DRAMATIC FINISH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 274, 18 November 1936, Page 7

DRAMATIC FINISH.

N.S.W. BEATS ENGLAND O'Reilly, Five for 67, Gets Last Four Men Leg-Before. HAMMOND-LEYLAND SHINE. (By J. B. HOBBS.—Copyright in all countries. Reproduction in whole or part forbidden.) (Received 9.30 a.m.)' SYDNEY, this day. In the last minute of scheduled time, New South Wales won by 135 runs in the cricket match against England, which ended at Sydney yesterday. The visiting team's second innings totalled 311. Two wickets were down for 95 when stumps were drawn on Monday, after New South Wales had made- a second innings score of 520, and left England with 447 runs to get for victory. The Englishman, who would have had to make 352 runs in 300 minutes yesterday to win, decided to play for a draw.. Was Hardstaff Out? When Marylebone lost its unbeaten certificate yesterday it was a thrilling finish, the last wicket falling in what would probably have been the last over of the match.

Hardstaff was leg-before to a ball he never attempted to play. The Press box is not in a good position from which to judge leg-before decisions, but I know that umpires are only human beings, and liable to make mistakes. They are in the best position to see. Still, this, coupled with what must have been a very near thing when Barnett was given run out on Monday evening, to my mind, takes some of the glory away from the New South Wales victory. lam the last person in the world to quibble about umpires' decisions, so I hope I shall be forgiven for these remarks.

This was O'Reilly's fourth leg-before decision in succession. He had bowled leg-theory for a long time, but once Hammond and Leyland were separated he bowled like an inspired man again, and to him goes the chief credit for the win.

For a while it seemed as if the magnificent effort of Hammond and Leyland had saved the game for England, and put England back on the pedestal it occupied before Saturday's batting disaster. Practically the only redeeming feature was that Leyland obtained such excellent practice as to ensure his place in the first Test eleven, and gave him necessary confidence after his illness. Sorry for Spectators. It was because of the M.C.C. batting collapse on Saturday that we opentyl the fourth day wanting 352 to win, with Barnett and Worthington out. I felt sorry for the spectators yesterday until three o'clock, for they had to watch some very dreary cricket, when no attempt was made to score. Bowlers and fieldsmen gradually lost interest and heart. There is nothing more disspiriting than to have to bowl against two men who are stonewalling, and fail to separate them. That is Australia's viewpoint. From England's aspect there is the knowledge of a great recovery, with all credit to Hammond and Leyland. Candidly, I did not give Marylebone much chance, but as I said previously England's first jnnings batting was too bad to be true. The bowlers, with the possible exception of O'Reilly, had no terrors. Another way of looking at it is that the batsmen played more soundly. They did not make the same mistake of attempting to• drive "Miidge's leg-breaks, when they were not getting to the pitch of the ball and covering the They watched the ball more closely. The only time the scoring was hurried along was when full tosses were delivered.

Leyland's Dilemma,

After Sims liad been caught, Hammond and Leyland settled down. Leyland had just caught up to Walter at 79 when the stand was broken. Maurice did not think he was out and stood there putting the bails back. On retiring he told me the ball came off the wicketkeeper's pads, but Hammond immediately put him right, saying the ball just snicked the stumps before hitting Oldfield's pads. So the matter Qp,n safely rest at that, especially, as Bertie said he was out!

I was sorry Hammond missed his century. It would have been a wonderful feat to get five hundreds in six knocks, but his 91 to-day was more valuable than any of his hundreds on the tour. Scores: — NEW SOUTH WALES. First innings 273 Second innings .. 320 Aggregate 59!) ENGLAND. First innings 153 Second Innings. Worthington, b O'Reilly 28 Barnett, run out 35 Hammond, st Oldfield, b White 91 Sims, c Chipperfield, b Mudge 9 Leyland, b White 79 Ames, b Mudge 20 Fagg, lbw (n.r.), b O'Reilly 17 Hardstaff, lbw, b O'Reilly 20 Fislilock, lbw, b O'Reilly 3 Allen, lbw, b O'Reilly 1 Copson, not out 0 Extras 8 Total 311 Bowling.—O'Reilly took five wickets for 67 runs, White two for 23, Mudge two for 80, McGilvray none for 14, Chipperfield none for 15, Hynes none for 42, Robinson none for 54.

The Test performances in Anglo-Aus-tralian international cricket of yesterday's two great players are:— W. J. O'Reilly.—Bowled in 18 innings, 715 overs, 271 maidens, 1422 runs, 55 wickets, average 25.85. His greatest feat was in 1934 at Trent Bridge, when his seven for 54 enabled the Australians to win, with only ten minutes to spare. That day he bowled no less than 24 maidens in his total of 42 overs. His fighting innings in the third Test at Manchester that same year saved Australia from having to follow on, and ensured a dr«f\v, and the indomitable courage of the man is proved by his hit for six which, with only the tenth wicket standing, made -his country safe. , „ W. R. Hammond.— Missing a century in his first Test at Brisbane, he compiled 251 in the next, in only innings at byaney, not out and (l l77. secutive games! With a centur at to Hobbg UAJ a *\ cl scorers* and list of England's three-figurejcore only Don Bradman j Tefits Ham-