TEST CRICKET IN SOUTH AFRICA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 9

TEST CRICKET IN SOUTH AFRICA

M.C.C. 326 FOR SIX

PAYNTER TOP SCORER WITH 117

(UNITED PRESS ISSOCIXTICS COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 26, 7.5 p.m.) JOHANNESBURG. December 24. The weather was cloudy for the cricket test between the Marylebone Cricket Club and South Africa. Heavy rain had fallen overnight, but the wicket had been protected and rolled out well. The teams were:— England—W. R. Hammond. K. C. Fames, B. H. Valentine, N. \V. D. Yardley, P. A. Gibb. V. J. Ed rich, T. W. Goddard, E. Payntcr. H. Verity, L. L. Wilkinson, L. E. G. Ames, and H. T. Bartlett (twelfth man). South Africa—J. Melville, B. Mitchell. A. B. Langton, E. L. Dalton, H. F. Wade, K. G. Viljcen. A. D. Nourse, P. G. V. van dcr Bijl. E. Q. Davies, N. Gordon, and G. E. Bond. Hammond won the toss and Edrich and Gibb opened for Marylcbone.

Edrich again failed in a lost. Ho took the first over from Davies, who was very fast for the first few overs, and swung the ball considerably. Edrich on-drove the third ball to the boundary and edged the fifth, which was an out-swinger, into the slips, where Mitchell took a magnificent catch, rolling over after securing the ball. The accurate bowling of Davies. Langton, Gordon, and Mitchell, with keen fielding, kept the score down; but Gibb and Paynter gradually settle'' down. Gibb was fortunate earl;- when he was dropped by van der Bijl, and Paynter made several lucky snicks. Paynter punished the medium-paced bowlers, and after batting for 147 minutes, hitting a six and eight fours, he finally played on.

Hammond was most warmly applauded when he scored five to complete his 6000 rims in test matches, scored in 70 innings. He was out leg before when he missed an offbreak.

Gibb was playing a dour, defensive game. He scored seven boundaries during his 176 minutes at the crease, being caught at silly mid-on.

Ames hit freely, but snicked a rising ball and was taken smartly behind the wicket. Mitchell cleverly anticipated Yardley’s return of an off-break, which he snapped up at mid-on. Scores:—

M.C.C. First Innings Edrich, c Mitchell, b Davies .. 4 Gibb, c Melville, b Mitchell .. 93 Paynter, b Mitchell .. .. 117 Hammond. Ibw, b Gordon .. 24 Ames, c Wade, b Gordon .. 42 Yardley, c and b Mitchell .. 7 Valentine, not out .. 12 Verity, not out .. 19 Extras .. .. .. S Total for six wickets 326 Bowling—Davies, one for 91; Langton, none for 55; Gordon, two for 75; Mitchell, three for 61; Dalton, none for 20; and Bond, none for 16.