CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 308, 30 December 1935, Page 12

CRICKET.

SECOND TEST DRAWN,

AUSTRALIA V. AFRICA. ABANDONED THROUGH RAIN. McCABE 189 NOT OUT. JOHANNESBURG, December 29. The second Test cricket match between Australia and South Africa ended in a draw on Saturday, rain necessitating its abandonment. When stumps were drawn on Friday the South Africans had made 157 in their first innings and 491 in their second, while the visitors had scored 250 in their first innings and 85 for one wicket in their second, leaving them with 314 to get to win. Yesterday the Australians had made 274 for two wickets (McCabe 189 not out) when play ceased. The South Africans avoided almost certain defeat when rain fell after luncheon on Saturday and flooded the ground, causing the abandonment of the match. -Thanks to a magnificent innings by MeCabe, Australia.was then in a commanding position. The weather at first was cool and windy. There was a record attendance in anticipation of an "exciting finish. Later it became warm and clouds caused the light to change. Resuming Australia's innings with one down for 85, Ffngleton (20) and McCab'e (59) soon settled down again and began to paste the bowling. McCabe played a particularly attractive game. He hit many effortless boundaries, but early in his innings' survived a confident appeal for legbefore'off Lington. . ■ •■■;.. When McCabe was nearing his century he gave the spectators thrills. He snicked one ball just at the feet of the slips, and then cut one from Robertson perilously close to Mitchell, who made a desperate left-hand attempt to hold it, but it went to the boundary. ' j

McCabe passed his century and got completely on top of the bowling. His perfect timing and placing, kept the score board moving rapidly. The bowlers tried all sorts of ruses to dislodge McCabe, who made great use of his pads against Mitchell's- leg turns. On one occasion he took two sixes off two , balls.

Fingleton in the meantime was extremely correct and careful. He was content to score from balls which begged to be hit. However, he was well beaten by a sharp leg break which curled round his legs. Two for 194.

Darling started in his usual vigorous >tyle, getting Mitchell to.the'boundary.

Then came an ominous change in the veather and a storm was working up as ,he players went to'luncheon.

It was stated during the interval that McCabe should have been out at 94 when he gave Mitchell at firetslip a catch from Robertson and the umpire disallowed the appeal.

There were 12,000 spectators after luncheon when the storm was about to break and the light was weak. McCabe, scenting a stoppage, again went for the bowling. He was dropped by-Robertson when he had made■ 166. He had: a similar escape at 186.

A few minutes later there was an appeal against the bad light and ..the players returned to the pavilion. Rain -immediately began to fall heavily and the wicket was covered. ■ The ■' majority of the people . left the ground, on which large pools of water formed. Play was eventually abandoned. It was still raining at tea time. ' Scores:— SOUTH AFRICA.. First innings .' 157 Second innings 491 AUSTRALIA. First Innings 250 Second Innings. Fingletbn, b Mitchell 40 Brown, c Nicholson, b Crisp 6 MeCabe, not out 189 Darling, not out 37 ■ Extras 2 Total for two wickets 274 Fall of wickets: One for 17, two for 194. BOWLING. O. M. R. W. Crisp 17 3 62 1 Mitchell 15 1 73 1 Robertson .. .13 3 41 — Bock 9 — 42 — Lang ton 22 6 54 —

« A WONDERFUL GAME."

SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN SPEAKS. JOHANNESBURG, December 28. • Commenting on the Test cricket match the South African captain, Wade, said it had been a wonderful game of ups and downs. Both sides were on top at different periods, but the Australians were definitely on top when the bad light and rain brought thefgame to a close. • ■ "The match was , played in the best of spirits," said Wade. "These Australians are a splendid lot of cricketers. I want to congratulate McCabe on his highest score in Test cricket and Grimmett on his great bowling." Richardson said that unfortunately a very fine finish was nipped in the bud by the bad light and rain. The. ■ South Africans had fought back splendidly.

TARRANT'S TEAM IN INDIA.

CALCUTTA, December 23. In a three days' match commenced between Frank Tarrant's cricketers and a Bengal and Assam side, the Australians won by nine wickets. Bengal and Assam m the first innings made 136 runs (Bhattacharji 48, Bose 25). Leather took two wickets for 17, Mair five for 44 and Oxenham two for 22. The Australians' first innings yielded 308 (Bryant 50, Monisby 76, Ryder 25, Macartney 85). S. Bannerji took five wickets for 53. ! Bengal and Assam were dismissed in their second knock for 184 (Leather four for 41, Oxenham four for 40). Requiring only 13 runs to win the Australians got them for the loss of one wicket. '