INDIA’S MODERATE SCORE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24909, 24 June 1946, Page 6

INDIA’S MODERATE SCORE

FINE BOWLING BY BEDSER IN TEST MATCH (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, June 22. A capacity crowd attended at Lord’s for the-first day of the first test match between England and India. At stumps India had been dismissed for 200, and England had lost four wickets for 135 runs.

India won the toss and elected to bat. The batsmen never conquered the ball throughout the six hours’ play. The fast-medium bowling of A. V. Bedser and Amarnath on a neutral wicket was at times a batsman’s nightmare, and was never the subject for liberties. Bedser bowled 29 overs with only two brief spells to change ends. His feat was one of the most remarkable for many seasons. He showed no signs of fatigue, and no evidence of losing his length. Every wicket he secured was earned.

The small, ’wiry Amarnath, with a short run and terrific arm work, worked up tremendous pace from the pitch. The ball with which he bowled W. R. Hammond when England’s captain seemed set for a big score was . a perfect sizzler. At stumps he had taken four for 42.

Scores —India, first innings: Merchant, c Gibb b Bedser, 12; Amarnath. lbw b Bedser, 0; Mankad, b Wright, 14; Hazare, b Bedser, 31;-Modi, not out, 57; Pataudi. c Ikin b Bedser, 9; Gol Mahomed, b Wright, 1; Hafeez, b Bowes, 43; Hindlemar, lbw b Bedser 3; Nayudu, st Gibb b Bedser, 4; Shinde, b Bedser, 10; extras, 16; total, 200. Bowling: Bowes, 25 overs, seven maidens. 64 runs, one wicket; Bedser, 29.1, 11, 49, 7; Smailes, 5,1, 18, 0; Wright, 17. 4, 53, 2.

England—first innings: Hutton, c Nayudu b Amarnath 7; Washbrook, c Mankad b Amarnath 27; Compton, b Amarnath, 0; Hammond, b Amarnath, 33; Hardstaff, not out, 42; Gibb, not out, 23; extras, 3; total, 135 for four wickets.