AUSTRALIA UNLUCKY TO LOSE TEST

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5322, 7 February 1947, Page 5

AUSTRALIA UNLUCKY TO LOSE TEST

( Press Assn.-

DOG'GBD ENGLISH STAND; magnificent work by compton and evans

-Rec. 9.30 p.m:)

ADELAIDE, Feb 6. Compton and Evans held up the Australian bowlers throughout the morning session in the fourth cricket Test, to take the score to 340, whiqjh, allowing for Australia's first innings lead of 27, gave England a lead of 313 runs. Compton completed his second century in the match, being only the fourth batsman•to do so in British and Australian Tests. He batted 279 minutes for his century, hitting ten fours in ^>ne of the best and most patient performances seen in first-class cricket for a long time. For dogged determination, Evans' knock would also he hard to surpass. He was at the crease 95 minutes before he opened his account. . The match ended in a draw, after Hammond made the amazing move of declaring the M.C.C. innings closed with eight xvickets down. He allowed Compton and Evans to go to the wickets after the lunch ' adjournment, but only one ball was bowled by Lindwall when the innings closed. The only rea- ' son for the action was to gain a ten-minute break between inpings. Australia was then left with 195 minutes to bat, and in which time to score 314 runs to win. The bajfcsnien made no attempt to get the runs required. Nevertheless, Morris gave a very free dis.play of batting until tea. With Harvey he put up 99 in 90 minutes. He scored at a run-a-minute^ rate for the first half-bour, but faded away as Harvey began to take strike. The score took orlly 48 minutes to reach the'half-century.

Morris Trounces Bowlers Morris took 68 minutes for his first 50. Interest had gone out of' the game by tea because then it was evident that the Australian batsmen were- out only for practice. Morris was the star of the Australian batting. Opening out strongly after tea he trounced the English bowling to record his second f^entury in the game. He took 124 minutes. for his runs, hitting ten fours. It was a record for all Tests for two players to score an individual 100 in each innings. Morris is the Tirst Australian to perform the feat in Australia. ITe holds another record because he is the only player to break into fi¥st-class cricket with separate hundreds in each innings. This was done against Queensland for New South Wales m 1940-41. Bradman settled down quicidy after a streaky start and took only 32 minutes to add 50 in the partnersliip with Morris. Australia looked to have an outside chance when runs eame at a hurricane rate, but the scoring slackened later. , « Bradman took 68 minutes to leaeh 50, hitting four fours. Details: — ENGLAND — First Innings — 460 Second Innings Washbrook, c Tallon b Lindwall 39 Hutton, b Johnson - „ „ 76 Edrich, c Bradman b Toshack .. 46 Hammond, c Lindwall b Toshack 22 Ccmpton, not out .. 103 Hardstaff, b Toshack .. ... 9 Ikin, lbw b Toshack .. „ 1 Yardley, c Tallon b MeCool 18 Bedser, c Tallon b Miller ... . 3 Evans, not out - 10 Extras .. .. ... .. ' 13 Total, for 8 wckts., decl. „ 340 Bowling: Lindwall, 2 for 60; Miller, one for 34; Toshack, 4 for 76: Dooland, none for 65; MeCool, none for 41; Johnson, 1 for 51. AUSTRALIA — First Innings — 487 Second Innings V Harvey, b Yardley .. . 31 Morris, not out .. .. .. 124 Bradman, not out .. .. 56 Extras .. .. ... 4 Total, for one wicket . 215 Bowling: Bedser, none for 68; Edrich, none for '25; Yardley, one for 69; Wright, none for .49.