STICKY .WICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 15

STICKY .WICKET.

YORKSHIRE MATCH.

LAST YEAR'S COUNTY CHAMPION TEAM.

HASSETT 94, BRADMAS 59. United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, July 2. The wicket at Sheffield for the match between the Australian cricketers and Yorkshire was saturated by a thunderstorm yesterday, and the start of play today was delayed until 11.45 o'clock. The weather was cloudy and the wicket sticky when Yorkshire, which won the toss, sent the visitors to the crease. The Australians, who did not relish the tricky conditions, were dismissed for 222 in their first innings, Hassett and Bradman being the only batsmen to meet with success. The county team replied with 74 for three wickets. The attendance was 85.000. Ward, O'Reilly, Brown, Chipperfield and Walker were omitted* from * the, visiting team, the first-named acting as twelfth man. The bowlers found difficulty in securing a foothold for a start. Fingieton was uneasy and survived an, appeal for legbefore in the first over. He was dropped at fine-leg in the second over. The wicket quickly cut up and Fingieton succumbed to Smailes in the latter's second over. Escape for Bradman. Bradman, with his score at 12, made a faulty stroke, the ball dropping just short of second slip. The conditions kept the batsmen on tenterhooks. Badcock was unhappy during the short time he was at the crease.

Bowling off-spinner* round the wicket, Smailes continued to keep the batsmen quiet, but Bradman livened the scoring with the advent of Verity, and reached 27 after an hour's batting. Bradman batted splendidly under adverse conditions, placing his shots with the utmost skill.

He had a narrow escape after lunch, but continued to force the pace and showed delightful loot work. Hassett also played Veritv well, but when 43 narrowly escaped being caught. He reached 50 in 100 minutes and then commenced to hit out in brilliant fashion, tours and sixes came freelv, hut he finally succumbed leg-before in attempting a pull shot. His innings occupied 215 minutes. Injury to Sutcliffe. Waite. bowling slow off-spinners, was successful shortly after the start of the county inninge, having Hutton well caught at fine-leg. Bowling remarkably well, Waite continued to take advantage of the wicket, and Yorkshire's main concern was to hang on in the hope of better conditions on Monday. Sutcliffe was struck on the right hand and had to retire. Details of the scores are as follows: — AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Fingieton, b Smailes 2

McCabe, c Smailes, b Bowes • • 13 Bradman, st "Wood, b Smailes 5!) Badeock, c Turner, b Robinson 11 Hassett, lbw, b Verity 04 Barnes, c Wood, b Leyland 10 Waite. lbw. b Smailes 2 B.irnett, c Robinson, b Smailes 12 White, o Sutcliffe. b Smailes 1 MeL'ormick. c Leyland, b Smailes 9 Fleetwood-Smith, not out 4 Extras 5 Total 222 Bowling.—Bowes took one wicket for 15 runs, Smailee six for 92, Verity one for 69, Robinson one for 39,'Leyladd one 1 for YORKSHIRE.—First Innings. Sutcliffe, retired hurt 12 Hutton, c McCormick, b Waite 7 Barber, b Waite 2 Leyland, lbw, b Waite 13 Turner, not out 16 Smailes, not out •• 8 Extras • • 16 Total for three wickets 74

OXFORD V. CAMBRIDGE. LOSTDOX, July 3. Tn the annual inter-university cricket match. Oxford, in the first innings, scored 317 (Dixon 73, Loman 94; Hewan six wickets for 91). Cambridge in its first innings has scored 18 for the loss of one wicket.