ENGLAND PILES UP RUNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1938, Page 7

ENGLAND PILES UP RUNS

AFTER DISASTROUS OPENING Double Century to Hammond McCORMICK BARRACKED FOR BODYLINE BOWLING (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. England opened disastrously in the second cricket Test against Australia begun at Lords today, losing three wickets very cheaply. Hammond and Paynter, however, made a stand, and by good batting improved the position, bringing the score from three wickets for 30 to three for 134 at the luncheon interval. They made their runs in 102 minutes. ■ Playing determinedly Hammond and Paynter gradually strengthened England’s position, and were principally responsible for the home team’s first innings prospects being of the brightest. McCormick took all three wickets, sending down 10 overs for 33 runs. He made the ball rise sharply and was also swinging it, being barracked by the crowd for “bodyline” bowling. The weather is fine and the wicket good, though with signs of a few patches. Hammond won the toss. There was plenty of life in the wicket and McCormick was bowling at the highest speed he Jias achieved since his arrival in England. He badly beat Edrich in the third over and shattered his stumps, two wickets being down for 20 within 20 minutes, discounting England’s advantage in winning the toss. Hammond joined Barnett, who was batting with characteristic confidence, and began crisply. To the first ball of McCormick’s fifth over Barnett was out. The ball pitched well up on the off stump and Brown dashing from short square-leg, held a spooned-up catch. McCormick then had three wickets for 15 in a sensational first half-hour. The gates were closed at noon, every seat having been sold.. The crowd numbered 32,000.

HAMMOND CONFIDENT. Fleetwood-Smith replaced McCabe when the score was 35, O'Reilly a little •later replacing McCormick. Fingleton went close to throwing down Paynter’s wicket. The atmosphere became less tense with Hammond and Paynter playing Fleetwood-Smith and O’Reilly with firm skill. Hammond was especially graceful and confident. He crashed O’Reilly to the boundary on several occasions. Continuing after lunch, Hammond and Paynter brought the score to 229 for three wickets at 3.30 p.m., Hammond’s score being 115 and Paynter’s 82. REMARKABLE SCORING RATE. Paynter, after making 17 in an hour, hooked Fleetwood-Smith to square leg for 6, raising 100 runs in 95 minutes. The partnership was worth 100 runs after 85 minutes play, a remarkable rate of scoring considering England’s bad position. At lunch time the brilliance of Hammond and the patience-of Paynter had helped to offset Australia’s advantage. KING MEETS PLAYERS. • Play was resumed ten minutes late after lunch, the King, accompanied by Viscount Baldwin, having been introduced to the teams by Hammond and Bradman respectively, in front of the stand, after which Hammond called for three cheers for his Majesty, which were heartily given. The batsmen continued to score at a good rate. Hammond at 87 square-cut McCormick hard to point where O’Reilly missed a difficult low, left-hand catch. Chipperfield, who had bowled one over before lunch, came on again. At 178 Paynter at 54 drove one hard straight back to Chipperfield, who missed a difficult high catch, the ball going to the boundary. HAMMOND REACHES CENTURY. Hammond reached his century in 145 minutes, the Australians joining in the applause for his magnificent innings, easily his finest test innings against Australia in England. Fleetwood-Smith and Chipperfield were expensive and the second century was .passed in 175 minutes. McCormick used a new ball, but his pace had. sadly fallen off. ‘ The partnership was worth 200 runs scored in-160 minutes. McCormick, who was limping, appeared to have strained an ankle, and dropped to half pace. RECORD PARTNERSHIP. The batsmen were now decidedly masters of the situation, and scored freely. However, when 99 Paynter nervously faced O’Reilly and walked straight into a leg before wicket trap. It was a sound and occasionally brilliant innings, which lasted 185 minutes. It included one 6 and. thirteen 4’s. The partnership of 222 is a fourth wicket record tfor England. Compton was unhappy against

O’Reilly and was out trying for a big on-drive. Hammond and Ames batted quietly until the tea adjournment. CHIPPERFIELD INJURED. McCormick, who still was limping, reopened at a moderate pace. Two boundaries by Ames raised 300 in 265 minutes. Hammond, though now not showing his earlier brilliance, looked as safe as ever. None of the bowlers troubled him. The bowlers and the fieldsmen were tired. McCabe bowled for long spells in the hope of keeping down the runs. In a gallant attempt to catch Hammond, who was 188, off his own bowling, Chipperfield damaged his left hand and retired. The partnership was worth 100 runs in ninety minutes, and Hammond, hitting splendidly, reached 200 after 315 minutes batting. RUNS COME FREELY. Bradman made frequent bowling changes but, with McCormick worn out and Fleetwood-Smith unable to find a good length, runs came freely. The fourth century was raised after 350 minutes. At stumps Hammond had been batting 335 minutes and had hit twentysix 4’s. Ames batted 120 minute.. for his half century. ' The attendance in the afternoon reached 32,400, and the takings amounted to £3991. It was first stated that Chipperfield had broken the top joint of a finger and was .unlikely to take any further part in the match, but later it was announced that it was uncertain whether the finger is broken. He will be examined again tomorrow. The following‘are the teams:—Australia: D. G. Bradman, C. L. Badcock, B. Barnett, W. A. Brown, A. G. Chipperfield, J. H. Fingleton, L. O’B. Fleetwood-Smith, A. L. Hassett, S. J. McCabe, E. L. McCormick, W. J. O’Reilly. England: W. R. Hammond, L. E. G. Ames, C. J. Barnett, D. C. S. Compton, W. J. Edrich, K. Fames, L. Hutton, E. Paynter, H. Verity, J. Hardstaff, A. W. Wellard. When stumps were drawn the scores were as follow: — ENGLAND. First Innings. Barnett, c Brown, b McCormick.... 18 Hutton, c Brown, b McCormick .... 4 Edrich, b McCormick 0 Hammond, not out 210 Paynter, lbw, b O’Reilly 99 Compton, lbw, b O’Reilly 6 Ames, not out 50 Extras 22 Total, 5 wickets for 409 Fall of wickets: 1 for 12, 2 for 20, 3 for 31, 4 for 253, 5 for 271. Bowling: McCormick, 3 for 76; McCabe, 0 for 57; Fleetwood-Smith, 0 for 127; O'Reilly, 2 for 76; Chipperfield, 0 for 51.