A STRONG LEAD

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20500, 17 May 1938, Page 8

A STRONG LEAD

4.30 O’CLOCK EDITION

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS M.O.C. FORCED TO FOLLOW ON BRADMAN CAUGHT FOR 287 HOME SIDE 214 AND 87 FOR ONE (United Press A»»n.-—Elec. Tel. Copyright) .Received May 17. 3.15 p.m.) LONDON. May 16 The Australian cricketers, who won their first four matches of this tour comfortably, played themselves into a very strong position in their first real test against the M.C.C. side to-day. After putting up a great batting display on Saturday the visitors surprised by dismissing a very strong batting team for a mere 200 runs on a good wicket, and although the home batsmen commenced their second strike much more optimistically they are not In a very envious position. When stumps were drawn at the close of the first day s play Australia had scored 428 runs for the loss of only five wickets. To-day, after Bradman's dismissal by a brilliant catch by Robins after he had made 278, the innings slumped and the side was out for 502 runs. The M-C.C. were surprisingly dismissed for only 214 runs—a poor total considering the strength of the team, and, forced to follow on, they have lost one wicket in their second innings for 87 runs. Not Troubled By Injury The weather was cool and cloudy for the resumption of the match today. Bradman soon passed his previous highest score of this tour and he did not appear to be troubled by his foot when running to-day. He began to punish the fast bowling, especially that of Fames, smith, however, enforced more respect and got Bradman’s wicket. The batsman attempted to cover-drive a ball which lifted beautifully and he was caught brilliantly by Robins a few inches from ths ground. K

He batted for 350 minutes and hit one six and 35 fours. Barnett was soon out leg-before, and Waite was next to go in the same manner after a scratchy display. McCormick was easily caught at the wicket and O'Reilly was brilliantly caught low left-handed at second slip, the innings lasting for seven hours. Smith, though never bowling at a great pace, kept a good length. With only 18 runs on the board, Wilcox played too late and was bowled. Edrich and Compton, regarded as among the most promising Of England's bOtSflfeOL were then associated and played beautifully until Flinch but after the interval O’Reilly worried Compton until he claimed him eg-before.

Wyatt was most uncomfortable at the start but later settled down and hit boldly. Edrich was bamboozled by a leg Bpinner. Chalk, in a brief innings, batted with great exuberance and iiit a sixer at the expense of Fleetwood-Smith. McCormick’s Fine Spell McCormick, whose first spell was costly, returned at 138 and bowled Human and Maxwell with successive balls. Robins was uncertain and twice was beaten before being caught on the boundary. The tail batted with little skill and Marylebone was dismissed after 180 minutes, Wyatt alone showing class batsmanship against the spin bowlers. He batted for 135 minutes and hit nine boundaries. Marylebone opened their second Innings at 5.15 p.m., when 20,000 were present. The first wicket had confidently put on 43 when Wilcox played a ball on to his wicket. Edrich continued in fine style and collected 18 runs from one over from Fleetwood-Smith. He reached 50 in an hour. McCormick caught his foot in a pothole In the crease and left the field with a strained tendon in his ankle. Nearly a Debacle The Australian Associated Pres.* correspondent says that though fielding at least six Test possibles, Marylebone need to bat much better tomorrow than they did to-day if the run of Australian successes is to be stopped. The spin bowling to-day dismissed most of the Marylebone team, and even Wyatt, whose experience saved a debacle, was repeatedly beaten. Details:— AUSTRALIA.—First Innings Flngleton. b Smith .. .. 44 Brown, b Fames .. . 5 Bradman, c Robins, b Smith .. 278 McCabe, b Smith .. .. 33 Badcork, b Stephenson .. .. 1 * c Maxwell, b Compton 57 Waite, lbw. b Smith .. .. 2 » Bvnrtt. Bwr, b Stephenson .. i O’Reilly, e Compton, b Smith .. 17 McCormick, r Maxwell, b Smith 9 Fleetwood Smith, not out .. 3 Extras .... .. 15 Total 502 Bowling—Fames took one wicket for runs. Smith six for 139, Stephenson two for 112, Robins none for 6P. Wyatt non* for 27. Compton on* for 37, Edrich none for 15. MARYLEBONE. —First Innings Wilcox, b Waite .. .. .. 8 Edrich. c McCabe, b Fleet-Smith 31 Compton, lbw, b O'Rotlly .. 23 84 (Continued to next column;

Chalk, lbw. b Fleetwood-Smith 15 Human, b McCormick .. .. 5 Maxwell, b McCormick . . ~ 0 Robins, c McCabe, b O’Reilly . . 12 Stephenson, c and b FleetwoodSmith .. • - •. 1 Smith, c Hassett. b FleetwoodSmith .. .. .. 17 Fames, c Fingleton. b O'Reilly 0 Extras .. .. .. 20 Total 214 Bpwling.—McCormick took two wickets for 55 runs. Waite one for 28, O'Reilly three for 42. FleetwoodSmith four for 6?. Second Innings Wilcox, b McCabe .. .. 16 Edrich, not out .. .. .. 53 Compton, not out / .. ..12 Extras .. .. .. 6 Total for one wicket .. 87 The Next Match The Australian cricketers will commence a three-day match against Northamptonshire at Northampton tomorrow. Northamptonshire, without question, is the weakest county in England and for the fourth time in succession finished last in the championship table. As in 1936 they failed to score one victory last season. K. C. James, the New Zealand keeper, plays for this county, and last season only scored 799 runs though he took 55 cafches behind the wickets. A. H. Bakewell. their best batsman, did not play owing to a serious injury received in a motor-car accident. The 1934 Australian team played a drawn game against Northamptonshire. The Xustralians scored 2*4 (Chipperfleld “l. Bradman ponsford 56 , the county replying with I*7 V W. Snowden 165; Fleetwood-Smith five for 63 . Australia s second innings only realised 234 runs W. Brown 113 1 and Northampton, in the second innings, had lost nine wickets for 133 runs at stumps Bakewell 53, Timms 50; Fleetwood-Smith five for 29J.