CRICKET

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 54

CRICKET

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. THE DERBYSHIRE MATCH. LONDON,. August 15. The match with Derbyshire, which up to the middle of the season held a high place in the county championship, resulted in an easy win for New Zealand by an innings and 240 runs. The visitors put- up the highest score in a first-class match, and even then the innings was not played out, Lowry declaring at 541 for nine wickets. The critics highly commend their brilliant batting in this game. On resuming, Mills and Lowry gave a lot of trouble, the latter scoring 81 in 100 minutes, with nine boundary strokes. The Aucklander, however, was much slower, as he was at the wickets four hours and a-quarter before he reached the century. After Lowry left Allcott hit with great freedom, taking only an hour to get 62 runs, which included one 6 and seven 4’s.

Hutchinson was the most successful of the county bowlers, obtaining three of the last wickets rather cheaply, but Worthington, who has done some good bowling in county matches, was very expensive.

The New Zealanders followed up their fine batting effort by again dismissing their opponents for a small total, for which Merritt and Blunt were principally responsible. Requiring 412 runs to avert an innings defeat, Derbyshire started badly, Bernau dismissing both Storer and Lee at 17. At the tea adjournment the total was 45 for two wickets. Worthington and Ford made a short stand, and then Hutchinson made a forlorn attempt to save the game. He batted with determination, and reached 50 in 80 minutes. After Hutchinson had fallen to a catch by Daere, Blunt rattled out three men for five runs, and the whole innings only lasted two and a-half hours. The attendance was about 1000. Details: — DERBYSHIRE. First innings 129 Second Innings. Storer, b Bernau 6 Lee, b Bernau 2 Worthington, c Daere, b Merritt ... 21 3?ord, c James, b Lowry 34 Hutchinson, c Daere, b Merritt ... 53 A. H. Jackson, b Merritt 24 Slater, c Merritt, b Blunt 2 G. R. Jackson, b Blunt 4 Townsend, st James, b Merritt 3 Cresswell, st James, b Blunt 3 Elliott, not out 0 Extras 20 Total 172 Bowling Analysis.—Bernau. two for 27; Oliver, none for 3; Merritt, four for 67; Dempster, none for 36; Lowry, one for 5; Blunt, three for 15. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings.

('liver, run out 18 Daere, b Slater 176 Dempster, c Elliott, b Townsend ... 81 Mills, not out 100 Blunt, b Townsend 0 Rage, c Storer, b Townsend 3 Lowry, c Storer, b Hutchinson ... 81 Bernau, c Elliott, b Worthington ... 0 Allcott, c G. R. Jackson, b Hutihin- , , son 62 Merritt, c Elliott, b Hutchinson ... 4 Extras 16 Total for nine wickets (declared) 541 Lowling Analysis.—Worthington, one f ' x - 103; Slater, one for 63; Townsend, three for 95 ; Lee, none for 71 : Cresswell, none for 78 ; Storer, none for 71 : Hutchinson, three for 44. PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. LONDON, August 10. The Evening Standard says: ‘’The New Zealanders’ success against Derbyshire should settle the rpiestion whether the team has come up to expectations. It was pointed out that Sussex did not play Tate and Worcester did not play Root, and therefore grumblers requested the Marylebone Club to suggest to the counties the fairness of selecting the strongest sides, but the Marylebone Club did not listen to the suggestion. It is impossible to disparage the overwhelming defeat of Derbyshire, which is at present one of the best county sides. Its position in the championship contest is also an outstanding feature of the season."

MATCH AGAINST LANCASHIRE. LONDON, August 17. In consequence of their fine victory at Derby a large attendance welcomed the New Zealanders when they turned out at Manchester to oppose the champion county (Lancashire). The only change in the side was that M'Girr replaced Oliver. I he County won the toss and batted first on an easy pitch. Hallows, when 10, slipped and strained his thigh so severely that lie was compelled to retire. With E. Tyldesley and Watson together, 50 appeared in 55 minutes, and they went on to 74 before Lowry broke the partnership after several changes in the bowling. The Lancashire batting (hen became very slow, and but for Tyldesley would have broken down altogether. ' It took them two hours to bring the century np. The pitch, thanks to the warm sun, began to respond to the spin of the bowlers’ tactics, and Blunt got Taylor leg before. After that, with the exception of Tyldesley, the batting badly failed, Blunt in particular meeting with great success. Merritt got wickets, but was severely hit. Lancashire’s crack batsman was eventually caught off him. but not till

he had reached 124. He played delightful cricket for just over three hours, hitting eight fours and six threes, and really saved the side. At the tea adjournment the score hac reached 184 for five wickets, but the last four men fell for only 25 runs, and the innings, which lasted" four hours, came to an abrupt conclusion at 229. The New Zealanders began badly, Daere falling into a trap in the slips off M'Donald, the ex-Australian fast bowler, before he had scored.

Dempster and Blunt then settled down to keep their ends up, and showing fine defensive play took the total to 57 without further loss before stumps were drawn.. Details:— LANCASHIRE. First Innings. Watson, c James, b Lowry 33 Hallows, retired hurt 10 E. Tyldesley, c M'Girr, b Merritt ... 124 Taylor, lbw, b Blunt 21 Halliday, c Lowry, b Merritt 15 Green, c Daere, b Blunt 2 Sibbles, c Alcott, b Blunt 5 Farrimond, b Blunt 0 R. Tyldesley, run out 6 M'Donald, st James, b Merritt 5 Holroyd, not out ... ... .. U Extras 8 Total 229

Bowling Analysis.—M’Girr, none for 3; Bernau, none for 7; Alcott, none for 26; Daere, none for 7; Merritt, three for 94; Blunt, four for 53 ; Lowry, one for 31.

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Daere, c Farrimond, b M'Donald ... 0 Dempster, not out 21 Blunt, not out 28 Extras 8 Total for one wicket 57 51ATC H AGAIN ST LA N( ’ A SII IRE. LONDON, August 19. The match at Manchester between Lancashire and New Zealand was abandoned owing to rain. Macdonald took one wicket for 9, Sibbles none for 21, Holroyd none for 17. and R. Tvldesley none for 2. MATCH AGAINST CUMBERLAND. lhe New Zealand cricketers met Cumberland at Whitehaven. Play could not be commenced till after lunch, when the home team went in to bat. The opening pair scored 36, but the next two wickets fell cheaply. Youren outlasted them, and altogether batted one hour for his 44, hitting two fours and three threes. Shardlow was the next batsman to make anything of a stand, and scored a dozen off a single over from the New Zealand captain. He then lost a promising partner in Thomas, who was dismissed by a fine catch by M'Girr on the leg boundary. Walmsley joined Shardlow, but the. latter lasted only a little longer, and the last five wickets only added 52, Merritt being responsible for" the collapse of the last four. M alrnslev was unbeaten with 28 to his credit.

Dempster was partnered by Oliver in opening the New Zealanders’ innings, but Oliver was dismissed when he had no more than broken his duck. Blunt and Dempster then gave the New Zealanders a fine start, putting on 117 without further loss. Blunt was missed at 10. and is still undefeated with 64. Following are the details: — CUMBERLAND. First Innings. Youren. b Cunningham 44 Gill, lbw, b Lowrv 10 ■Saint, c and b Lowrv 5 Adair, b Lowry 0 Shardlow, c M'Girr. b Merritt 35 Thomas, c M'Girr, b Merritt 13 Walmsley, not out 28 Hargreaves, c James, b Blunt 8 Chambers, b Merritt 3 Mudge, c Cunningham, b Merritt ... 0 Madden, c Bernau, b Merritt o Extras 5 Total 154 Bowling Analysis.—Lowrv. three for 50; Cunningham, one for 36; Merritt, five for 30; Blunt, one for 33. NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. Dempster, not out 49 Oliver, b Walmsley 1 Blunt, not out 64 Extras 3 Total for one wicket 117 NEW ZEALANDERS ENTERTAINED.

LONDON, August IS. Sir Edwin Stockton, president of the Lancashire County Club, entertained the New Zealanders, the jancashire team, and leading supporters of the game at a- banquet at Stockton. Proposing the toast of the New* Zealanders, he described them as fine fellows and spendid sportsmen, and said he was delighted that"they had visited England. Every one had done well, and he welcomed them, not only as cricketers, but as members of the British Empire. Mr J. H. Thomas (Labour M.P. for Derby) said the team had more than justified its existence, ard its performances had surprised many. ft did not matter .-.•hat the financial result of the tour might be; he refused to think of success in terms of ; ounds, shillings, ar 1 pence. Mr T. C .Lowry responded, and Mr Nigel Haig, of Middlesex, proposed Sir Edwin Stocktons health. BENEFIT MATCH FOR HOSPITALS. LONDON. August 18.The New Zealanders’ fixture arranged for August 29 will be against Richmond in aid of the Richmond and St. Dunstan’s Hospital.

MERRITT’S BIRTHDAY. CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. W. E. Merritt, the cricketer, was 19 to-day. He has taken 131 wickets for 2697 runs on the tour. COACH FOR CANTERBURY. LONDON, August 16. Newman, of Hampshire, has accepted the Canterbury Cricket Ass nation's offer to coach, ami will sail for New Zealand on September 16. COUNTY CRICKET. LONDON. August 15. Rain interfered considerably with most of the matcb.es. Middlesex—First innings (against Essex) 14 1 for six wickets (Hendren not out 83). This is not counted in the championship. Hampshire—First innings 110 (White five for 37 and second innings 148 (White five for 35) against Somerset—first innings 104 (Kennedy six for 37, Newman four for 61) and second innings 155 for one wicket (Young not out 90). Somerset won by nine wickets. Notts—First innings 420 (Whysall 119, Gunn 51, Larwood 64, Barratt 57). M'Donald took five for 119. Lancashire—First innings 148 (Watson 66). S. Staples took six for 30. Second innings 76 for two wickets. Notts won on the first innings. For Warwick against Sussex Kilner made 120 and Parsons 141. The match was drawn. The Notts Lancashire match has an important bearing on the championship. If Notts had won outright they would have been almost level with Lancashire for first place. Lancashire, determined to prevent the match finishing, stonewalled, and Hallows scored seven in 125 minutes. Rain fell at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and there, was no further play. Rain again interfered considerably with the play, and only three matches pioceeded long enough to be counted in the championship. Kent: First innings, 345 (Hardinge 154, Ashdown 112). Second innings, 243 for two wickets (Hardinge not out 82, J. Bryan 128). Somerset: First innings, 214 (Earle 51 ; Freeman five for 99. Second innings. 55 (Wright six for 29). Kent won by 319 runs. In Kent's second innings Hardinge and Bryan put on 219 for t'-e first wicket in two hours. Bryan played powerfully, driving and placing to leg brilliantly. He hit five sixes and" 11 fours. In his 51 Earle included five sixes. For Sussex against Glamorgan, Bowley took six for 69. For Glamorgan, Mercer took four for 41, and Clay four for 21. Glamorgan won. For Notts against Northants, S. Staples took five for 56. For Northants Jupp took five for 62. Notts won. For Worcester against Middlesex Root took five for 69. and Jewell four for 20. The match is not counted in the championship figures.

LANCASHIRE v. NOTTS. LONDON, August 17. Following the barracking owing to Lancashire’s stonewalling yer.erday, when Hallows batted for two hours for seven runs and saved the game, Councillor Clarkson and Aiderman Heath, of Nottingham, strongly deplored the barracking of the Notts supporters. They declared that it was disgraceful, and said that they wore ashamed of the sportsmanship of the Notts public, who. if they •could not see their side lose, ought not to follow any game except ping-pong. Newman, by taking two for 28 for Hampshire against Leicester, i- the second cricketer this season to achieve the distinction of making 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets. Tate was the first. NEW SOUTH WALES SELECTORS SYDNEY, August 16. The annual election of selectors for New South Wales by the Cricket Association resulted in Messrs R. L. Jones. A. R. Ratclige, and E. L. Waddy being chosen. Warren Bardsley was defeated. The New Zealand' team commences its match here on October 28. SANDHAM'S BENEFIT MATCH. LONDON. August 19. Sandham, writing to the Daily Express on th'e eve of his benefit match at the Oval against Yorkshire, said: “No, I have never won a beautv competition.” He recalls that one of the most amusing incidents of his career was in Australia. The team was leaving the field when a voice asked Gilligan to “send the ugly bloke round, we want to look at him.” When the team reached the dressing room his comrades unanimously cried. “That’s you, Sandy.” After lunch the same voice called, “Thank you, Gilligan, he’s uglier even than we thought.'” M‘DONALD'S INTENTIONS. LONDON, August 17. It is officially announced that- M'Donald will remain with Lancashire county for two years after his original agreement expires in 1929. MATCHES IN SYDNEY. WELLINGTON, August 15. Mr D. Reese (chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council) confirms the statement that the New Zealand team will play a match in Sydney, beginning on October 28, on its way back to the Dominion. The council would have liked to have arranged games in Adelaide and Melbourne, but it was too early in the season, and would have taken up too much time. The New South Wales Association offered SO per cent, of the net gate. Mr Reese found the Australian authorities almost unanimous that all negotiations for visits in the future should be with the Board of Control and not with individual States. This matter will be brought before the New Zealand Council.

He also discussed the question of a visit from an Australian eleven next season, as

there would be no chance of a visit the following summer while the English team was in Australia. He is able to say that the Board of Control will send a side over in February and March next as a sort of try-out for several of the members who will be prospective test eleven men. He found that keen interest was taken in the doings of the New Zealand team, which was considered to have performed so well that the Australians were keen to see them in action in Sydney.

CRICKET IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, August 16. M elling-ton has at present 10 senior clubs playing cricket, and many good judges think the number is excessive, as there are nothing like 110 players really worthy of senior rank. Years ago district clubs were tried, but objections gradually grew, till they were abandoned, and under a freetrade system extra clubs were formed, till they have become unwieldy in number. Various schemes have been prod posed to meet the difficulty, to all of which more or less hostility has been shown. One of them, to reduce the list to six by amalgamation, came before the association last night, but the opposition of vested interests was too strong, and it was thrown out. The opponents frankly averred that they did not care about the interests of the game as a whole, and preferred these of their own pet clubs.

COACH FOR NORTH TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH, August 16. A prominent English cricketer, A. A. Wilson, of Yorkshire, has been chosen as coach for the northern division of the Taranaki Cricket Association for next season, and will arrive in September. Wilson, who is 47 years of' age, comes of a great cricketing family with a good record in Yorkshire club cricket. Since the war lie has played League cricket, in which he has topped the batting averages.