MILLS SHOWS BRILLIANT FORM, SCORING ISO.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 144, 19 June 1931, Page 1

MILLS SHOWS BRILLIANT FORM, SCORING ISO.

New Zealand Declare with Eight Wickets Down for 361. (Special to Press Association.) (Received June 19, 9.20 a.m.) GAINSBOROUGH, June 18. The Minor Counties team was dismissed for 191. New Zealand opened badly, but improved, finally declaring with 361 for eight wickets.

The match was continued in fine weather with an easy wicket. Allcott and Lowry took the remaining three Counties wickets cheaply. New Zealand opened inauspiciously. Dempster and Weir were both caught in the slips, after which Merritt and Mills were associated in a free scoring partnership. Merritt was disr missed after lunch. Mills carried on the score for ,a brilliant century. He attacked the bowling from the start, and although he gave several chances was always master of the attack. He went out off the only really weak shot of his innings. He batted 218 minutes for 150 and hit seventeen fours. Kerr showed signs of a return to his customary enterprising batting. Lowry and Talbot both gave vigorous displays. The Counties bowling was not dilficult, although the wicket played occasional tricks. The Counties batted for half an hour before stumps were drawn, scoring fourteen without loss. Cook was dropped in the final over. Scores:— MINOR COUNTIES. First Innings. W. T. Cook, st James, b Merritt .. 33 H. W. Homer, c Dempster, b Merritt 71 R. J. F. Remnant, c Page, b Merritt 1 P. G. T. Kingsley, b Merritt 0 C. B. Fordham, c Sub., b Lowry ... 32 R. E. Frearson, b Lowry 13 C. Walters, lbw, b Lowry 0 M. B. Elder ton, c and b Allcott .. 13 C. V. Raffetv, b Lowry 16 R. V. Ward, b Allcott 4 H. Lock, not out . 0 Extras 8 Total 191 Bowling analysis—Merritt four for 72: Allcott two for 38; Lowry four for 14; Taibot none for 10; Weir none for 15; Blunt none for 18; Page none for 16. Second Innings. W. T. Cook, not out 9 H. W. Homer, not out 5 Total for no wickets 14

NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, b Remnant 0 J. E. Mills, c Remnant, b Lock 150 G. L. Weir, c Kingsley b Ward .. 2 W. E. Merritt, b Remnant 38 C. F. Allcott, c Frearson b Lock .. 3 K. C. James, b Lock 8 J. L. Kerr, lbw b Lock 26 T. C. Lowry, b Ward 52 R. O. Talbot, not out 43 M. L. Page, not out 7 Extras 32 Total for 8 wickets (declared) 361 Bowling analj*sis—Remnant 2 for 68; Fordham none for 21; Ward two for 77; Lock four for 113; Walters none for 50. NOTES ON THE PLAY. New Zealand’s score of 361 for eight against Minor Counties is not of such importance as it would be against a stronger side, but nevertheless it is a creditable performance. It is rendered the more interesting as it marks Mills’s return to form. For the present match the New Zealand team is at good strength, except that Cromb and Matheson are both missing from the bowling department. The tourists continue to have an exceptionally bad spin in the matter of playing conditions and it is not helping them in their need of the best play possible before they meet England’s elect at Lord’s on Saturday week, when, it is hoped, •the weather will be of the right type for the big test. Homer, who made the highest score for the Counties, is a Staffordshire player. His score was higher than any made by him in County cricket last season.

W. T. Cook has figured prominently with Surrey, while C. B. Fordham, the next highest scorer, is regarded as the best all-rounder in the Hertfordshire eleven. In addition to batting well last season, he topped the bowling averages.

Mills’s performance in hitting seventeen fours in the course of his period at the crease" was an outstanding one. Lowr3% in addition to making 52, headed the bowling for the match with four wickets for 14. Apparently he judged the strength of the heavy pitch best. Kerr added another 26 to his list of scores of about that amount and again .went out lbw. Talbot, one of the not out men, was apparently doing well when Lowry decided to declare.