FIFTH TEST MATCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 261, 18 August 1930, Page 3

FIFTH TEST MATCH

ENGLAND'S GOOD STAND. 318 RUNS FOR FIVE WICKETS. SUTCLIFFE 138 NOT OUT. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, August 16. There was fine weather for the opening of the fifth and decisive Test match at the Oval. England won the • toss and hatted, and had scored 316 runs for the loss of five wickets when stumps were drawn. The teams were: England—R. E. S. Wyatt (captain), K. S. Duleepsinhji, J. B. Hobbs, H. Sutcliffe, W. Whvsall, W. R. Hammond, M. Leyland, M. W. Tate, H. Larwood, G. Duckworth, I. A. R. Peebles, E. Hendren (twelfth man). Australia—W. M. Woodfull, W. H. Ponsford, D. G. Bradman, A. F. Kippax, A. Fairfax, W. Oldfield C. V. Grimmett, S. McCabe, A. Jackson, T. M. Wall, P. M. Hornibrook, V. Y. Richardson (twelfth man). Great Excitement; The Oval buzzed with excitement hours before the commencement of the final Test, which will be a fight to a finish. The morning was crisp and pleasant. Twenty thousand spectators were present an hour before the start. In addition there were hundreds accommodated in temporary stands outside the grounds, that had been erected by owners of properties commanding a view of the playing area, for which high prices were charged. The occupants of humble flats alongside the Oval also reaped a harvest from balcony seats. The crowd wandered freely over the ground except the roped-off wicket, and thronged round Woodfull as he stopped to consult the groundsman when returning to the pavilion with Ponsford and McCabe from practice during the morning. It was not surprising that Parker stood down, because conditions were unlikely to favour his type of bowling, but Australia made a last-minute decision, preferring Jackson to Richardson, the selectors aiming at solidity of batting at all costs. A placard, "We want Chapman," appeared among a few spectators, but Wyatt had a good reception when he came out to toss. Woodfull, as usual, called out "Heads," but it was his turn to lose, -so England had the advantage of first use of a wicket "full of runs." The decision to omit Richardson must have caused the selectors some , heartburnings, for the South Australian's services are bound to be missed in the field. It is believed that the vice-captain, recognising the acuteness of the position, offered to stand down. The Australians had a eeotion when they took the field. Hobbs, dour and determined, was warmly cheered when he opened with the debonair Sutcliffe. This is almost certainly the veteran's last appearance on the ground on which he must know everv blade of grass. . Wall bowled an accurate first over, but Hobbs stole a neat sinele off tho third ball, and slammed Fairfax's first a full-tosser—hard, but Kippax made a good save. The next two overs were maidens.

Careful Batting. Sutcliffe opened his score with a single, nicely turned off Fairfax. The pitch seemed to be slightly soft, and afforded the bowlers no assistance. Wall was bowling at top pace, and swung considerably. He f once hit Sutcliffe's left leg. Ten runs in half an hour indicated the batsmen's carefulness. Wall's first six overs cost four runs, but Hobbs got four from the seventh. Bradman's fine fielding twice cut oft boundaries. , . ,« i Fairfax took Wall's end at 19, he and Grimmett each sending down successive maidens to the batsmen, who onlv had scored 20 in arc hour, plainly trying to wear ther bowling down. McCabe came on at 24, Hobbs driving his first ball for four, reaching 20. •Sutcliffe was only eight. Play was unexciting, but satisfactory from an English point of view, the bowlers seeming to make little impression on the rock-like defence. 1 fie ball rarely reached the outfield, where the sparrows hopped peacefully. McCabe puzzled Hobbs with two successive balls, but Grimmett did not seem to worry the batsmen. Ihe veteran Hobbs square-cut Grimmett to the boundary and raised 50 in IUU minutes. . , , , Jackson fell among the spectators when trying to save four. Hobbs caught Easily. Hobbs beautifully hooked a long hop from Wall to the boundary, but next ball, in, attempting to repeat the stroke, put the easiest possible catch into the hands of Kippax. He fiaa played a good innings of 110 minutes, during which he hit four fours. Whysall started uncomfortably against Grimmett, and had not scored at luncheon, when the total was 71, or which Sutcliffe had made 21. Thirty-two thousand spectators were present when play was resumed in cool, cloudless weather. Sutcliffe and Whysail were bright against Wall ana Grimmett, getting singles througn carefully-chosen gaps. Sutcliffe, after 135 minutes, hit his first four, lifting Grimmett to the on boundary.' Whysall was looking like getting runs when ho became Walls second victim, getting in front of a full tosser.

The Game Enlivened. Duleepsinhji mis-hit Wall's first delivery for a single, then quickly got into his stride with two to cover oil Grimmett, and raised the 100. Wall closed his men in, but the Indian cleverly preferred to score out r side the ring, and enlivened the game hv pulling Grimmett to the boundary Sice in one over. He was also playing Wall with delightful freedom, glancing and square-cutting with delicate preciSl ßemembering Duleepsinhji's previous discomfiture at the hands of Hornibrook, Woodfull brought the Queenslander on at 120 m place of Grimmett, but the Indian knocked five off the first two balls . As a testimony to the scoring, livening up, it may be noted that the first hour produced 20 runs, the second 51, and the third 64. Duleepsinhji was chiefly responsible, and equalled Sutcliffe's 41 when he hit Hornibrook for two fours in one over. The Yorkshireman had 150 minutes start of the Indian, who reached 50 in as many minutes. . . Then he tried to get six off Grimmett, but skied the ball to Fairfax, who took an easv catch. He hit five four's, and gave a slashing display, full of confidence. With Hammond's advent the scoring - slowed down, the newcomer awaiting the right ball to hit. After Hammond had sent the ball from Wall to the boundary, a characteristic cover drive.

McCabe, who was doing good work in Richardson's place in the field, took the ball, and was rewarded by getting Hammond's wicket, at the end of half an hour's batting, just 'when he looked like settling down permanently. Hammond's dismissal spoiled what looked like the formidable partnership to which the crowd had been looking forward.

Leyland was beaten hopelessly by Grimmett just before tea, and the critical position of five wickets for 197 runs faced England's new captain, who was received with warm and sympathetic applause when he joined Sutcliffe, the spectators recognising _ the heavy responsibility laid on his shoulders in rather embarrassing circumstances. He had two narrow escapes straight away. Grimmett and McCabe each beat him, and Oldfield each time whipped the bails off like lightning just as Wyatt managed to regain the crease. He must have welcomed the tea respite, 'when the score was five for 199. Sutcliffe, by infinite patience, had 66 on the board for 250 minutes' play. The attendance had reached 35,000. Wyatt Uncertain.

Wyatt batted uncertainly, and seemed lucky to get four through the slips off McCabe. He then cocked one perilously close to McCabe at silly mid-off, and survived an appeal for leg-before next ball. , , Wall took a new ball at 221, and Sutcliffe began to hit out more freely. Wvatt was cheered on passing the fataf 13. Then he and the Yorkshireman began to punish the loose ones, and the figures rose steadily. Sutcliffe reached his 100 in five hours by turning Grimmett to leg. He had a great ovation for his first Test century this season, and the seventh in his career. The attack was languishing toward the close, in spite of frequent changes. Sutcliffe brought the third century up in 335 minutes. 'Wyatt, after his early difficulties, stuck stubbornly to his task. <.

In the last half-hour loose fielding and bad throwing gave away a number of runs. Oldfield, however, did not allow a single bye. Sutcliffe's Marathon effort occupied 350 minutes' actual play. It is a notable fact that he gave only one hot chance. He hit nine fours, three threes and four twos. His unfinished partnership with. Wyatt yielded 119. The crowd rushed the ground to get a glimpse of the new captain, whose first appearance and success was heartily applauded. Scores: — • .

ENGLAND. First Innings. Hobbs. e Kippax, b Wall 47 Sutcliffe, not out 138 Whysall, lbw. b Wall 13 Duleepsinhji, c Fairfax, b Grimmett 50 Hammond, b McCabe 13 Leyland, b Grimmett 3 Wyatt, not out 39 Extras 13 Total (for five wickets) ... 316 The 'wicket feU as follow:—One for 68 two for 97, three for 162, four for 190, five for 197.