DOMINION CRICKETERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 6

DOMINION CRICKETERS.

EARLY FORM MAINTAINED. HONOURS IN DRAWN MATCHES SUCCESS OF NEW BOWLERS. POPULARITY AND HOSPITALITY. BY O. S. HINTZ, Special Correspondent with the Team. LONDON. May 15. Although during tlio past week the New Zealand cricketers have been unable to ; repeat their Leyton performance, they have had considerably the better of matters in drawn games with Leicestershire and Hampshire. What is more important, they are giving every indication of developing team balance and settling down into a very compact side. Providing that all the players keep fit and maintain their form, it is nob going to bo an easy matter to decide which three will stand down for some of the harder matches ahead.

Against Leicestershire New Zealand held the upper hand throughout and narrowly missed turning a drawn game into a victory, although, if the visitors had done so, it would have been in a large measure due to Dawson's sporting declaration at tea on the third day. Leicestershire is a strong bowling side, and it was therefore pleasing to see the New Zealanders score over 400 runs against the full strength of the county attack. Equally pleasing was the success of Cromb with the ball in Leicestershire's first innings. His five wickets for 62 in 28 overs se6 at rest any fears concerning the effects of his operation on his play. / Dempster is in rare batting form. He and Mills gave New Zealand a fine start on the first day at Leicester by putting on 173 for the first wicket. For the most part the Leicestershire bowlers concentrated on Dempster's leg stump in an effort to prevent him from scoring, but Dempster was more than equal to the occasion. Answer to Critic. After the Essex match Mr. H. J. Henley, in the Daily Mail, said the only shot Dempster seemed to lack was the on drive. The Leicestershire bowlers gave him'the opportunity of proving that Mr. Henley was wrong. During his fine innings for 92, one of Dempster s most prolific shots was the drive past mid-on, and he also scored well with powerful hooks and neat glides to leg. Dempster seemed well set for his second successive century when ho was trapped by Astill. This bowler, who is now in his s!6tli season for Leicestershire, found that he was breaking back, and immediately went on round the wicket. His first ball after changing over straightened up just enough to beat Dempster s bat and find him with his legs in front.

Mills played a delightfully graceful innings for 67, and Page, although somewhat restrained, gave an admirably sound display in scoring 103. The remaining batsmen evidently went in with instructions to get a good sight of the ball and obtain as much match practice as possible. Blunt batted very steadily for 44. Unimpressive Bowling. The Leicestershire bowling, in spite of • its reputation, was never very impressive. Most of it was of the medium-paced, right-hand order, with the occasional swinger, which has developed in England of recent years, and the bowlers seemed more keen on keeping the runs down than getting the batsmen out. Geary, the testmatch bowler, was never anything more than steady. Leicestershire's first innings was notable for Cromb's auspicious start as a bowler on English wickets. He bowled conscientiously and well, developed pace from the wicket, and turned appreciably from the off. When Leicestershire followed on next day he was not quite so dangerous, but it was obvious that he was not quite in form. One or two games after his rest in the Hampshire match should see him bowling at his best. Leicestershire's second innings was declared Closed with six wickets down for 273 and the New Zealand batsmen made a gallant effort to score the 117 runs necessary for victory in an hour. Stumps were to be drawn at 5.30. p.m. to allow the visitors to catch the train to Southampton. Merritt made a fine effort as a forcing batsman, but steady bowling nnd the'Vemorseless clock were responsible for a drawn game. Nevertheless, the team increased its popularity by the manner in which it went for the runs. In Winning Position. New Zealand was definitely in a winning position against Hampshire when rain, which set in at one o'clock on the third day, robbed the side of its chances of victory. On the opening day the New Zealand batsmen fought hard against a steady attack on a wicket which played occasional tricks and scored 271. Hampshire batted very steadily in reply, and before Boyes was run out had scored 190 for six wickets. Then came one of those amazing interludes which are always likely to hrighten cricket. Mead, the veteran Hampshire batsman, needed only three runs for the hundred which would have given him the sanif* number of first-class centuries as W. G. Grace, and placed him second only to J. B. Hobbs. One could sense his anxiety spreading to the other Hampshire players and the whole side was out without another run having been scored. New Zealand's second innings was characterised by another century by Dempster, who gave a brilliant exhibition, using his feet delightfully at times and putting plenty of power behind every shot. Dempster was 106. not out, when rain interrupted play and New Zealand was then in the lead by 242. Had a resumption been possible, it is safe to assume that Lowry would have declared. Encouraging Feature.

The game had one most encouraging feature in the success of Matheson. who bowled 26 overs, seven of them maidens, and took four wickets for 49 in Hampshire's first innings. All his wickets were clean _ bowled, and the balls with which he dismissed Kennedy and Judd were •pood enough to take the wickets of almost, any batsmen. The team is an unusually happy party on tour and Lowry, as well as being i\ brilliant captain on the field, is it thoroughly capable manager for the rest; of the time The 1927 reputation still lingers and the plavers are popula" wherever they go. Hospitality, official and unofficial, is showered on them, and it has been found impossible to accept all the invitations. The Armstrong-Siddeley Motor Company has placed a fleet of four saloon cars at. the disposal of the team for the duration of the tour and Mr. Shayle Gardiner, the New Zealand actor, has pro vided the " open sesame " for practically every London theatre. Then, again, tbe highest praise is due to Mr. H. D. Swan, representative of the New Zealand Cricket Council in England, for the arrangements lis has made for the tour.

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