REQUIRE 315 TO WIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18344, 2 June 1931, Page 7

REQUIRE 315 TO WIN.

DOMINION CRICKETERS. THE MIDDLESEX MATCH. SECOND DAY’S PLAY. United Press Assn. —Elec. 'Tel. Copyright. (Received June 2, 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 1. The match between the New Zealand cricketers and Middlesex at Lords was resumed this morning. On Saturday the County made 241, and when stumps were drawn the visitors had lost two wickets for 33 runs, Mills having made 21, not out. Rain fell last night, but the start of play to-day was not delayed. Four wickets fell cheaply, but Lowry, Cromb and Blunt saved the follow-on and before the last wicket fell there were 152 runs to the credit of the side on the scorebook, a deficit of 89 on the first innings. The home team in their second venture made 225. Merritt took five wickets for 77 runs. The tourists thus require to make 315 runs to win. They have a full day in which to accomplish the task. After New Zealand’s batting failure, the bowlers recaptured much of the lost ground. Middlesex, with a first Innings lead of 89, were dismissed the second time for 225. The wicket was slow and easy throughout. Peebles, the Test googly bowler, kept an admirable length. Now Zealand’s Innings. After a bad start the visiting batsmen played with their backs to the wall. Lowry made a valuable effort, batting an hour for 17 runs. After a follow-on had been averted, Blunt attacked the bowling. He played a fine defensive innings at a critical stage. James left the field before lunch, with an injured hand, but returned after Blunt’s dismissal, to' share the honours of a plucky last-wicket stand with Merritt, which added 32 runs. Middlesex’s Second Strike. Hearne and Enthoven again started well, and a big score appeared likely, but after tea Merritt struck form and live wickets fell in rapid succession. Hard hitting by Durston improved matters for Middlesex.

Despite his . injury, James kept wickets excellently. He missed a chance of stumping I-lendren at 23, which failed to mar his display. Bad catching enabled the later Middlesex batsmen to increase the score. NEW ZEALAND. —First Innings. Mills, b Peebles 34 Weir, L> Allen 3 Kerr, lbw, b Peebles 7 Page, b Allen 1 Vivian, b Peebles 0 Talbot, c and b Peebles 2 Blunt, o Price, b Allen .'. .. .„. . 25 Lowry, c Peebles, b Durston .. 17 Cromb, st. Price, b Ilcarne .... 25 James, e Price, b Peebles .... 5 Merritt, not out . 23 Extras 10 Total 152 Bowling analysis: Allen took three wickets foj 1 51 runs; Ilaig, none for 7; Peebles, five for 66; Hearne, one for 12; Durston, one for 6. MIDDLESEX. First Innings : 241 Second Innings. Enthoven, c Talbot, b Cromb .. 40 Canning, c Page, b Merritt .... 3 Hearne, c Cromb, b Merritt ... 42 Allen, c James, b Merritt 3 Hendren, st. James, b Merritt .. 33 Newman, run out 1 Ilaig, c and b Blunt . . 5 Hulme, b Merritt 2S Durston, st. Ja'hies, b Weir .. 4 9 Peebles, c Merritt, b Cromb ... 15 Price, not out 5 Extra 1 Total 225 Bowling analysis: Cromb took two wickets for 65 runs; Merritt, five for 77; Talbot, none for 21; Blunt, one for 54; Weir, one for 4; Lowry, none for 3. A NICE, KEEN TEAM. PRESS APPRECIATION. (Received June 2, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The Times' cricketing expert, summing up the New Zealanders' month’s play, concludes: “They have only been here a month, but already the general impression is that a nicer, keener team has never visited tills country." THE NEXT MATCH.

The New Zealand cricketers will commenco a match against Cambridge University to-morrow at Cambridge. The 1927 touring New Zealand team suffered defeat against this team, losing the match by live wickets. The scores were: New Zealand 315 (M. L. Pago 134), and 205 (11. C. Blunt 72), Cambridge 255 (F. J. Seabrook IOC’) and 267 for five wickets (E. W. Dawson 107). The Australian team defeated the University last season by an innings ami 134 "runs. Cambridge compiled 14 5 and 225 in their innings, while Australia declared with 504 for 8 wickets in their only venture. There arc seven of the old blues in residence at the University Ibis year, hut of thorn F. R. Brown is Hie only man who really distinguished himself as a batsman last season. Ol the old blues, the principal howlers are R. C. nought-Rought. F. R. Brown, and A. !!. Fabian. A. G. Hazlerigg is another member of last season's team who is a dangerous bowler when on form,