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C.S. Dempster

120

C.S. Dempster 120 v EnglandBack to boards

Charles Stewart Dempster, better known as Stewie, became the first New Zealand to claim a place on the Honours Boards by scoring a century in New Zealand’s first ever away test match.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Dempster top scored with 53 as New Zealand reached 224 all out.

The game seemed tantalisingly poised when England’s seventh wicket fell with the score on 190, but dual hundreds from Les Ames and Gubby Allen - scoring 122 from the depths number nine - lifted the home side to a total of 454.

Facing a huge first innings deficit, New Zealand’s backs were firmly against the wall, but Dempster batted his side back into contention with his valiant 120.

His time as the sole New Zealander on the Honours Boards was short lived, as his century was soon backed up with 104 from Curly Page, which pushed the Black Caps up to 469/9 declared.

Chasing 240 to win, New Zealand suddenly found themselves in with a chance of a shock victory as England lost their first two wickets with the score on 62. However, they were unable to prize the door fully open, and the match was drawn with England on 146/5.

It was a sterling effort from the New Zealanders playing in their first away test, and beginning their second innings 230 runs behind.

A sole victory in the following game was enough to give England a slender 1-0 series victory, but Stewie Dempster was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1932 for his contributions at the Home of Cricket.