SPLENDID START MADE BY N.Z. TEAM

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1931, Page 1

SPLENDID START MADE BY N.Z. TEAM

410 SCORED IN FIRST INNINGS AT LIVERPOOL. (Special to the Press Association.) LONDON, July 11. It was a splendid feat for New Zealand to make 410 for nine wickets in the first day’s play against such a fine county side as Lancashire. Lancashire are at present fifth on the county championship list and last year were at its top. The game was a batting triumph for New Zealand. The weather was fine at Liverpool and wicket was in perfect condition. Weir made a flawless century and Lowry was unlucky to go out at 92. The attendance was 8000. Allcott, Kerr and Matheson were omitted from the New Zealand team. The teams are: New Zealand—T. C. Lowry, C. S. Dempster, J.. E. Mills, R. C. Blunt, H. G. Vivian, G. L. Weir, R. O. Talbot, M. L. Page, I. B. Cromb, K. C. James, W. E. Merritt.

Lancashire—P. T. Eckersley, C. Hallows, W. llorrocks (a recent arrival from Australia), E. Tvldesley, J. Iddon, C. Ilopwood, E. Paynter, M. L. Taylor, F. M. Sibbles, G. Duckworth, G. Hodgson. Lowry won the toss and New Zealand started badly, Dempster being caught in the slips as a result of a halfhearted shot. Mills was then caught after hooking a short ball. Two wickets had fallen for 21 runs. Blunt and Vivian retrieved matters. The former batted steadily, playing well on the off side until he was caught i behind the wicket off Sibbles. Vivian was dismissed shortly after lunch by a running catch in the outfield. He gave a fine display of clean hitting, and improved defence. Talbot started brightly until he hit a skier which was taken by a running catch at mid-off. A fine partnership followed between Weir and Page, who added 109 for the sixth wicket. Neither of the batsmen took unnecessary risks and they faced all the bowlers with confidence. Page was dismissed when attempting to force the pace after tea, by a high left-hand catch. A Great Partnership. Partnered by Lowry, Weir continued to bat confidently, reaching his century in 186 minutes. He was caught behind the wicket off Hodgson. His onside shots were flawlessly executed. He also scored well through the covers. He hit nine fours. Cromb was dismissed in the same manner as Weir.

Lowry and James proceeded to take toll of the tired bowling. Lowry was particularly aggressive, playing forcing shots through the covers, with an occasional lusty on-drive. He attempted to score sixteen in the final over for his century. He hit two fours and was then bowled off his pads. He gave several chances, which failed to mar a magnificent display. He batted ninety minutes and hit fourteen fours. James also batted vigorously, but allowed Lowry to have most of the bowling. Hodgson and Sibbles, medium righthanders, and Hopwood and Iddon, slow left, bowled steadily, but tired towards the end of the day. Scores: — NEW ZEALAND. First Innings. C. S. Dempster, c Sibbles b Hodgson 4 J. E. Mills, c Paynter b Hodgson 16 R. C. Blunt, c Duckworth b Sibbles 33 IT. J. Vivian, c ITorrocks b Iddon 57 G. L. Weir, c Duckworth b Hodgson 181 R. O. Talbot, c Eckersley b Sibbles 21 M. L. Page, c Eckersley b Hodgson 43 I. B. Cromb, c Duckworth b Hodgson 0 T. C. Lowry, b Hodgson 92 K. C. James, not out 33 Extras 1° Total for nine wickets .. 410 Bowling analysis.—Hodgson, five for 93; Sibbles. three for 107; Hopwood, none for 71; Horrocks, none for 16; Iddon, one for 96; Taylor, none for 15; Paynter, none for 2.