378 RUNS TO WIN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 305, 9 December 1936, Page 6

378 RUNS TO WIN

EXCITING TEST. CAN AUSTRALIA? Fortunes See-saw In Brisbane Match. - . Press Brisbane, Dec. 8. With nine wickets in hand Australia needs 378 runs ‘to win the first cricket test against England. England made 256 in the second innings, making a grand total of 614. Australia-, which, made 234 in the first innings, to-day began sensationally, Fingleton being bowled first ball by'Voce. A see-saw test swung Australia’s way again in as exciting a pre-lunch period as yesterday, when England was on top, says J. B. Hobbs in cop*y L right comment. Australia -lost three wickets for 51 in 90 minutes. England also lost three wickets and scored .two fewer runs. .

On hoth occasions good bowling was responsible . Bradman persisted with the slow bowlers, Chipperfield, Ward and O’Reilly, The only time he put* on a. bowler with any pace was when he gave Sievers four overs just before lunch. Those were maidens. Fagg was the first to go. Leyland stepped into the breach, as he has often done lately, holding the side together. Hammond seldom played forward becauie Ward was making the ball turn. Ames was* a victim to Sievers, a medium paced bowler, with a really' good ball. Dourly Fought Match. Never can a test have been more dourly fought. Had it not been a test we could not'have endured the slow cricket, but, realising .the bitter battle being staged, I think we all enjoyed < it. Similar conditions obtained after lunch.

When he had added 14 Leyland was sensationally caitght off Ward. Leyland’s was a useful 33 ,but six for 144 was not nearly enough to please.

The crux of .the match probably' came during the period between lunch and tea. Thanks to the seventh wicket stand of 61 by Hardstaff and Allen, things turned England’s way again. Hardstaff took an hour to reach 16. When he had made 20 he left the ( lease, played forward and was stump' ed.

Allen raised himself in the batting order so.as to be fresher for bowling. He batted so stubbornly that he may have had the opposite effect. Alien’s effort raised him in the public esteem.

O’Reilly’s Bad Luck.

I said the slow bowlers would, come into their own. Ward has done so, but so far O’Reilly, who beat and almost bowled him, typifying his bad luck in this innings. A. storm was brewing, with, clouds and distant thunder, as the ninth wicket stand laboriously 1 added a valuable 42 runs. At 244 Bradman had to put on McCabe and Sievers with the new I ball. Australia was in a quandaiy. I Sievers in the second over dismissed I Verity leg before. j Allen was eventually caught, ax Tn ( the first innings,, having a hit. Fin- I gle'ton, running from mid off behind ? the bowler, made a good catch. Allen I hit eight fours and scored most of his I runs on the leg side. This "left Australia 381 to make to win. The Australians appealed against the light, before receiving a ball and then played on against Voce. 1 hope rain does not come and spoil things and that we shall see the match played out on its merits. Australia fought back grandly, but England is in a stronger position than it was last night. Detailed scores are: ENGLAND. First Innings 358 Secind Innings. Worthington, st. Oldfield, b McCabe 8 Barnett, c Badcock, b Ward .... 26 Fagg, st. Oldfield, b Ward 27 Hammond, hit wicket, b Ward .. 25 Leyland, c Bradman, b Ward .. 33 Aines, b Sievers 9 Allen, c Fingleton, b Sievers .... 68 Hardstaff, st. Oldfield, b Ward .. 20 Robins, c Chipperfield, b Ward .. 0 Verity, 1.b.w., b Sievers.. .... 19 Voce, not out 2 Extras.. .. 19 * Total 256 Fail of Wickets. 123456 7 8 9 10

17 50 82 105 122 .144 205 2)7 256 Bowling,

Sievert:.. ..... 0. M. II. W. .. '19.6 9 29 3 McCabe .. .. . . .. (>114 1 OKeilly .. .. 35 15 59 0 Ward .... 46 16 102 0 i Chipperlield.. .... .. ... 10 2 33 . I