CRICKET TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 20204, 15 June 1927, Page 5

CRICKET TOUR

NEW ZEALAND TEAM THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE MATCH VISITORS GIVE DASHING DISPLAY (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, June 13. “Inspired, perhaps, by the brilliant summer sunshine and the rural prettiness of the Kettering ground, New Zealand gave the spectators 90 minutes of cricket as it should be played,” says a leading critic. Page and James set the example of playing confidently, but the former was bowled in attempting a big hit and the latter was unlucky enough to get out from a ball which he did, not attempt to play. Dacre gave a display rejoicing the hearts of those who liked to see the ball hit. He scored 20 from four consecutive balls, including two sixers, and was caught at leg in trying to hit another out of the ground. Oliver and Bernau, unmindful of the state of the score, continued to do good work, the former punishing Wills to the extent of 15 in one over. Bernau hit with power and discretion. Jupp came out with an excellent average, claiming seven of the wickets. New Zealand batsmen to-day hit up 165 in an hour and a-half. Earlier Northants batsmen did well, and at the tea adjournment the total was three for 121. Walden was bowled by Page immediately on resuming, but Timms reached 46 before he was stumped off Merritt. Blunt did not meet with his former success. The batsmen had got his measure and he proved very expensive. Merritt, however, was in good form, and although Pennington and Wright emulated the example of their opponents and gave a display of free hitting, to the great delight of spectators, the total only reached 260. New Zealand, therefore, has 247 to get in the last innings. The New Zealanders have lost one for 22. The following are the scores:— NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

Bowling Analysis:—McGirr, one wicket for 30 runs; Bernau, none for 29; Merritt, five for 63; Allcott, none for 36; Blunt, one for 72; Page, two for 10.—A. and

zz Bowling analysis: Matthews, no wickets for 17 runs; Wright, none for 66; Thomas, one for 35; Jupp, seven for 92; To well, two for 7; Wills, none for 28. NOTES BY “ONLOOKER.” The second success of the New Zealand cricket team will be hailed with delight by supporters of the game throughout the Dominion and also in Australia, where a great deal of interest is being taken in the present tour. What is even more pleasing than the victory over Worcestershire is the cabled announcement that the spectators have been delighted with the New Zealanders’ lively batting. The tourists’ genuine sporting spirit and the manner in which they play the game for the game’s sake have been admired by English cricket lovers. This is the highest praise any team could possibly get, and so long as the critics maintain such opinions the question of match winning becomes more or less a secondary consideration. Another satisfactory feature is that the fielding seems to have reached the standard it should have attained from the outset. With only 247 to get to win, it looks as if the visitors should gain their third victory for the tour against Northampton. This county finished in second last place in the championship last year and is considered to be a “not over strong” side. V. W. C. Jupp is the best all-rounder for Northants. He is styled a fine bowler and courageous batsman. Jupp scored nearly 1500 runs last season at an average of 36.46 and took 101 wickets for less than 19 runs apiece. He is one of the best amateurs in the Old Country. J. E. Timms is termed a sound professional batsman, while F. Walden, the famous little soccer wing, is a surprisingly powerful hitter and is reported to be improving each season. C. N. Woolley is a brother of Frank (of Kent), the international. The wicket-keeper, B. Bellamy, is a fair batsman and a good ’keeper. Which of the New Zealand batsmen will be the first to reach 1000 runs for tfie tour? At present it looks as if Lowry and Blunt will dispute the honour. It is a good race. Lowry’s total of runs to date (including his first innings against Northants) stands at 780, or 220 short of four figures. Lowry has had 15 innings. Blunt comes next with a total of 704 runs, also in fifteen innings. Then in order are Mills, 612 runs in 18 innings; Dempster 535 in 15; Page 535 in 16 and Dacre 528 in 15. Seven members of the Australian team which visited England last year scored over 1000 runs during the tour. They were Bardsley, Macartney, Woodful, Andrews Ponsford, Taylor and Ryder. Macartney reached his thousand runs in his twentieth innings, Bardsley and Woodfull in their twenty-first, Ponsford in his twentythird, Andrews in his twenty-seventh, Ryder in his thirty-fifth, and Taylor in his thirtyninth. Including the present game Merritt has so far taken 55 wickets. He should get the century easily enough. Lowry evidently deals in 106’s when going for the big stuff. He has scored three centuries—all 106—and prior to the Worcestershire game his bowling average was The New Zealanders commence their 12th game of the tour against Leicestershire to-day. This county was 13th on the list last year. RESULTS TO DATE. The following are the results of the matches played to date:— Martineau’s XI. Drawn.—New Zealand 9 for 586; Martineau’s XI, 256 and 6 for 163. M.C.C. Drawn.—New Zealand, 460 and four for 224; M.C.C., 392 and 4 for 426. Essex. Lost by five wickete.—New Zea-

land, 289 and 208; Essex, 373 and 5 for 125. Cambridge University. Lost by five wickets. —New Zealand, 315 and 205; Cambridge, 255 and 5 for 267. Middlesex. Lost by three wickets.—New Zealand, 234 and 335; Middlesex, 290 and 7 for 280. Royal Navy. Abandoned.—New Zealand 194 and two for 164; Royal Navy 144 and 275. Sussex. Won by eight wickets.—New Zealand, 466 and two for 43; Sussex, 316 and 191. Club Conference. Drawn.—New Zealand 213 and five, for 183; Club Conference, 204 and seven for 252. Oxford University. Drawn.—New Zealand, 263 and six for 214; Oxford, 337 and 229. Worcestershire. Won by 194 runs.— New Zealand, 276 and 349 for 5 wickets; Worcestershire, 222 and 209. LIST OF CENTURIES. The following centuries have so far been made during the tour:—

AVERAGES TO DATE. With nine matches played, the following are the averages of the team:—

A POPULAR SIDE. FINANCIAL SUCCESS ASSURED. London, June 13. The attendances at the New Zealanders* matches, though generally small, are probably sufficient to ensure a financial success. Saturday’s crowds at both visits to Lord’s were excellent, and Saturday’s attendance at Brighton in the Sussex match equalled that during the Australians’ visit. The team’s popularity and reputation for playing the game are expected to attract crowds in the big county games coming on shortly. —A. and N.Z. REASON FOR OMITTING BOWLERS. REPLY TO DOMINION CRITICISM. (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) London, June 14, Replying to criticism that leading players are being omitted from county cricket teams against the New Zealanders, Sporting Life hastens to give an assurance that the sole intention is to give the bowlers a rest badly needed owing to the unusually hard grounds. The idea that the Counties can win as they please against the New Zealanders is not held here. The visitors have proved worthy of the steel of any County side.—A. and N.Z. and Sun.

un i namr i vn oxunn. First Innings . 237 —Second Innings.— Woolley, c James, b Blunt . .. 34 Wills, b Merritt .. . . .. 7 Bellamy, l.b.w., b Merritt . .. 0 Walden, b Page . .. 43 Timms, st James, b Merritt . .. . . .. 46 Towell, run out . .. 0 Jupp, b Merritt . .. 17 Pennington, c Oliver, b Merritt .. ... 33 Wright, b McGirr . .. 43 Matthews, c Bernau, b Page .. . . .. 7 'Thomas, not out . .. 10 Extras .. .. ,, .. 20 Total .. 260

N.Z. NEW ZEALAND. —First Innings.— Mills, b Jupp .. 18 Blunt, l.b.w., b Jupp . .. .. 50 Lowry, b Towell .. 12 Page, b Jupp .. 19 James, b Jupp .. 7 Dacre, c Walden, b Jupp .. 31 McGirr, c and b Jupp .. 19 Oliver, l.b.w., b Jupp Allcott, c and b Jupp .... .. 36 .. 9 Bernau, not out .. 34 Merritt, b Thomas Extras .. 11 Total .. . .. .. 251 —Second Innings.— Mills, b Wright, .. 0 Blunt, not out .. 14 Lowry, not out .. 6 Extras . 2 Total .. 22

For. Against. Blunt . . . 119 Wilkinson . . 101 Mills . . . . 188 Titchmarsh . , 171 Dacre . . . . 101 Lyon no Dacre . . . . 107 Allen .... *104 Lowry . . . . 106 Seabrook . . . 106 Page . . . . . 134 Dawson . . . 107 Lowry . . . . 106 Tuck .... 125 Dempster . . *10!) Hunt .... 100 Lowry . . . . 106 Newman . . 133 Page . . . . *140 Holmes . . * Not out. 165

BATTING. I N.O. H Tl. Av. T. C. Lowry . . 14 1 106 768 59.07 R. C. Blunt . . 14 1 119 654 50.30 W. E. Merritt . . 11 8 *49 281 46.83 C. S. Dempster . 15 2 *109 535 41.15 J. E. Mills . . 17 1 188 594 37.12 M. L. Page . . 15 1 ’140 516 36.85 C. C. Dacre . . 14 — 107 497 35.50 C. F. Allcott . . 9 3 46 194 32.33 H. M. McGirr . . 13 1 72 295 24.58 K. C. James . . 16 — 54 297 18.56 C. J. Oliver . . 12 3 28 140 15.55 E. H. Bernau . 10 1 41 131 14.55 M. 0. Henderson 7 1 30 64 10.66 W. Cunningham 6 1 23 47 9.40 * Signifies not out. BOWLING. Runs. Wckts. Av. M. L. Page . . 72 5 14.40 W. E. Merritt . 1190 49 24.28 H. M. McGirr . 892 35 25.48 C. F. W. Allcott 302 11 27.45 R. C. Blunt . . 829 28 29.28 E. II. L. Bernau 468 15 31.20 C. C. Dacre . . 69 2 34.50 M. Henderson . 546 14 39.00 W. Cunningham 287 6 47.83 C. J. Oliver . . 69 1 69.00 T. C. Lowry . . 119 1 119.00 C. S. Dempster . 8 0