FOURTH TEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 244, 28 July 1947, Page 3

FOURTH TEST

South Africa Make 175 ENGLAND START WELL LONDON, -July 26. On a wicket made awkward - by recent l’ains, South Africa was dismissed in the first innings of the fourth cricket test against England for 175 runs. At stumps, England had made 53 without loss.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. The test opened in dull weather before a crowd of 25,000 people. W. J. Edrich, in dismissing A. Melville Tor a duck, and D. V. P. Wright in taking an early wicket, gave England a flying start. The English fast bowler, H. Butler, gave away only four runs in eight overs, including six maidens. The bowlers found difficulty in keeping their footing on the greasy turf.

B. Mitchell and A. D. Nourse saw .their side safely through the 15 minutes before lunch. After lunch, when Nourse was 18 and the total was 53, Nourse edged a rising ball from Butler to K. Cranston at second slip, but Cranston dropped it. N. W. D. Yardley switched and reswitched the attack with Edrich, Butler, J. Young, Wright and Cranston. South Africa’s 100 runs took 185 minutes. Butler beat Mitchell with an in-swinger to break the third-wicket partnership, which yielded 90. Mitchell batted for two hours and hit only two fours. Thirteen of Butler’s 20 overs at this stage were maidens. South Africa’s defence then began to crumble. Wright beat K. G. Viljoen with a googly which hurried in from the off. The next three wickets fell within 15 minutes after tea, for tlie addition of eight runs. Nourse attempted to cut Butler’s first ball, but instead chopped it on to the wicket. Nourse batted for 21 hours and hit six fours.

O. C. Dawson, A. Rowan and G. Mann fell to brilliant catches. South Afi’ica made an average of 37 runs an hour.

L. Hutton and C. Washbrook shaped confidently in the 05 minutes before stumps. Scores:

SOUTH AFRICA First Innings Melville, b Edrich .. .. .. 0 Dyer, c Evans, b Wright .. 0 Mitchell, b Butler .. .. , .. 53 Nourse, b Butler . . .. ' . . 51 Viljocn, b Wright . . .. . . 0 Dawson, c Young, b Butler .. 5 Fullerton, c Cranston, b Edrich . . 13 Rowan, c Yardley, b Edrich .. 0 Mann, c Edrich, 1) Cranston . . 20 Tuckctt, c Evans, b Butler .. 3 Smith, not out .. . . . • 0 Extras 7 Total . . • • • • 1 7 ' 7 Bowling: Butler four for 34, Edrich three for 46, Young none for 31, Wright two for 24, Cranston one for 24, Compton none for 9. ENGLAND First Innings Hutton, not out . . .. • ■ >°>2 Washbrook, not out • .. • • 21 Extras .. 0 Total for no wicket . . 53