ROUT AVERTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1938, Page 5

ROUT AVERTED

BRADMAN MAKES GREAT FIGHT FOR RUNS Australia All Out for Moderate Score DRAMATIC COLLAPSE AFTER LUNCH By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, July 23. Australia made only a moderate showing against England when play in the fourth Test entered its second day. The 'weather was warm and dull and the wicket good, but the light was indifferent. The attendance at the start was greater than yesterday’s maximum. The total attendance was 33,000 and the gate-takings were £3,303. After a gallant and invaluable stand by Fingleton and Barnett, who carried Australia to 100, McCabe and Badcock apparently failed to sight express deliveries and were clean bowled cheaply, as were the remainder, excepting Bradman, who alone saved a rout. He made 103 before he was bowled by Bowes. Australia were dismissed for 242, 19 ahead of England s first-: innings total. England at stumps had made 49 without loss.

A BLEARY -LIGHT. Bowes opened the bowling in a bleary light. Fingleton and Barnett were naturally careful against the accuracy of Bowes and Fames, and runs came slowly. The light improved about 11.50 a.m. Wright replaced Fames at 48 and Bowes was transferred to Farnes’s end. Fingleton, when 17, had an extremely narrow escape from playing his ball on to the wicket. Sunshine appeared at 12.15 p.m., and England’s hope of snatching a cheap wicket had gone. Verity was called on at 66. Barnett then began a bright attack. He took fours off Verity and Bowes and overtook Fingleton. The latter was playing like a rock. He was not over comfortable at any stage and made a number of mis-hits. Eventually he was bowled by Verity, while trying to turn a ball to the on side. Bradman was warmly cheered. He opened quietly. The crowd was on tiptoes, concentrated on every ball he received. One hundred went up in 140 minutes. Barnett quickly followed Fingleton, caught at the wicket. His 57, which included six fours, occupied 126 minutes. He was heartily applauded for his fighting innings, the most impressive of the tour. At lunch the score was three for 128. The Australians collapsed dramatically after lunch, when the weather was cool and gloomy. McCabe was bowled neck and crop in Farnes’s seccond over, the batsman failing to sight an extra fast one in the dim light and playing it too late. The last ball of Bowes’s fourth over struck Badcock’s off stump. He, too, was beaten by pace and shock-tactics. BRADMAN CONFIDENT. Bradman, meantime, looked supremely confident. He apparently realised the seriousness of the situation. He discarded his sweater and cap and took liberties only when necessary. He reached 50 in 90 minutes, the ball going dangerously close to Wright. The diminutive Hassett was going well when he snicked a leg-break from Wright, and Hammond at fine slip took a splendid catch. Bradman, thereafter, was compelled to do most 'of the scoring. He lost partner after partner in a grim procession. He craftily took singles 'off the fifth ball of each over to keep Waite away from the bowling. Bradman reached his - century in 165 minutes, receiving an ovation. Two overs later Bowes uprooted Bradman’s middle, stump, it had been a chanceless knock. He hit nine fours. Waite, after a rocky passage, was well caught on the leg-side by Price off Fames. O’Reilly was out to a beautiful low right-hand catch by Hammond. McCormick, in a cross-batted swing, was bowled. by Bowes. When stumps were drawn Edrich and Barnett were still in, with 25 and 20, respectively, to their credit. The scores are as follow: —

AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Brown, b Wright 22 Fingleton, b Verity i 30 Barnett, c Price, b Fames 57 Bradman, b Bowes ~ 103 McCabe, b Fames 1 Badcock, b Bowes 4 Hassett, c Hammond, b Wright .... 13 Waite, c Price, b Fames 3 O’Reilly, c Hammond, b Fames .... 2 McCormick, b Bowes 0 Fleetwood-Smith, not out 2 Extras 5 Total :• 242 Fall of wickets: One for 28, two for 87, three for 128, four for 136, five for 145, six for 195, seven for 232, eight for 240, nine for 240, ten for 242. Bowling Analysis.

ENGLAND. First Innings 223 Second Innings. Edrich, not out 25 Barnett, not out 20 Extras . ' 4 Total for no wickets 49 Bowling Analysis.

NO APPEAL AGAINST LIGHT. WHAT WAS BRADMAN’S REASON. LONDON, July 24. “Just before lunch Australia were decidedly on top, but thereafter, were always in trouble,” says the Australian Associated Press critic. “Nobody looked capable of staying with Bradman. “Almost any time during the threequarters of an hour after lunch an appeal against bad light must surely have been upheld. Bradman must have had some reason for refusing an early appeal against the light. It seems he either feared a stoppage might be long enough further to endanger the position if rain came, or hoped that somebody would stay while he himself broke up the bowling. “Bowes, Fames, Wright and Verity thrived appreciably on the Australian’s uneasiness. Bradman’s ■ score only demonstrates that nothing in batting is beyond him. It was the first time in the season he was clean bowled, but he maintained his Leeds minimum of three figures and broke Trumpet’s record of 11 centuries for Australia on tour of England. “England’s fielding was better than Australia’s. Hammond was a brilliant slip. Price was flawless. Fames is probably faster now than ever in his career. Bowes’s stamina is astonishing. He is never easy to hit.”

0. M. R. W. Fames 26 3 77 4 Bowes 34.4 4 79 3 Wright 15 4 38 2 Verity 19 6 30 1 Edrich 3 0 13 0

O. M. R. W. McCormick 6 2 12 0 Waite 2 0 9 0 O’Reillv 6 4 11 0 Fleetwood-Smith 4 0 13 0