THE FIFTH TEST

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1933, Page 5

THE FIFTH TEST

M.C.C. START WELL

AUSTRALIA’S TOTAL OF 435.

(Australian Pres* Association.)

SYDNEY, February 24. Hot wenther, tempered by a cool ,breeze, prevailed for the second day of the fifth test match. The wicket wa>3 still excellent. Australia resumed their first innings with 296 on for five 'wickets.

Very bright batting by Darling (66) and Oldfield (13) the not out men, and by Lee resulted in 115 runs being added before lunch for th e loss of two wickets.

The Darling—Oldfield partnership was looking dangerous for England when Verity tricked the former, who made 85. Darling, apart from his early mistakes yesterday, batted very forcefully, and .appeared more comfortable against Larwood than were the right-handers. He was batting 148 minutes and collected eight fours. , Lee and Oilclfie'ld registered a fifth partnership of fifty runs in the innings. Lee, who made 42, gave a breezy display, being very severe on Verity, whom ho repeatedly lifted high into the outfield. Lee wag batting only 35 minutes, and hit seven fours. Oldfield also played well. He was run out at 52, but Larwood should have had him caught behind the wickets on three occasions.

A great cheer greeted Australia’s four -hundred, scored in 380 minutes. Thi s was the best score of the series for the home side.

O’Reilly wag streaky in notching his biggest ©core yet in the tpsts, namely 19. Oldfield was run out when Pavnfer threw down th e s tumps from midoff.

Allen gained his first wicket when 123 rung were opposite his name.

Alexander revealed the strokes of n cLss batsman, and was un,conquered at 17.

The innings lasted for 410 minutes and produced 435 rums. Australia ha© reason to be proud 0 f its score. All of th e batsmen went for runs. The English fielding was deplorable. Altogether about a dozen chances went begging during th e innings. Larwood wag easily the best bowler Australia’s new fast bowler, Alexander, opened to Jardine and Sutcliffe. Thp former uvas dropped by McCabe in the slips in Alexander’s second over. Jardine was then .eight, and he added only a single when he was again missed off Alexander, this time by Lee at point. Sutcliffe complained about Alexander finishing his run on the wicket, thereby cutting it up, but the umpire took no action.

The JardiHq gav e -his third chance oil’ O’Reilly, and Oldfield mad, 2 no mistake, taking a brilliant oftteh 011 the leg side. The bowling lacked hostility after tea, and with Sutcliffe and Hammond, especially the latter, in dashing foim, the hundred appeared in 95 minutes. Hammond relished the slow bowlers, anj made many glorious drives off over-pitched balls. Sutcliffe wa s also mor e enterprising than usual, and appeared to be in .excellent form. Hammond reached 50 in 74 minutes, including eight fours. He then gave his first chance, but McCabe, in the slips, failed to hold the ball. Ironmonger was the bowler.

Hammond only added three runs when he was again missed, tins time by Richardson, off Alexander. Sutcliffe’s fifty took 140 minutes. There was quite a stir when Hammond also appealed against Alexander cutting up the pitch. Sutcliffe was caught at short leg off O’Reilly when 56.

England had made a sp’efidid reply to Australia, having on 159 for two wickets, and the match promises to be a long drawn-out struggle. The Australian fielding to-dav was as bad an England’s, Bradman, however, was brilliant in the outfield. The attendance was 25,687, and the takings £2,248.

AUSTRALIA—First Innings. Woodfull, b Larwood 'Richardson, c Jardine, b Larwood 0 Bradman, b Larwood 48 O’Brien, c Larwood, b Voce ... 61 McCabe, c Hammond, b Verity ... 73 Darling, b Verity ' 85 Oldfield, run out 52 Lee, c Jardine, b Verity 42 O’Reilly, b Allen ... 19 Alexander, not out 17 Ironmonger, b Larwood 1 Extras 23 Total dcs Bowling analysis : Larwood 32 overs, 10 maidens, 98 runs, 4 wickets; Voce 24—4—80—1; Allen 25—13—128—1; Hammond 8—2—32—0; Verity 17 —3 62—3; Wvatt 2—o—l2—o. EXGLA'S* D—F i rst In ni u gs. Jardine, c Oldfield, b O’Beilly ... 18 Sutcliffe, c Richardson, b O’Reilly 56 Hammond, not out ”2 Larwood, not out 5 Extras 5 Total for two wickets ... 159