WINTRY WEATHER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 8

WINTRY WEATHER

ANOTHER WIN FOR RAIN MINOR COUNTIES’ MATCH ABANDONED UNFINISHED [ By Telegraph—Pres Association —Copyright] GAINSBOROUGH, June 19. A heavy thunderstorm delayed the resumption of play in the cricket match between New Zealand and the Minor Counties. It was decided to make a start after lunch and to draw stumps at 4.30 p.m. to allow the New Zealand team to proceed to Peterborough. The wicket, which had been covered, played easily, after lunch, and the counties carried their score to 115 for three wickets in 110 minutes when a further thunderstorm interrupted play. The match w;l|. abandoned as a draw. The weather was not favourable for cricket, being bitterly sold. The New Zealand bowling lacked sting, although Lowry again proved a successful change bowler. Homer batted soundly for the counties, and his driving was powerful. Mills’ batting success yesterday is most gratifying in view of the proximity of the Test. He drove with, refreshing freedom, and, -with Merritt, was responsible for some clever riming between the wickets. Final details are:— Minor Counties. First Innings _ 191 Second Innings. Cook, by Weir „ 24 Homer, c Page, by Lowry 40 Kingsley, b Lowry „ q Remnant, not out ...... __ 24 Fordham, not out 22 Extras .. 5 Total, three wickets for 115 Bowling: Mills took no wickets for 4 runs, Allcott none for 15, Merritt one for 40, Page none for 1, Weir cne for 20, Talbot none for 18, and Lowry two for 12. New Zealand First Innings Total, eight wickets for 361 (Innings declared closed.) APPROACHING THE TEST

MINOR COUNTY PLAYERS. • ill spite of the fact that New Zealand has established a splendid lead in the match against the Minor Counties eleven, it does not do to take minor county teams cheaply, as in secondclass cricket at Home there are some very fine players, and a strong representative side can be placed in the field. This has been shown by the good performances registered in special fixtures for the minor counties’ representatives. For the present match the New Zealand team is at good strength, except that Cromb and Matheson arc both missing from the bowling department. The tourists continue to have an exceptionally bad spin in the matter of playing conditions, and it is not helping them in their need of the best play possible before they meet England’s elect at Lord’s next Saturday, when, it i s hoped, the weather will be of the right type for the big Test. Two players by the name of Cook figure prominently in second-class county cricket—W. T. Cook with Surrey and J. G. Cook with Bedfordshire 1 is probable that W. T. Cook is the playe against New Zealand, as the Surrey second eleven man has captained the minor counties in recent times He is a good batsman, and last season made top score (86) for the minor counties m their match with Lancashire m Which they led the champion county on the first innings. The ony Other minor counties’ representative who played in that match last season. ’ n the team New Zealand is C. Walters, one of Oxfordshire s best all-rounders. Co,k also the minOr counties against the South Africans two seasons ago making scores of 45 and 92. The Hon: 1- 1. Remnant also batted well in that match. He and the Hon. R. J y Kem . nant are two of Berkshire’s leading batsmen, and RJF , >= bowlin,, nSr ' also does some bowlmg. ihere is n 0 indication’in the cablegram as to which of these two ™Uma“ d iUthe tea ” f “ New°7p n °i f *s° Pla . ye, ' S en B a g ed against " ew Zealand at Gainsborough are new representatives of the minor eounSJ mS Payers are missing is Sidney Barnes, the former great » wh " haa been d ° d <g Barnes’ tor Staffordshire. arnes minor county is represented in the team against New Zealand by CooT"’ IT ° “ ade a g ° Od Opcni,, g witb Cook. Homer’s score last week was foH C h- ha i n any made by him for Staffordshire l ast season. L. disposing of P- G, I. Kingsley for a “duck,” Merit Oxford l' ayer Wh ° no ‘ Only did we]l the hat b jn , lV , crslt y < his efforts with the bat included a score of 176 against Surrey), but also topped the bitting averages for Hertfordshire It J,s with Herts that the late C. H Titch marsh played. Another Herts player in the team against New Zealand is C bos al? ““’a ° “ re g arde d as the eleve.l r° U •" tho Hertfordshire eleven. In addition to batting well last season he topped the bowling averages. R. E. Frearson is one of Lincolnshire s best batsmen; M. B. Elderton plays for Dorset; and C. V. Rafferty headed the batting averages for Buckinghamshire last season.