NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20959, 24 August 1931, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS

RETURN AGAINST ESSEX.

GOOD SCORE BY VISITORS.

LOWRY MAKES FINE CENTURY.

DEMPSTER GETS EIGHTY-EIGHT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Special to N.Z. Press Association.) LONDON, August 22." The New Zealand cricketers commenced their return match with Essex today in fine weather. They batted first and scored 360 for the loss of eight wickets. Lowry scored a fine century, while Dempster again showed what a consistent batsman he is by making 88. The attendance was 5000. Allcott, James and Blunt were omitted from the New Zealand side, the teams being as follows: New Zealand. Essex. Lowry. Pope. Dempster. Eastman. Weir. Crabtree. Vivian. O'Connor. Page. Bray. Cromb. Nichols. Merritfc. Franklin. Kerr. Wykes. Matheson. Sheffield. Talbot. Da.er. Mills. Smith.

The wicket was easy, although an occasional bail kept low. Lowry won the toss and Dempster and Weir gave New Zealand a good start before Weir was beaten by Nichols. The score was then 81 for one wicket.

Dempster was bowled by a shooter from Smith when he appeared set for a century. His was a typically steady exhibition of scoring shots all round the wicket. He was in for 177 minutes and hit seven fours and a magnificent straight drive for six off Eastman. Lowrv and Talbot added 144 for the sixth wicket in a hundred minutes. Talbot played a fine, steady innings, leaving his captain to force the pace. He was caught in the outfield when one short of his half-century. Lowry gave a brilliant display of studied aggression. He hit with extraordinary power. His hooks and cover drives were excellent. He was caught right on the fine leg boundary off a short ball from Nichols. He was in for 151 minutes and hit 13 fours. The Essex bowling was never dangerI ous. Nichols kept a steady length. | Eastman retired after the tea adjournment with an injured hand. Following are the scores: — NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings. Dempster, b Smith . - ..• . • • • 88 | Weir, b Nichols 34 | Kerr, b Nichols . . . . ■ < • . • • 7 i Page, lbw. b Daer • • 22 Vivian, c Daer, b Eastman ...... 5 Lowry, c Bray, b Nichols . . ..■ . . 129 Talbot, c Pope., b O'Connor .. . . 49' Mills, not out •• .. . • 9 I Matheson, b Nichols . . ... .. -. 0 Merritt, not out . . . . . . • • • 3 Extras v. •. . 14 Total for eight wickets s .. . . 360 DEFEAT OE NOEEOLK. INNINGS AND 62 RUNS. GOOD AVERAGES FOR BOWLERS. , NORWICH, August 22. The New Zealand cricketers gained an easy victory over Norfolk by an innings and 62 runs. The County followed on and collapsed against the accurate bowling of Matheson, Cromb and Merritfc. The innings lasted 85 minutes. Matheson was favoured by the first really fast wicket of the tour and bowled at genuine express pace. Against better batsmen he would probably have secured better figures, as more catches would have gone to the slips. The wicket also suited Merritt, who maintained a steady length, spun the ball sharply, and disguised his googly effectively. The attendance yesterday was 5000, a record for the ground. 10-day s attendance was 2000. Following are the scores:— NEW ZEALAND. First innings • • • 225 NORFOLK. —First Innings. Faleoln, b Matheson . . .... ..11 D. Rought-Rought, st James, b Merritt 8 Thisclton-Smitb, c Talbot, b Matheson . • • • 1 Walker, not out • • 31 Cold ham, lbw, b Merritt . . . . . 11 B. Rought-Rought, b Allcott .... 0' Foster, b Allcott .......... 2 Scott Chad, b Merritt . . . . . .. 0 Redder, b Merritt . 13 R. Rought-Rought, b Merritt .... 0 Eagle, b Merritt 7 Extras v.- .. 12 Total . • . • • Bowling.—Matheson took two wickets for 15 runs; Cromb, none for 12; Allcott, two for 18; Merritt, six for 40. Second Innings. B. Rought-Rought, lbw, b Cromb . . 4 Faleoln, b Matheson . . .... . . 7 Walker, lbw, b Matheson 0 Tinsel ton Smith, c Talbot, b Matheson 6 Coldham. c Dempster, b Cromb . . 13 D. Rought-Rought, b Cromb .... 7 Foster, c Page, b Matheson ..... 1 Scott Chad, b Merritt ....... 8 Redder, b Merritt . . . . . . . *. 2 Eagle, st James, b Merritt *. . . 11 It. Rought-Rought, not put .. .. 2 Extras •. 5 Total . . 66 Bowling.—Matheson took Tour wickets for 24 runs; Cromb, three for 24; Merritt, three for 13. COUNTY'S FOBMEK LOSS. INNINGS AND 48 RUNS. DOUBLE CENTURY TO DEMPSTER. The Now Zealanders made an auspicious opening to their tour when they defeated Essex early in May by an innings and 48 runs. Features of the match, were a double century by Dempster and a great performance by Merritt in Essex's second innings, when the Canterbury slow bowler took eight wickets for 41 runs. New Zealand batted first and scored 425. Essex replied. with 264, of which O'Connor made 129. Merritt took four wickets for 39 runs and Blunt three for 67. Essex followed on, and was disposed of for 113, Mcrritt's bowling feat being already referred to. The present Essex team is not . quite the same as that which played on the former occasion, Wykes, Crabtree and Franklin replacing Cutmore, Morris and Hipkin.