ENGLAND FACED WITH BIG TASK

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5295, 7 January 1947, Page 5

ENGLAND FACED WITH BIG TASK

(Press Assn-

MUST MAKE 460 LAST HOPE OF WINMNG ASHES

-Rec. 9.80 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, Jan. 6. In the final day's play of the third , Test, England is faced with the gargantuan task of making 460 runs to win. the match and retain some hope of winning the Ashes. After a brilliant last-wicket stand by Lindwall, in which he made a bare century, Australia were all out for 536 in their second inmngs just before the tea adjournment. At the close of the day's play, the Englishmen had placed a sound 91 on the board. Brisk batting by McCool and Morris delighted the early crowd thlis morning. Before Morris went out he ir 155 runs in 364 minutes, and knocked eight nuns in an excellent innings with well-timed drives. Johnson, trying a short run was run out by Washbrook. McCool, who stopped knocking after the departure off Morriis, snicked at an off-'ball and was neatly caught. He made 43 in 108 minutes with three fours. His play was characterised by„good pulling. Lindwall, stung with a hit on the leg, retaliated v/ith a grand off-drive and cover-drive, each addiing four. 'Neat driving was seen from Tallon who hit successive no balls from Bedser, straight and high over cover for four. He square-cut the next for four and svvung Bedser for four. The lunch score was seven for 385. Great Partnership Batting merrily and meritoriously, Tallon made 50 in 65- minutes. The new ball did not quell Mm for, with grand driving and pulling he made 11 off Voce's over. Lindwall was also powerful with off-drives and cuts, scoring- successive balls off Bedser anld making 14 off the over. When a glorious cover drive hy Tallon hit the fence, the partnership reached a century in 58 minutes. Ikin missed a near-catch from Tindwall whose three off Hutton gave 52 in 76 minutes. A magnificent six hy Lindwall off Hutton brought the partnership to 154 in 88 minutes. Tallon misjudged. a ball from Wright, and was caught easily by the bowler. He was unfortunate in missing his century, batting 150 minutes and scoring 10 foiurs. Lindwall reached 80 with three glorious drives in succession off Bedser. Compton beautifully caught Dooland at the fence during the next over. Lindwall needed 19 when Toshack came in — and got them — finishing with a glorious off-drive for four through the reinforced field. He went out the same over after batting 113 minutes and scoring 13 fours and one six. It was a grand display of sustained driving.

Details: — AUSTRALIA — First Innings, 365. Second Innings S. G. Barnes c Evans b Yardley 32 A. Morris 'b Bedser 155 D. G. Bradman c and b Yardley 49 A. L. Hassett b Wright . . . . 9 K. Miller c Hammond b Yardley 34 C. V. McCool c Evans b Bedser 43 Johnson run out, >0 Tallon c and' b Wright . . . . 92 Lindwall c Washbrook b Bedser lO'O Dooland c Compton b Wright 4 Toshack not out, 2 Sundries 19 Total 536 Fall of wickets: one for 68; two for

159; three for 177; four tor 242; five for 333; ^x for 335; seven for 341; eight for 495; r-ne for 517. Bowling: Edrich none for 86; Bedser three for 176; Wright three for 131; Yardley three for 67; Hutton one for 28; Voce'none' for 29. ENGLAND— First Innings 351. Second Innings Hutton r.ot out, 25 Washbrook not out, . . . . 60 Sundries 6 Total, none for 91 Bowling: Lindwall none for 16 Miller none- for 8; Dooland none for 31; Toshack none for 24; McCool none for 5; Johnson none for 1.