Onlooker’s Notebook

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 301, 19 December 1931, Page 11

Onlooker’s Notebook

F. Bellamy, of Sydenham, went very well to-day against Old Collegians. At one time his figures for twelve overs were: —6 maidens, 8 runs and 4 wickets. He just missed the hat trick. Riccarton made their poorest showing of the season when they batted against Old Boys this afternoon. The innings realised only 119 runs. After Burrows had taken two good wickets at the start, Merritt got going and took five in quick succession. The slow bowler was sending down a lot of good deliveries, but the batsmen made it easy for him by playing an uncertain defensive game and making no attempt to knock him off his length. Merritt came out with the fine figures of five for 41. His average would have been better but the last man, Fairbairn, stepped in where others had feared to tread and slogged for 31, many of which were off Merritt. J. L. Kerr, of West Christchurch, is the third of the Canterbury members of the New Zealand cricket team which toured England, to compile a century since their return. Playing against St Albans this afternoon, he scored 110 in 120 minutes after a safe but aggressive display. He was one of the opening batsmen and once settled he opened out at the bowling and scored all round the wicket. He showed improved form all round as perhaps was only to be expected after his experience on English wickets. I. B. Cromb (Lancaster Park) and R. O. Talbot (Old Collegians) are the other men to have achieved their century. M. Ward was associated with Kerr in a sensational second-wicket partnership for West Christchurch against St Albans this afternoon. He passed his century, scoring a consistent* 108, after a fine batting display. The partnership produced 172 runs. Ward gave only one chance—at 29 in the slips. In the early part of the partnership he had the greater part of the bowling and all but pulled level with Kerr in the seventies. He was caught in the long-field off Lindlev’s bowling.