EXCELLENT START

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 109, 11 May 1931, Page 8

EXCELLENT START

N.Z. CRICKETERS’ TOUR ESSEX WELL DEFEATED MERRITT TAKES EIGHT I WICKETS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] LONDON, May 8. The Essex match ended at 4 o’clock in a meritorious victory for New Zealand by an innings and 48 runs. Sun followed by rain made the wicket, somewhat tricky, and Merritt took full advantage of this. There was also a lack of enterprise on the part, of the batsmen, and Essex were dismissed for 113. Rain delayed the resumption of play by over an hour to-day. Essex followed on, Talbot and Weir opened the bowling, but the attack was soon entrusted to the spin bowlers. The open ing batsmen were out before lunch. Eastman was caught in the slips off the third ball after the resumption, after which O’Connor and Nichols stemmed the tide until Page was brought on and broke the partnership. At this stage Merritt was most dangerous, taking four wickets in rapid succession. He bowled O’Connor with a “googly.” iDaer improved the position by some hard hitting, but it was a forlorn hope. Apart from three overs by Talbot, Merritt bowled throughout the innings and maintained an excellent length. He flighted the ball well and masked the “googly” effectively. The decisive victory is regarded as a magnificent advertisement for the side. Details of the scores are as follows: New Zealand First innings 425 Essex First innings 2G4 Second Innings Cutmore, c Allcott. b Merritt .... 18 Pope, c James, b Merritt 7 O’Connor, b Merritt 23 Eastman, c Page, b Merritt .... 0 Nichols, b Page 11 Sheffield, c and b Merritt 3 Morris, b Blunt 0 Hipkin, b Merritt 2 Daer, b Merritt 23 Smith, c James, b Merritt ...... 0 Bray, not out 24 Extras .< 2 Total 113 Bowling.—Talbot took no wickets for 9 runs, Weir none for 5, Merritt eight for 41, Allcott none for 12, Blunt one for 39, and Page one for 5. Missing scores ’n the New Zealand innings are as follows: IDcmpster 212, Talbot 21. PRAISE FOR JAMES LONDON, May 8. The Times praises the brilliant wicketkeeping of James, and the valuable bowling of Merritt and Blunt.