tricky. Merritt took full advantage of this and was helped by the batsmen's lack of enterprise. Essex were dismissed for 113.

Talbot and Weir opened the bowling, but tho attack was soon entrusted to spin bowlers and the opening batsmen were out before luncheon.

Eastman was caught in the slips off the third ball after the resumption of play. O'Connor and Nichols stemmed the tide till Page was brought on and broke the partnership. /

At this stage Merritt was the most dangerous. lie took four wickets in rapid succession, lie bowled O'Connor with a " googly." Daer improved the position by hard hitting, but it was a forlorn hope. Apart from three overs by Talbot, Merritt bowled throughout the innings. He maintained an excellent length, flighted tho ball well and masked the "googly" effectively. Tho decisive victory is regarded as a magnificent advertisement for the New Zealand side.

Following are tho details of tho scores, including those of Dempster and Talbot, in New Zealand's first innings:—

NEW ZEALAND. —First Innings. Dempster, b Nichols , . .„■ . . 212 Mills, c Sheffield, b Nichols . .. 33 Page, Ibw, b Nichols .. .•> .«■ 5 Blunt, b Daer . . 25 Weir, 1) Daer • 0 Kerr, b Daer . . . . . . . . 25 Lowrv, st Sheffield, b Eastman w-. 33 Talbot .. 21 James, Ibw, b Daer . .. 7 Allcott, b Smith . . . .. 18 Merritt, not out ..• ..• *. 35 Extras . . . v ..i . .11 1 otal . . . . v.- ». 425 ESSEX. First innings . . .. ..< .. 264 Second Innings. Culmorc, c Allcott. b Merritt .. 18 Pope, c James, b Merritt . . . . 7 O'Connor, b Merritt 23 Eastman, c Page, b Merritt ..• . . 0 Nichols, b Page . . 11 Sheffield, c and b Merritt ..• .. 3 Morris, b Blunt .. .. .. 0 Hipkin, b Merritt . . . . . 2 Daer, b Merritt . . . . .. 23 Smith, c James, b Merritt . . . 0 Bray, not out . 24 Extras ..■ ». .. .. • 2 Total .. . t .. . . . . 113 Bowling: Talbot took no wickets for 9 runs, Weir none for 5, Merritt eight for 41, Allcott none for 12, Blunt one for 39, Pago ono for' 5.