FIFTH WICKET RECORD

Chronicle (Levin), 18 December 1946, Page 5

FIFTH WICKET RECORD

Press Assn -

Bradman and Barnes Make 405 Runs

AUSTRALIA GOULD FORCE WIN

By Telegraph,

•Copyright

Received Tuesday, 9.50 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 1?. A record-breaking iifth wicket partnership by Barnes aud Bradnian in whieh hoth seored double centui'ies has plaeed Australia in a positiou to force a win in the second Test mateh. This pair in adding 405 runs bro.ke the world record score for the fifth wicket put up by Bardsley and Kellaway in a Sheffield Shield ganie in 1920-21. They also put up a new England- Australia Test record, beating the provious hgures of Bradnian and Fairfax of 183 for Australia aud the best by England of 200 by Paynter and Compton. Badman has now scored a century in the last eight Tests in whieh ho has played, He has made eight double centuries in Tests against England. His efiiort today was a remarkable one as he batted under a physical disability and refiised to have a ruitner to assisl liiin. Barnes after his dogged display yesterda'y batted freely today and his knock was invaluable to Australia. The attendance today Was 29,073. The fourth day 's play began in ideal weather on a wicket showing some signs of wear. Bradnian sutfered a gastric upset last night, but had recovered by the time the game started today although he was still limping from his leg injury. « Bedser opened to Barnes who with a two and a three from the first ovei> carried Australia 's score past England 's first innings total of 25o. Wright was the other bowler and Barnes pulled his first delivery to the fence making the partnership worth 100 in 120 minutes. Bedser was played with ease, but Wright conimanding every respect bowled two successive maidens to Bradnian who added only three runs in half an hour. All four of England 's regular bowlersoplus Ikin were tried in the first hour, but the batsiuen went slo»vly foiW-ard and 300 were reached after 419 minutes. The batsmen repeatedly patted down the bowling marks on the wicket, b\it apart from. Wright the bowlers did not cause them undue concern. Xine niore runs made the partnership worth 150 after 183 minutes. At this stage runs caiue a little niore freely, tliough mostly in ones and twos and by lunchtime Australia 's score wras four for 325. Australia had now largely nullified England 's advantage in winning the toss and had given herself some cliance of forcing a win. A full tass from "Wright — tlie first of tlie innings — was eut by Bradnian past point to the fence, taking him into the nineties*, and lie reached liis century after 225 minutes. It was not Bradman at his best because his 100 included only seven fuurs. A little earlier Barnes had reached 150 after 4(50 minutes at the erease. With Australia 100 runs in excess of England 's score Bradman and Barnes tried to accelerate the rate of scoring and despite continued accurate bowling succeeded to a large extent. The 20u partnership was signalled after 241 minutes aiul tlien the sixth bowler Gompton was brought on. Like his predecessors he was uimble to eft'ect a separation. Bradman "aiul Barnes were now thoroughly set and scored freely to all parts of the field, Bradman revealed some beautiful cover and straight drives, while Barnes favoureil a hook shot and lute euts. The bowlers stuck ganielv to their dispiriting task, but 400 caine up with still only four men out. The last 100

had occupied 96 minutes — the fastest 100 -of the inatch thusfar, Thirteeii runs h'ad come from one over bv Bedser and eleven from an over by Gompton. Yurdley was the seventli bowler tried but the batsmen were unperturbed. At tea Barnes was 195 and Bradman 151 and the score four for 441. Bradman 's last fifty was scored in 80 minutes. Edrich and Bedser operated with the new ball after tea, but Bradman and Barnes - continued with attacking st-iukes. r The jitty runa were made , in 48 inihiitfib/4ii]i;lJarnes'VfeaSrhe! his* 200. He had: beem'at the wickets 570 minutes. Th'e boundary shot giving Barnes liis double century also made the partnership worth 300 in 323 minutes. Bradman was now hitting with great power and despite the deeply-sot field he pierced the cordons on both sides of the wicket with gloriolis drives and tremendous pulls to the fence.

\\ lien 221 Barnes was dropped at MdofT by Bedser oft' Wright. From the next ball Bradman reached 200. He had been batting 369 minutes. The batsmen, particularly Bradman, were opening their slioulders to almost every ball and fours were scored freely. The 500 mark was left behind in 610 minutes and the next 50,- largely composed of boundaries, took only 22 minutes. Bradman was now lashing at every ball and four fours in one over from Yardley carried him past Barnes who was 71 when Bradman came in. Bradman was th'en 234 and he got no furiher before Yardley clairned him len--before.

Bradnian 's meritorious innings lasted 391 minutes and he liit 24 fours. Barnes had added a single Jiefore Bradman 's dismissal and he too was out for 234 without addition to the total, being cauglit at midon. Barnes 's marathon performance lasted 10 hours 42 minutes. He liit 17 fours. Scores: ENGLAND. First innings . . . . 955 AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Barnes, c Ikin, b Bedser .. ..^...-234 Morris, b Edrich g Johnson, c Washbrook, b Edrich .! 7 Hassett, c Compton, b Edrich . . 34 Miller, e Evans, b Smith 40 Bradman, Ibw, b Yardley 234 McCool, not out .. .. 3 Tallon, not out 4 Extras jq Total, six wickets for §71 Bowling: Bedser 1 for 141, Edrich 3 for 79, Wright 0 for 127, Smith 1 for 138, Ikin 0 for 15, Compton 0 for 38. Yardley 1 for 23.