FINAL TEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1939, Page 5

FINAL TEST

ENGLAND AND SOUTH

AFRICA GOOD OPENING SCORE MADE BY HOME TEAM. MATCH TO BE PLAYED TO A FINISH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright DURBAN, March 4. The fifth and final cricket Test between South Africa and England, which is to be played to a finish, was begun on a perfect wicket on Friday, and at stumps today South Africa had made 423 for six wickets.. The third Test, which was won outright by England, was the only one of the series to be completed. For the first time Hammond lost the toss in a Test match and Melville gave his batsmen-first use of the wicket, the captain opening the innings with Van der Bijl. Fifty runs were scored before lunch on Friday, and when stumps were drawn early on account of poor light, the home team’s score was 229 for two wickets (Van der Bijl not out 105). Determined to wear down the bowling, the opening batsmen took 111 minutes in raising 50 runs, Van der Bijl batting for 45 minutes before scoring. Verity bowled nine consecutive maidens. The first boundary of the match came after 130 minutes off a no ball. Van der Bijl, who took 210 minutes to make 50, then scored 22 from one over from Wright. He also lifted the same bowler on to the pavilion roof. Van der Bijl’s century occupied 287 minutes. After resumption today, Mitchell, playing back,-was struck on the pads, and the ball hit the wicket. Van der Bijl was several times struck on the body by Fames and retired to put on additional padding. The crowd roared when he was struck on an unprotected thigh. The score at lunch today was 271 for three. Perks, with a late inswinger, rooted out Van der Bijl, who was at the wickets for 438 minutes. He hit one six and 11 fours. Viljoen’fatally flicked an off-ball before he was set and was caught behind the wicket. Nourse and Dalton hit fery freely, but the former became painfully slow and. 284 minutes witnessed only four boundaries. Bad light slopped play. Details: — SOUTH AFRICA.—First innings. Melville, hit wicket,, b Wright 78 Van der Bijl, b Perks 1 125 Rowan, lbw b Perks 33 Mitchell, b Wright H Viljeon, c Ames, b Perks 0 Nourse, not out Dalton, c Ames, b Fames 57 Grieveson, not out 26 Extras Total for six wickets 423 Bowling analysis—Fames, one for 91; Perks, three for 83; Wright, two for 113; Verity, none for 67: Hammond, none for 30; Edrich, none for 23.