A GOOD LEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 299, 18 December 1935, Page 7

A GOOD LEAD.

AUSTRALIA MAKES 429.

Chipperfield Scores His First Test Century. AFRICA LOSES THREE FOR 167. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) DURBAN, December 17. The weather was sultry, and there was hardly a breath of wind, in striking contrast to yesterday, when the Australian Test eleven resumed their first match against South Africa today.

The visitors carried their overnight score of 2SO, for four wickets, to 429, giving them a first innings lead of 181.

When stumps were drawn the Africans in their second knock had run up 107 for the loss of three wickets.

When Darling (51) and Chipperfield (2) resumed their innings this morning the former soon became aggressive and drove Crisp to the boundary. Later he attempted a similar stroke and Viljoen accepted a well-judged catch. Darling hit six fours and played an attractive innings. Oldfield was dismissed second ball, leg-before to Langton. Chipperfield went along quietly and correctly.

Crisp maintained express speed, bowling a couple of maidens to O'Reilly, who managed to keep his wicket intact for Cliipperfield. The latter, when 20, was dropped by Langton at short leg from Crisp.

O'Reilly had the distinction of hitting the first six of the match when he lifted Robertson over the on boundary, and in repeating the stroke two balls later was brilliantly held by Rowan near the sight screen. (

Grimmett's hand having improved, he was promoted to his usual place in the batting order.

Chipperfield's luck still held, for when 40, he was again dropped by Wade, fielding close in on the wicket. Grimmett, when four, was dropped by Nicholson off Crisp. Ho courageously continued to defend his wicket, giving Cliipperfield the maximum of opportunities to score. The latter was enterprising, and placed shots safely away from fieldsmen, although Wade tried hard to cover up the gaps.

Grinunett was again dropped before being caught behind the wicket. Chipperfield reached his century in 158 minutes, and shortly afterwards played a ball on. He hit seven fours. His first century in a Test was not without blemish, but it was a colourful display.

Fleetwood-Smith, lasliing out wildly, was soon dismissed.

Mitchell and Siedle started Africa's second innings in promising manner, Siedlo cutting and glancing in masterly fashion. The slow bowlers were soon brought into the attack, but by tea, when the score was 44 for no wickets, the batsmen were definitely on top.

Siedle continued in delightful style, sending up 50 for 47 minutes' play. Mitchell, who had been quiet, was unexpectedly run out. He snicked a ball past Oldfield. Cliipperfield, at first slip, jumped behind Oldfield unobserved by Mitchell,; who attempted to start for a run. When Cliipperfield threw in accurately Mitchell was out by inches. Siedle, unperturbed, hooked FleetwoodSmith over the fence into the covered stand.

Rowan was exceptionally quiet, and most uncertain against Grimmett, who bowled six maidens in succession. Siedle continued with the greatest confidence until beaten by a prodigious leg-break from Grimmett. He had batted 84 minutes, hitting a sixer and seven fours, and demonstrated that the Australian slow bowling was not as full of terrors as it has been made out to be.

Viljoeh was never comfortable, and liis dismissal caused no surprise. Tlie sudden change in Africa's fortunes had a calming effect on the batsmen, but gradual!)', becoming accustomed to the slow attack, they opened Up a partnership realising 50 in 30 minutes, Nourse and Rowan both batting finely. At stumps the wicket was showing signs of wearing. Scores:— SOUTH AFRICA. First innings 248 Second Innings. Mitchell, run out 10 Siedle, b Grimmett 59 Viljoen, b Fleetwood-Smith 1 Rowan, not out 33 Nourse, not out 48 Extras 7 Total for three wickets 107 Fall of Wickets.—One for 65, two for 80, three for 89. Bowling. 0. M. R. W. Grimmett 24 10 39 1 Fleetwood-Smith .18 4 G1 1 McCabe 2 — 5 — Cliipperfield 1 — 8 — O'Reilly 8 3 21 — McCormick 6 — 2G — AUSTRALIA. —First Innings. Fingleton, c Nicholson, b Crisp .... 2 Brown, c Langton, b Robertson .... GG McCabe, a Rowan, b Langton 149 Darling, c Viljoen, b Crisp GO Richardson, b Langton 2 Cliipperfield, b Crisp 109 Oldfield, lbw, b Langton 0 O'Reilly, c Rowan, b Robertson .... 11 Grimmett, c Nicholson, b Robertson 15 McCormick, not out 2 Fleetwood-Smitli, b Langton 1 Extras 12 Total 429 Fall of Wickets.—One for 12, two for 173, three for 2G9, four for 277, five for 299, six for 299, seven for 320, eight for 412, nine for 428. Bowling. O. M. R. W. Langton 48 10 113 4 Crisp 30 7 87 3 Robertson 55 11 143 3 | Dalton G — 25 — Mitchell 17 2 49 —