FIFTH CRICKET TEST

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 11 March 1939, Page 15

FIFTH CRICKET TEST

SOUTH AFRICA’S STRONG POSITION ENGLAND NEEDS 696 RUNS FOR WIN (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 11, 1.45 a.m.) DURBAN. March 10. ' In the final test match of the series against South Africa, England faces the almost hopeless task of making 696 runs in its second innings to win. South Africa’s aggregate is 1011, and England’s first innings score was 316. Stumps on the sixth day were again drawn early because of the bad light. The wicket was easy and the batting brighter before lunch, 64 runs being scored in half an hour. Afterwards play lapsed into dreariness. Viljoen unluckily chopped a ball into his wicket.

Melville made his first test century. His innings occupied 203 minutes.

South Africa’s aggregate is a record against England. At lunch to-day England had lost one wicket for 88 funs. Scores;— ~.X SOUTH AFRICA First innings .. .. .. 530 Second Innings Mitchell, hit wkt, b Verity .. 89 Van der Bijl, c Paynter, b Wright 97 Rowan, c Edrich, b Verity .. 0 Nourse, c Hutton, b Fames .. 25 Viljoen, b Perks .. .. 74 Dalton, c and b Wright .. 21 Melville, b Fames .. .. 103 Grieveson, b Fames .. .. 39 Langton, c Hammond, b Fames 6 Newson, b Wright • .. .. 3 Gordon, not out .. .. 7 Extras .. .. .. 'l7 Total .. .. ..481 Bowling analysis—Fames took four wickets for 74; Perks, one for 99; Wright, three' for 146; Verity, two for 87; Edrich, none for 18; Hammond, none for 30; Hutton, none for 10. M.C.C. First innings .. .. 316 Second Innings ' Hutton, b Mitchell .. ' ~ 55 Gibb, not out .. ..22 Edrich, not out .. .. 10 Extra .. .. .. 1 Total for one wicket .. 88 at pains to counter the impression created by critics that by the statement which he made last November he intended to emphasise the importance of defence at the expense of that of counter-attack. The Government’s policy was to build up a balanced air force. He did not want any misconception. The Government had not abandoned reliance on counter-attack as an essential of air strategy. He thought that there had been in the past a tendency to overstate the weakness of defence, and recent developments had indeed reduced the superiority of an offensive and increased the strength of defence, but a powerful striking force for a counter-attack remained a strong deterrent to attack. All he meant by the November statement on the increase in the fighter strength was that a counteroffensive, to be successful, must start from a secure basis. A Press Association message says Sir Kingsley Wood emphasised the Empire aspect of civil aviation, and said the objective was the production of a British air-liner which could be used by the operating companies and which was saleable on the world markets. Several members drew attention to the unpunctuality of the Empire air mails. Captain V. Cazalet (Conservative) said he hoped a date would soon be announced for the extension of the service to New Zealand. Replying to the debate, Sir Kingsley Wood said the Air Ministry received requests for Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires from all parts of the world. He added that bombers of even better and faster types would be coming shortly. The Ministry was satisfied that the present multi-gun fighters were capable of shooting down any type of bomber. BRITAIN’S AIR STRENGTH VALUE OF RESEARCH WORK (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, March 10. The Minister for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood) was the guest of the Institute of Metals. In a speech he referred to the influence on the vital tasks of the Air Ministry of the research work encouraged by the institute. Many of the alloys used in modern aircraft-, he said, were stronger than mild steel, and their weight was approximately one-third that of the same volume of steel. The new British aircraft were as formidable as any in the world; and in certain types Britain possessed what he believed to be the best in the world. The production of aircraft was proceeding well, and every week the pace was increasing. Britain still had much to do, but could register to-day a great increase in its.intrinsic strength, and it could safely say that the progress now being made would become comparatively more rapid. NAVY ESTIMATES NEXT WEEK (BRITISH OFFICIAL -WIRELESS.) RUGBY, March 9. The navy estimates will be presented in the House of Commons next week.