MAGNIFICENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19871, 20 June 1927, Page 8

MAGNIFICENT

VISITORS’ BATTING New Zealand Cricketers Make Durham Look Cheap DEMPSTER’S FINE CENTURY SPARKLING PLAY DELIGHTS SPECTATORS. What would appear to be the touring New Zealand cricketers’ most brilliant display was put up in their first innings against Durham on Saturday. Dempster’s contribution, 178, was the most striking feature- in the 373 compiled by the visitors, and their i fielding and bowling tied the home team in a knot until eight wickets I had fallen for a two-figure total. 1 With a total of 111 to their credit it seems that Durham, with two wickets to fail, will be compelled to follow on in this two-day match. New Zealand enthusiasts will feel pleased with the result. Scores. New Zealand 373 Durham eight for 111 Received , June .19, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, June 18. New Zealand commenced their northern tour with a match against Durham, which last year won the second-class Counties’ Championship. The match attracted 3000 spectators and the attendance soon afterwards grew to 60G0. Merritt is not playing. New Zealand batted first and Dempster and Blunt, the opening batsmen, delighted the spectators with their sparkling play, the first sixty-four runs coming in half an hour.

The pair scored evenly and when Blunt was dismissed Page and Dempster carried on brightly, the total reaching 148 by lunch time. Dempster was then 74 and Page 31. Dempster’s Century. On resuming Dempster reached the century, which took 139 minutes, and outlasted Page and the next four batsmen, being joined by Dacre, who also gave a fine display. Dempster was finally dismissed by a catch at mid-on after being at the wickets 192 minutes, hitting four sixers and twenty-one fours. Cleverly-timed leg strokes were a feature of his innings, though his cutting and driving were also excellent. Dacre and Bernau continued to add runs freely but the partnership was broken and the last wicket taken by the tea adjournment, and when play was resumed Durham went in. Durham Bowling Poor. Cook and Carr, who headed Durham’s bowling averages in the past season, were each fairly successful, but the other professionals failed to take a wicket, whereas the amateur, Brooks, who is not a regular bowler, secured three for 46. Durham’s batting opened miserably and when eight wickets had fallen the team seemed unlikely to reach the century for the innings. Disaster Narrowly Averted. Then Brooks and Cook became associated and held the home team’s end up till the end of the day, when the total had reached 11 without further loss. Henderson and Blunt were the tourists’ most formidable bowlers, the former taking four wickets for 33 and Blunt two for 22. Scores are as follows:

New Zealand. First Innings. Dempster, c Howell, b Brooks .. 178 Blunt, c Brooks, b Carr 42 Page, 1.b.w., b Cook 57 Mills, 1.b.w., b Cook 0 Oliver, b Cook 1 Allcott, c Weight, b Carr 1 McGirr, c Kelsall, b Carr Dacre, b Cook 43 Bernau, c Gibbon, b Brooks .... 24 Cunningham, c Nichol, b Brooks . . 4 Henderson, not out 9 Extras $ Total 373 Bowling analysis.—Howell none for 79; Cook four for 96; Carr three fur 56; Nichol none for 40; Brooks three for 46; Weight none for 48. Durham. First Innings. Kelsall, c Oliver, b Henderson .. 1 Weight, b McGirr •$ M. Nichol, c Dempster, b Blunt . . 19 Adamson, c Dacre, b Henderson . . 6 Carr, c Mills, b Blunt . 0 Gibbon, run out U) R. Nichol, b Henderson 2 Howell, c Dacre, b Henderson .. .. 0 Brooks, not out 22 Cook, not out 34 Extras 9 Total, eight wickets for .. .. TJI