DARLING IN FORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 118, 21 May 1934, Page 7

DARLING IN FORM.

AUDACIOUS CENTURY. Australians Make 319 at Oxford. 'VARSITY SOON LOSES TWO MEN (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, May 20. The Australian cricketers on Saturday began a three days' match against Oxford University at Oxford. The teams were:— Australia: Bradman (captain), Ponsford,.Brown, Darling, McCabe, Bromley, Chipperfieldj. Oldfteld, Grimmett, Ebeling and Fleetwood-Sniith. Oxford University: Chalk (captain), Walker, Townsend, de Sarem, MitchellInnes, Stainton, Tindall, Barlow, Matthews, Singleton and Dyson.,

The weather was fine and the wicket in good order when Australia, winning the toss, batted. Ponsford and Brown started nicely, both driving powerfully until Townsend went on at 48 and got Brown leg-before. The batsman played over a ball which kept low. Bradman took time to settle down, but Ponsford scored freely. There were 4000 spectators after luncheon and the weather had become cold and threatening. Bradman, who was never quite comfortable, badly mistimed a ball and was out leg-before to Dyson. In spite of the bowlers' good length and keen fielding Darling again began in great style. Quickly he hit four boundaries. Dyson had another success at 181 when Ponsford, in attempting to cut a ball, was easily caught in the slips. He had batted. 145 minutes and given an attractive display. He hit seven fours. Darling reached his 50 in 45 minutes and 200 was posted in 150 minutes. Darling completely overshadowed McCabe, who seemed to pull away from a fastish ball from Tindall which he played on. Bromley was never happy and was clean bowled by Barlow. Darling's brilliant and audacious century —his first in England—took only 95 minutes. It included 20 fours. He was out in the same over as Bromley. With Chipperfield and Oldfleld together the 300 was passed in 225 minutes. Tindall bowled Oldfield and Grimmett in the same over. Ebeling was out to a very poor shot. With the last man in—Fleetwood-Smith —Chipperfield hit out, but in attempting a six was easily caught at mid-on off Barlow. The innings had lasted 245 minutes. Oxford began at 5.30 p.m. It was bitterly cold, slight rain was falling and the light was indifferent.

McCabe bowled Townsend in his first over and Ebeling shattered the wicket of the Sii)?a lese, de Saram, in his third over. Eain stopped play at 5.45 p.m. Scores:— AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Ponsford, c Singletonj b Dyson .... 75 Brown, lbw, b Townsend 20 Bradman, lbw, b Dvson 37 Darling, lbw, b Tindall 100 McCabe, b Tindall 15 Bromley, b Barlow 3 Chipperfield, c Stainton, b Barlow .. 40 Oldfield, b Tindall 8 Grimmett, b Tindall 0 Ebeling, c Walker, b Tindall 0. Fleetwood-Smith, not out 2 Extras 19 Total 319 Bowling: Tindall took five wickets for 94 runs, Dyson two for 48, Barlow two for 102, Townsend one for 18, Singleton none for 38.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY.—First Innings. Walker, not out 3 Townsend, b McCabe 0 De Saram, b Ebeling .....' 2 Total for two wickets 5