DOMINION CRICKETERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19920, 16 August 1927, Page 5

DOMINION CRICKETERS

STATISTICS OF TOUR New Zealanders Have Pleased and Surprised DEMPSTER STILL LEADS England’s best ally—as far as cricket is concerned—is the climate, according to Colonial visitors and if there is much truth in the contention it could be claimed that the result of some of the matches which the New Zealand touring team has had to abandon would have been different had the weather been fine. The latest example of the fickleness of the English summer was the match with Gloucestershire, at Cheltenham, which ended in a draw owing to heavy rain preventing play on the third day. However, the visitors will accept the situation philosophically and cricketenthusiasts in the 'Dominion will feel inclined to Ibok upon the twenty-nintn match of the tour as a moral win lor New Zealand by an innings. Lowry’s splendid effort of 101 not out, was well backed up by Mills (86), Dacre (64), Page 59) and Blunt (42). The bowling, which was very good, was evenly divided, Page coming out best with 2 wickets for 18 runs. Then follow Bernau, 2 for 19, Merritt, 4 fur 62, McGirr, 2 for 42, and Blunt 3 for 66. The New Zealanders have now won ten matches, lost four and drawn fifteen. They have scored 22 centuries, against their opponents’ 18. In all matches their total score amounts' to 12,083 runs against the 11,513 scored by their opponents. In first-class matches New Zealand have scored twelve centuries against their opponents’ eleven, and their total of runs amounts to 7,661 against 7,197. They have won four first-class matches, lost four and drawn oignt. In all matches seven of the team ; have a batting average of over ,30 runs an innings and in bowling seven of the team have an average of under 25 runs a wicket. In first-class matches, five of the team have an average of over 30 runs an innings and in bowling four of the team have an average of under 24 runs a wicket. Dempster and Bernau, Wanganui’s representatives, have averages of 8.75 and 23.40 respectively. The perform- 3 ances reflect great credit on all concerned and more than justify the expense of sending the team home. Very few people in New Zealand even hoped that the team would put up such a sterling performance, and it is to be sincerely hoped that they will be given a fitting and rousing reception on their return home. Merritt’s exceedingly fine performances deserve special mention. In all matches he has a batting average of 30.6 and has taken 118 wickets at a cost of 20 runs a wicket. In first-class matches he has taken 67 wickets at a cost of 25 runs a wicket and his butting average is 32.53. Canterbury are to be congratulated on their representative’s fine achievement. The following arc the full details of the batting and bowling averages in all matches:— Batting.

Catches taken: James has taken 34 catches, Dempster 23, Lowry 22, Page 22, Blunt 16, Allcott 14, Dacre 13, Mills and Oliver 12, Merritt 10, Cunningham and Henderson 9, McGirr 6 and Bernau 4. James has stumped 31, Lowry seven and Dacre 1. The following are the averages for the first-class matches: —

Catches taken: James has taken 22 catches, Page 15, Dempster 14, Lowry 12, Blunt 11, Allcott and Mills 7, Dacre, Henderson, Merritt and Oliver 4, McGirr 3, Cunningham 2, and Bernau 1. James has stumped 19 and Lowry two. CENTURIES IN ALL MATCHES Dempster (6).—109* v. Club Conference, 178 v. Durham, 154 v. Scottish Counties, 180 v. Warwickshire, 167* v. Glamorgan, and 101 v. Surrey. Lowry (4). —106 v. M.C.C., 106 v. Sussex, 106 v. Worcestershire, and 101 v. Gloucester. Dacre (3).—101 v. Martincaux XL, 107 v. M.C.C., and 167 v. Edinburgh Clubs. Mills (3).—-188 v. Martineaux XL, 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. IN FIRST-CLASS MATCHES Lowry (4).—106 v. M.C.C., 106 v. Sussex, 106 v. Worcester, and 101* v. Gloucester. Dempster (3). —180 v. Warwickshire, 167* v. Glamorgan, and 101 v. Surrey. Pa,ge (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. * Not Out. DERBYSHIRE MATCH CORRECTED SCORES. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, Aug. 13. The following are the corrected scores in Derbyshire’s first innings against the New Zealanders— Derbyshire. First Innings. Storer, st James, b Merritt .... 8 Lee, b Bernau 41 Worthington, c James, b Merritt .. 31 Jackson, st. James, b Merritt .... 1 Slater, c Allcott, b Merritt .... 8 Hutchinson, st. James, b Merritt 0 Ford, b Blunt 1 A. Jackson, c Lowry, b Merritt .. 7 Townsend, c James, b Blunt .... 5 Cresswell, not out 9 Elliott, c Oliver, b Bernau 5 Extras 13 Total 129 Bowling.—Bernau took two wickets for 23; Oliver none for 6; Merritt six for 63; Blunt two for 24; Allcott 0 for 0. UNIQUE OCCURRENCE BAIL OFF BUT ON AGAIN. LONDON, Aug. 14. In a cricket match, Wing (Rutlandshire), bowled a fast ball which sent the bail flying in the air, where it somersaulted and then lodged on the stumps again. The umpire gave the batsman not bowled. VISIT TO SYDNEY MATCH AGAINST NEW SOUTH WALES. AUSTRALIANS FOR NEW ZEALAND NEXT YEAR. [Per Presa Association.J WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. ' Mr D. Reese, chairman of the New ; Zealand Cricket Council, confirms the ' statement that the New Zealand team ' will play a match in Sydney, beginning on October 28, on the way back to the Dominion. The Council would have liked to arrange games in Adelaide and Melbourne, but it was too early in the season and would take up too much time. ' New South Wales approved of 90 ’ per cent, of the net gate going to the visitors.

Mr Reese found the Australian authorities almost unanimous that all negotiations for visits in the future should be with the Board of Control and not with individual States. It will be brought before the New Zealand Council. He discussed the question of a visit from an Australian eleven next season, as there would be no chance the following summer while the English team is in Australia, and is able to say that the Board of Control will send a side over in February and March next as a sort of try out. Members will be prospective Test eleven men, such as Kippson and Jackson. He found that quite keen interest was taken in the doings of the New Zealand team, who were considered to have performed so well that the Australians were keen to see them in action in Sydney.

In. N.O. R. U.S. Av. Dempster .. 38 6 1747 180 54.59 Blunt .. . . 34 1 1539 195 46.63 Lowry .... 37 2 1314 106 37.54 Mills .. .. 40 7 1219 188 36.93 Page .. .. 39 ,3 1265 140* 35.13 Dacre .. .. 35 0 1189 167 33.91 Merritt 35 15 612 50* 30.6 Alleott . .. 28 6 618 131 28.09 McGirr . .. 3 2 1 644 72 20.79 Janies . .. 34 7 472 54 17.48 Oliver . . . 26 4 338 48 15.36 Bernau . .. 26 4 305 41 13.86 Henderson . 17 6 135 30 12.27 Cunningham 15 3 96 23 8. Bowling. w. R. Av. Dempster .. .. . 8 113 14.14 Page .... 35 689 19.68 Dacre .. .. 14 282 20.14 Merritt .. . 118 2465 20.88 Lowry .... 16 370 23.12 McGirr .. . 60 1419 23.65 Blunt . . .. 80 1995 24.93 Bernau .. . 32 843 26.34 Henderson . 36 978 26.94 Alleott .. . 25 7.31 29.21 Cunningham .. . 18 551 30.61 Milks .... 3 134 44.66 Oliver .... . . 1 177 177.

Batting. Page .. .. In. 24 N.O . jR. 1004 ILS. 140* Av. 45.45 Lowry .... 27 J 1083 106 43.32 Dempster .. 24 J 881 180 40.04 Blunt .. .. 25 1 878 89 36.25 Merritt . .. 23 10 423 49* 32.53 Due re . .. 25 0 706 107 28.24 Allcott . .. 18 3 404 131 26 90 McGirr . .. 25 1 598 72 24.91 Mills .. .. 25 594 103 24.75 Oliver . .. 12 2 164 36 16.4 Bernau . .•. 14 2 176 34* 14.66 Cunningham 6 3 42 23 14. James . . . 23 3 274 44 13.7 Henderson 10 3 84 .30 12. Bowling w. R. Av. Dempster .. 4 35 8.75 Dacre .. .. 6 84 14. Page .. .. 14 266 19. Bernau .. ,. 22 515 23.40 Merritt . . 67 1706 25.46 McGirr .. .. 40 1115 27.84 Blunt .. .. 53 1494 28.18 Allcott .. 15 457 30.46 Henderson . 16 593 37.06 Lowry . . 6 253 42.16 Oliver .. .. 1 71 71. Cunningham .. . 1 158 158.