INDIA FIGHTING TO AVERT DEFEAT

Chronicle (Levin), 18 November 1947, Page 5

INDIA FIGHTING TO AVERT DEFEAT

SYDNEY, Nov. 17. The astonishing collapse of aspirants for Australia 's test team yras a feature of the third day's play in the match India versus an Australia eleven. In little more than an hour the last six wickets fell for 38 runs. India 's middle batsmen again faiied to get going' in tlie secoiul innings and at stumps, with lead of 11,8 runs and five wickets down, the tourists were lighting to avert defeat. The Australian team's batting collapse was because of sheer bad batting. The wicket was near perfect. One after the other the batsmen snicked at balls pitched outside the off stump and they paid the penaity they deserved. These were caught by the wicketkeeper Irani and two others at first slip. Four runs were added to Saturday's total of four for 342 and then three wickets fell wilhout addition. >Sohoni had the fine figures of three for six iuday off five overs. India began their second innings only 54 runs in arrears. The Indian openers 2Iankad and Garwate, taking no chanc-es, wiped off the deficit. Their first wicket partnership of 69 was the best of the Indians so far on the tour. iMankad batted well for his runs. Gul Mahomed gave chances at 12 and 18 before being bowled at 20. Sarvvate, in a painstaking innings, took 186 mmutes to reach 58. He had a life at 33. tndia's two best batsmen,* Hazare and Amarnath, faiied and at stumps India was struggling for runs. Dooland was the best of the accurate attack. ALNSTRALIA. First Innings, Rogers, run out lti Brown, c Hazare, li .Sohoni .... 8 BrAdman, c Amarnath, b Hazare 172 Miller, b Mankad st) Hamence, c Hazare, b Sohoni .... 2? N. Har-vey, e Alankad, b Hazare .. 32 Loxton c Irani, b Sohoni 0 Saggers, c Irani, b Sohoni j Dooland, lbw, li Mankad 5 Herbert, not out 2o Johnston, c Irani, b Amarnath 2 Extras ' . . . . . . . . 0 Total gst, Bowling: Sohoni 4 for 89, Amarnath 1 for 53, Mankad 2 for 93, Sarwate 0

for 51, Navudu 0 for 19, Kischenc.hand 0 for 3, Hazare 2 for 67. INDIA. First Innings 326 Second Innings. Mankad, c Saggers, h DoG'and .. 34 Sarwate, c Bradman, b Johnston .. 5 « Gul Mahomed, b Dooland 20 Hazare, c Saggers. b Miller . . . . 15 Amarnoth, b Johnston 7 Adhikari, not out 23 Rangnekar, not out y Extras y Total for 5 wickets 172 Bowling, Johnston 2 for 43, Loxton 0 for 26, Herbert 0 for 23, Miller 1 lor 24, Dooland 2 for 48. *