CRICKET

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1931, Page 3

CRICKET

THIRD TEST,

AUSTRALIA MAKE 558

(Australian Press Association)

BRISBANE, January 18

The test match, Australia v. West Indies, again opened sensationally, yesterday. Bradman did not score oil resuming, for he was quickly out when lie mishit Constantine, aim was easily caught by Grant at square leg. He bad batted for 297 minutes, bitting 24 fours.

McCabe, who had been subdued, touched a low one from Griffiths, and Constantine took a sensational catch in the slips. Woodfull made runs cautiously until lie failed to connect fairly with one keeping low, and he was caught by the wicketkeeper. The game had now dramatically changed, and West Indies were further encouraged when Fairfax, making a big hit, put, the ball into Sealey’s hands in the outfield, thus making the fourth wicket to fall before lunch for forty runs.

t Griffiths, who was howling with great vim, bad now taken two wickets for six runs. Oxenhnm and Oldfield became associated, and offered an unexpected resistance at a time when the fowlers were obviously on top. They added 75 runs for the eighth wicket in 64 minutes. Oxenhnm was then out leg before to Griffiths. The Queenslander had batted stubbornly, and occasionally with aggression, for eighty minutes. Five hundred' runs had occupied 104 minutes. Grimmett was never comfortable to the fast bowlers, he eventually hitting a simple catch to Constantine at third slip. Ironmonger, who is noted for his poor batting, then came in. scoring a two, and, although Oldfield carefully shepherded him from the strike, he had to face Griffiths, and hit a lofty catch to Roach, the innings closing for 558, scored in 447 minutes. This total was smaller than that promised at the adjournment yesterday, hut is large enough to make- their task very difficult for West Indies. Scores:—

AUSTRALIA—First Innings. Jackson, 1.b.w., b Francis 0 Ponsford, c Birkett, b Francis ... 109 Bradman, c- Grant, h Constantine 223 Kippax, b Birkett 84 McCabe, c Constantine, b Griffiths 8 Woodful, c Barrow, b Griffiths ... 17 Fairfax, c Sealey, b Scott 9 Oxonham, 1.b.w., b Griffiths 48 Oldfield, rot out 38 Grimmett, c Constantine, b Francis 4 Ironmonger, c Roach, b Griffiths ... 2 Extras 16 Total 558

Bowling Analysis:—Francis 3 for 76, Constantine 1 for 74, Griffiths 4 for 133, Scott 1 for 125, Martin 0 for 8-5, Sea ley 0 for 32, Birkett 1 for 16, Grant -0 for 1.

West Indies’ task looked hopeless when Roach and Martin opened, and it seemed more so when Roach was out leg before to Oxenharn with only' five on the board. The Indians’ batting was deadly slow, but these tactics were quite justified, and the crowd of nearly twenty thousand, realising the position, were patient. At one period five successive maidens were bowled hv Fairfax and Oxenharn.

Martin stoutly defended for 65 minutes, when Grimmett heat him, the ball going straight through to bis pads. Of the first 28 overs, thirteen were maidens. Headley took sixty minutes to reach ten. Sealey, one of the most stubborn batsmen, took twenty minutes to make three, when lie gave McCabe a chance in the slips. Headlev and Grant played out time, the latter taking 35 minutes to make two runs. The Indies’ fifth appeal against bad light upheld at 5.50 p.m. WEST INDIES—First Tunings. Roach, 1.b.w., b Oxenharn ... ... 0 /Martin, 1.b.w., b Grinunett 21 Headley, not out 10 Sealey, c McCabe, b Ironmonger ’3 Grant, not out 2 Extras 2 Total fop three wickets 51 M.C.C. TEST. CAPETOWN, Jan u dry 16. A message from Durban states that there was no play in the test match to-day owing to rain.

SYDNEY MATCHES

SYDNEY, January 18

The grade cricket yesterday was remarkable for low scores. The bowlers were on top. Playing for Waverlev against Balmain, Conway took 7 for 72; for Manly against Western Suburbs, Cummins took 6 for 70; for Cumberland against Marrickville, Howell took 5 for 18; and for Northern Districts against University, Hunt took 5 for 19.

A JOURNALISTIC CRICKETER. LONDON. January 17. Fender lias been re-elected Surrey County captain.' despite consistent rumours that he would be superseded owing to his journalistic activities. Throughout the Australian visit these deprived Surrey of his service. The claims of Allom (vice-captain) were strongly advocated.