DRAWN MATCH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 41, 11 May 1927, Page 1

DRAWN MATCH

NEW ZEALAND AT HOLYPORT BOWLERS DO WELL

MERRITT TAKES SIX WICKETS

The New Zealand team's first match of the English tour was drawn.. . After the first day's hatting . New Zealand declared, and Martineau's eleven opened the second day's play. The first innings realised 256 runs, and in the second six wickets were lost for 163 runs. Merritt, the Canterbury colt, was the outstanding New Zealand bowler, taking six wickets in the match for 59 runs. Bernau took four wickets for 59 runs.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 8 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The New Zealanders’ match against Mr. H. Martineau’s eleven was drawn. New Zealand declared at the end of the first day’s play with a score of

-556. Martineau’s eleven nmde 256 in its first innings and in the second had lost six wickets for 163 when stumps were drawn. With the exception of Tanner’s merry hand Wilkinson had little support. Merritt was the outstanding bowler being always

treated with respect. Bernau is rapidly finding form, and Dacre fielded superbly, taking a bril-

liant catch in deep field. Dempster was alert in slips, but missed catches. Tanner in the second innings gave another merry display, hitting three sixes. It was a real holiday cricket

match. The following were the scores:— _. NEW ZEALAND ■'irst Innings 556 MARTINEAU’S ELEVEN Wilkinson, b Bernau iqi .Macßryan, c Bernau, b Merritt <> Dempsey, b Merritt ’. 13 Bagnall, c Dacre, b Merritt 9 Sharp, run out . 3 Tanner, c Dacre, b Blunt .. . ’ ** ]44 Wood, c James, b Bernau [" Joy, not out ij’ndson, st James, b Merritt .. .. .. 21 Martineau, c Mills, b Bernau fi Hartley, b Bernau 0 Extras * ] 23 Total 256 Bowling: Bernau four wickets for 59 runs, McGirr none for 40, Merritt four for 33, Henderson none for 54, Blunt one for 47. Second Innings Macßryan, c Bernau, b McGirr.. .. 3 J 03% c James, b McGirr 6 Bagnall, b McGirr ' " 43 Tanner, c Dempster, b Dacre ..... 72 Sharp, b Merritt 25 Dempsey, not out 21 Wood, b Merritt * 7 Wilkinson, not out *.!*.. Extras n Total for six wickets if? 3 Bowling: McGirr three wickets for 42 runs, Henderson none for 14, Blunt none for 45, Merritt two for 26, Dacre one for MARTINEAU’S BOWLING The following were the bowling figures in New Zealand’s innings: Hyndson one wicket for 109 runs. Tanner two for 103 Joy two for 138, Martineau one for 125,’ Hartley one for 77, Dempsey one for 22. TEAM’S GOOD START BOWLING SUCCESS IMPORTANT

The result of the New Zealand team’s first match in England will be

hailed with considerable satisfaction in the Dominion. Although, as the cables state, it was “real holiday cricket,” the match provided an excel lent tryout for Lowry's men. J. C. W. Macßryan. Colonel Hartley, Captain (not Major) Wilkinson and A. R. Tanner are all players who have figured in big cricket. Macßryan and Tanner are both prominent county players, and Captain Wilkinson is a batsman who. but for his army duties, might have taken his place with the best in the world.

Coming on top of their fine batting on the first day, the New Zealand team’s performance in dismissing such a good useful batting side for less than half the runs scored against them was an excellent one. It would he ton soon yet to use this match as an indication of the success the team is likely to achieve on tour. After the match which starts at Lord's to-day, it should he possible, however, to gain some idea of how the team is likely to fare MERRITT AND BLUNT The most pleasing feature of yesterday’s play from the point of view of the New Zealand selectors will be the success of Merritt and Blunt. The former’s selection was most vigorously criticised in some quarters when the team was chosen, but on his form so far Merritt has left the critics without a leg to stand on. His slow break bowling was responsible for six wickets yesterday at a cost of less than 10 runs apiece.

Bernau, the only man in the team who wears spectacles, looks like emu lating Arthur Richardson as one of the all-rounders of the side. Bernau is left-handed, both with bat and ball, which is unusual in a cricketer, and he bowls a fast medium ball with an off spin. In view of the trouble Allcott is having with his injured foot, Lowry will probably find Bernau’s success very welcome.

Captain Wilkinson, who notched the first century scored against the New Zealander*, Is well-known in this part of the world. He was a member of A. C. Maclaren's team, which toured New Zealand in 1922-23. A finished and stylish batsman despite a war injury to his hand, he was one of the outstanding batsmen on the tour. He was associated with five three-figure partnerships on the 1922-23 trip, and scored a century against Canterbury. Macßryan, the Somerset amateur, who topped the averages for his county last season, did not manage to get going against the New Zealanders, but Tanner, who plays for Middlesex, knocked up two good scores, 72 and 44. Otherwise, the bowling and fielding of the visitors seems always to have had the upper hand, Dacre, in the latter department, having apparently given one of those displays which have delighted New Zealand crowds on many occasions in past seasons. AT LORD'S TO-DAY To-day New Zealand begins a threedays’ match against a M.C.C. team at Lord’s.