DOMINION CRICKETERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19914, 9 August 1927, Page 5

DOMINION CRICKETERS

STATISTICS OF TOUR Dempster has Unique Position of Leading Batting and Bowling MERRITT AND JAMES The 27th match, against Surrey, ended in a very even draw. Four centuries were made in this match, two by New Zealand (Mills 103 and Dempster 101) and two by Surrey (Hobbs 146 and Ducat 100). The total of runs scored reached ■ 1345, New Zealand making .684 and Sursey 661. Dempster has again proved his worth in the team, as besides scoring his century he took two wickets for 23 runs. He is now top of the batting averages in all matches with an average of 57.82, second in first-class matches with 45.05 and top of both the bowling ladder with averages of 14.14 and 8.75 respectively. He has also scored the highest number of runs (1677) and has the most centuries to his credit. His fielding has been splendid, and he has taken 21 catches. Wanganui should indeed be proud of him. Six members of the team have scored over 1000 runs, Dempster 1677, Blunt 1427, Page 1202, Lowry 1188, Mills 1111, and Dacre 1104. In all matches New Zealand have scored 11,390 runs against their opponents 11,051. They have notched 21 centuries, against 18 by their opponents, and have won nine matches, Jost four and drawn 14. In first-class matches they have scored 6,968 runs against 6,735, and 11 centuries to their opponents ’ eleven. Of first-class matches they have won three and lost four while nine have been drawn. Merritt has taken 111 wickets and has the splendid average of 21.22 m all matches and 26.61 in first-class matches. His batting has also been a revelation. In all matches his average is 33.94 and in first-class matches 38.8. The work of James behind the wic- | kets has astonished even his own keen supporters, as he has already broken Strudwick’s fine performance for Surrey in 1924, when he caught 52 and stumped 9, a total of 61. James ’ figures so far are: Caught 34, stumped ,31, total 65, and yet he is another of the team that should not have gone home (according to Auckland critics!) Dempster, James and Merritt, have nevertheless proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the selectors were right in their judgment. The following are the averages, including the Surrey match:—

AVERAGES IN ALL MATCHES Batting.

Catches Taken. James, has caught .34, Page 22, Dempster and Lowry 21 each, Blunt 15, Dacre 13, Allcott and Oliver 12 each, Mills 11, Merritt 10, Cunningham and Henderson 9 each, McGirr 6, Bernau 4. Stumpings. James has stumped 31, Lowry 5, and Dacre 1. AVERAGES IN FIRST-CLASS MATCHES Batting.

Catches Taken. James took 22, Page 15 Dempster 12, Lowry 11, Blunt 10, Mills 6, Allcott 5, Oliver, Henderson, Merritt and Dacre 4 each, McGirr 3, Cunningham 2 and Bernau 1. James has stumped 19.

CENTURIES SCORED BY VISITORS ALL MATCHES Demeter (6) —109* v. Club Conference, 178 v. Durham, 154 v. Scottish Counties, 180 v. Warwickshire, 167* v. Glamorgan and 101 v. Surrey. Lowry (.3)—106 v. M.C.C., 306 v. Sussex, and 106 v. Worcestershire. Dacre (3) —101 v. Martin.eaux XL, 107 v. M.C.C., and 167 v. Edinburgh Clubs. Mills (3) —188 v. Martineaux XI, 104 v. Civil Service, and 103 v. Surrey. Allcott (2) —102 v. Civil Service, and 131 v. Warwickshire. Blunt (2) —119 v. Martineaux XL, and 195 v. Northumberland. Page (2) —134 v. Cambridge University and 140* v. Worcestershire. FIRST-CLASS MATCHES Dempster (3) —180 v. Warwickshire, 167* v. Glamorgan, and 101 v. Surrey. Lowry (3)—106 v. M.C.C., 106 v. Sussex, and 106 v. Worcestershire. Page (2) —134 v. Cambridge University, and 140* v. Worcestershire. Allcott (1) —131 v. Warwickshire. Dacre \1)—107 v. M.C.C. Mills (1) —103 v. Surrey. * Signifies Not out. WORM FOR A DUCK The following little sketch might apply to one or two of the Dominion cricketers:— He was Ihc stylist of the Dominion cricket team and was noted for the elaborate preparations he made before facing the bowler, after which he invariably came out with a duck. The Home people grew tired of him at last, and there came a day on which he was making even a larger hole for his block. (( What’s ’e doing that for?” demanded a spectator. “Oh, ’c’s digging for a worm to feed ’is duck!” came the prompt reply from a New Zealander. The field is fortunately too small so no reward will be offered to the reader who guesses to whom the above is applicable.

In. N.O. E. U.S. Av. Dempster . 35 6 1677 180 57.82 Blunt .. .. 31 1 1427 195 47.56 Mills .. .. 37 7 1111 188 37.03 Page .. .. 36 3 1202 140 k 36.42 Lowry .... 34 1 1188 106 36. Dacre .. . . 32 0 1104 1G7 34.05 Merritt 35 15 577 50* 33.94 Allcott . . 25 6 598 131 31.47 MeGirr 29 1 628 72 22.42 James .. . 33 6 469 54 17.37 Oliver .. . 26 4 338 48 15.36 Bern an . . 23 4 271 41 14.26 Henderson 17 6 135 .30 12.27 Cunningham 13 1 96 2,3 8. Bowling. w. E. Av. Dempster .. 8 113 14.14 Dacre •. • • 14 274 19.57 33 660 20. Merritt . • 111 2356 21.22 Lowry . . .. 16 370 23.12 Blunt .. . . 77 1895 25.06 MeGirr . .. 1360 25.37 Henderson . 36 978 26.91 Cunningham 18 551 30.61 Bernau .. 25 784 31.4 Allcott .. 18 684 38. Mills .. .. Q 134 Oliver .. . 1 177 177.

In. N.O B. n.s. Av. Page .. .. 21 2 941 140* 49.15 Dempster . 20 2 811 180 45.05 Lowry . .. 24 1 957 106 41.60 Merritt 20 10 388 49* 38.8 Blunt .. .. 22 1 766 89 36.47 Allcot t .. 15 3 384 131 32. Dacre .. .. 09 0 621 107 28 22 McGirr .. 22 1 582 72 27.71 Mills .. .. 22 1 486 103 23. J 4 Oliver .. 12 2 161 36 16.4 Bernau . . 11 2 142 34* 14.2 Cunningham. 4 1 42 23 14. James .. 22 2 271 44 13 55 Henderson 10 3 84 30 12. Bowling. W. E. Av. Dempster .. 4 35 8.75 6 76 1 2.66 Page . . .. 12 236 19.66 Merritt .. 60 1597 26.61 Blunt .... 50 1394 27.88 Bernau . . 15 456 30.04 McGirr . . . 34 1056 31.05 Henderson . 16 593 37.06 Lowry .... 6 253 42.16 Allcott .. 9 436 48.44 Oliver . . .. 1 71 71. Cunningham 1 158 158.