Two Centuries

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 553, 4 January 1929, Page 11

Two Centuries

BRADMAN AND WOODFULL

Australia’s Test Batting

EIGHT WICKETS DOWN FOR 347

AUSTRALIA, in the third Test against England, has made *347 runs for eight wickets. England had only a 20-run lead on Australia in the first innings, so that it will have to make up a lot of leeway on a fourth-innings wicket. The position is interesting. Bradman yesterday made his first century in test cricket. Woodfull also made a century. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright)

MELBOURNE, Thursday. The weather was fine and warm and the wicket wearing well when the test match was resumed this morning. The not out men were Woodfull and Kippax. Chapman put on White to bowl into the wind to Woodfull, who scored a single and another off Larwood. Tate bowled two maidens. He was relieved by Geary, Chapman changing the bowlers quickly. Tate, bowling with the wind, was cut for three by Woodfull. Ixippax had added seven to his score when lie'was clean bowled by Tate. He had batted 94 minutes. His innings included four fours. His was artistic batting. The score was three for 138. The partnership had added 78 runs. Tate was in grand form, and kept a good length. Ryder scored a single off Tate, then he hit Geary to the boundary, hut played the same bowler on with the next ball. Four for 143. BRILLIANT PLACING Bradman opened slowly, and was content to hold up his wicket for Woodfull, who was batting solidly, and brought 150 up in 198 minutes. Tate had six overs for eight runs and one wicket. White and Geary kept the batsmen quiet. Bradman played an over from White for a slow leg bye and two runs. The placing of the field by Chapman was brilliant. Bradman xvas forcing White but there was no score. Hammond was in great form. Woodfull's 80 came up, and only eight runs had been scared In 20 minutes. The batsmen were fighting hard, playing carefully and scoring slowly. White was exceptionally accurate. Prior to luncheon he bowled eight overs for four runs. Woodfull scored a century, the batsman driving White for three, in 259 minutes. He did not change bats. Hendren was prominent in the field. Then Woodfull played White to leg for three. The score was 200 in 269 minutes. The Tate-Duckworth combination got Woodfull, who had batted for 271 minutes. His innings included seven fours. It was a fighting innings. BRADMAN HITS OUT Oldfield joined Bradman, who batted safely. White had bowled 16 overs for 15 runs. He was very troublesome. Hammond was tried, and Oldfield cut him to leg for four, but fell to White, playing him on. The score was six for 22G. Then the two colts were partnered, A’Beckett and Bradman. Chapman was still saving countless runs.

Bradman now took the offensive, and gavo a masterly exhibition. He drove White to the boundary three times. It was delightful batting.' A’Beckett was shaping well when White with a great ball bowled him in the last over prior to tea. Seven wickets were down for 252. The outlook was not so promising. DUCKWORTH HOOTED

Oxenham joined Bradman and got two off Tate. Bradman continued merrily, treating the bowling aggressively. Chapman missed stopping his first hot one for the day. Thfe batsmen gave a beautiful display between the wickets. Duckworth was hooted for an appeal against Bradman for leg-before to White. Larwood had not bowled since the morning, and then only for five overs. Chapman persisted at one end with White for 20 consecutive overs. Bradman favoured drives. The fielding was well placed. White left the field with an injured hand caused when receiving a throw-in from Ley land. Oxenham was holding up his c-nd well getting an occasional single. Bradman was wonderful and received applause for pulling Geary for two, making his total 80. White returned and commenced bowling. Oxenham drove him for four and off the third ball repeated the shot. Hendren showed bright fielding, and his shots at the wicket kept the batsmen in the crease. Oxenham hit Geary to square leg twice. Bradman’s placing was excellent. Then Oxenham pulled Geary for three, bringing up 300 in 38S minutes. A diversion was caused by Duckworth fielding a ball, while the batsman ran

three. Both batsmen were* going well, and scored 65 for an hour’s play. BRADMAN REACHES CENTURY Then there was a quiet period of batting, with runs coming slowly. White once appeared to have a difficulty in placing one of his field. Bradman pulled White, and a hard-run four brought him his first century in testmatch cricket. The ovation was deafening. lie was congratulated all round. His innings was chanceless. Continuing, he straight drove Geary to the boundary, cut White and passed Woodfull’s score. Duckworth made another excursion in fielding. Oxenham was plodding along. Bradman changed his bat at 111. Geary bowled, and after a single the batsman was caught by Duckworth off Geary. He had batted 246 minutes, his score including seven fours. It was a magnificent innings. The score was eight for 345. The partnership had added 93 runs in 93 minutes. Grimmett replaced Bradman, taking Geary and Larwood, who bowled the last over. The attendance was 33,600, and the gate receipts £2,600. The following are the details of the scores: AUSTRALIA First innings 397 Second innings WOODFULL, st Duckworth, b Tate . 107 RICHARDSON, b Larwood 5 HENDRY, st. Duckworth, b White 12 KIPP AX, b Tate 41 RYDER, b Geary ! F 5 BRADMAN, c Duckworth, b Geary . 112 OLDFIELD, b White 7 A’BECKETT, b White 6 OXENHAM, not out 39 GRIAIAIETT, not out 0 Extras 13 Eight wickets for 347 ENGLAND First innings 417 “ANYBODY’S GAME” HILL WEIGHS CHANCES BRADMAN’S GREAT EFFORT (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 12.58 p.m. LONDON, Thursday. Clem Hill, writing in the “Daily Telegraph,” agrees that the test is anybody’s game; but he prefers Australia’s chance. He praises Duckworth’s catclT dismissing Woodfull. “He is an excellent keeper, hut he must curb his weakness for appealing.” Woodfull, he says, merits the warmest praise, but he considers that Bradman’s effort was greater. He has the ways of a veteran. Many shots were akin to those of Trumper. Australia, says Mr. Hill, was fortunate to discover such a champion, who is certain to go to England in 1930.

WOOLLEY’S FEARS F. E. Woolley expects that Blackie and Grimmett will put severe problems to England on a worn wicket. It will be necessary for all the batsmen to pull their full weight. If Hobbs and Sutcliffe touch form, 350 is not too big. “Think at the moment of what Australia has done in this match. If you are fair-minded, you will realise that it has revealed a spirit of fight comparable to the days of Darling and Noble.”

He fears England's hopes of keeping the “ashes” must be deferred. Australia deserves to be rewarded for the way in which the team has fought in adversity. He places Blackie’s performance next in merit to Hammond's. Woolley criticises Ryder’s policy of opening with Richardson, who is essentially a forcseful batsman, and an ideal player at fifth or sixth wicket. The policy is distinctly to England’s advantage. It may seem strange, but he would open with Woodfull and Oldfield.