AUSTRALIA 571 FOR SIX WICKETS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 7

AUSTRALIA 571 FOR SIX WICKETS

Barnes And Bradman 234 Each

RECORD FIFTH WICKET PARTNERSHIP

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 17. A record-breaking fifth wicket partnership by S. G. Baines and D. G. Bradman, in which both scored double centuries, has placed Australia in a position to force a win in the second test match. This pair, in adding 405 runs, broke the world record score of 397 for the fifth wicket put up by W. Bardsley and C. Kelleway in a Sheffield Shield game in 1920-21. They also put up a new England-Aus-tralia test record, beating the previous figures of Bradman and A. Fairfax of 183 for Australia and the best by England of 206 by E. Paynter and D. C. S. Comptori. Bradman has now scored a century in the last eight tests in which he has played. He has made eight double centuries in tests against England. His effort to-day was a remarkable one, as he batted under physical disability and refused to have a runner to assist him.

If was Bradman’s 17th century against England in tests and his 23rd in ajl tests, putting him one century ahead of Hammond.

Barnes, after his dogged display yesterday, batted freely to-day, and his knock was invaluable to Australia.

The attendance to-day was 29,673. The fourth day’s play began in ideal weather on a wicket showing some signs of wear. Bradman suffered a gastric upset last night, but had recovered by the time the game started today, although he was still limping from his leg injury. A. V. Bedser opened to Barnes, who, with a two and a three from the first over, carried Australia’s score past England’s first innings total of 255.

D. V. P. Wright was the other bowler, and Barnes pulled his first livery to the boundary, making the partnership worth 100 in 120 minutes. Bedser was played with ease, but Wright, commanding every respect, bowled two successive maidens to Bradman, who added only three runs in half an hour.

All four of England’s regular bowlers, plus J. T. Ikin, were tried in the first hour, but the batsmen went slowly forward and 300 was reached after 419 minutes. The batsmen repeatedly batted down bowling marks on. the wjcket, but apart from Wright the bowlers did not cause them undue concern.

Nine more runs made the partnership worth 150 after 183 minutes. At this stage rups came a little more freely, although mostly in ones and twos, and by lunch-time Australia’s score was 325 for four wickets. Australia had now largely nullified England’s advantage in winning the toss and given herself some cnance of forcifig a win. A full toss from Wright—the first of the innings—was cut by Brsfiman past point to the boundary, taking him into the nineties, and he reached his century after 225 minutes. It was not Bradman at his best, because his 100 included only seven fours. A little earlier Barnes had reached 150. after 460 minutes at the crease. With Australia 100 runs ahead of England’s score Bradman and Barnes tried to accelerate the rate of scoring and in spite of continued accurate bowling, largely succeeded. Two hundred for the partnership was signalled after 241 minutes, and then the sixth bowler, D. C. S. Compton, was brought on. Like his predecessors, he was unable to separate Bradman and Barnes,

who were now thoroughly set, and scored freely to all parts of the field. Bradman revealed some beautiful cover and straight drives, while Barnes favoured the hook shot and late cuts. The bowlers stuck gamely to their dispiriting task, but 400 came up with still only four men out. The last 100 had occupied 96 minutes —the fastest 100 of the match so far. Thirteen rung had come from one over by Bedser and 11 from an over by Compton. N. W. D. Yardley, the seventh bowler, was tried, but the batsmen were unperturbed. At the tea adjournment. Barnes was 195 and Bradman 151, and the score was 441 for four wickets. Bradman's last 50 was scored in 80 minutes. W. J. Edrich and Bedser operated with the new ball after tea but Bradman and Barnes continued with attacking strokes. The last 50 runs were made in 48 minutes and Barnes reached his 200. He had been at the wickets for 570 minutes. A boundary shot which gave him his double century also made the partnership worth 300 in 323 minutes. ’ Bradman was now hitting with great power and in spite of a deeply set field he pierced the cordons on both sides of the wicket with glorious drives and tremendous pulls to the boundary. When 221 Barnes was dropped at mid off by Bedser off Wright. From the next ball Bradman reached 200. He had been batting for 369 minutes. The batsmen, particularly Bradman, were opening their shoulders to almost every ball and fours were scored free- <• ly. The 500 mark was left behind in 610 minutes and the next 50, largely composed of boundaries, took only 22 minutes. Bradman was now lashing at every ball and four fours in one over from Yardley carried him past Barnes, who was 71 when Bradmah came in. Bradman was then 234, and he got no further, Yardley claiming him leg before. Bradman’s meritorioqg innings lasted 391 minutes and he hit 24 fours. Barnes had added a single before Bradman’s dismissal and he, too, was out for 234, being caught at mid on. His marathon performance lasted lOhr 42min. He hit 17 fours. Scores:- s ENGLAND First innings Hi AUSTRALIA • First Innings S. G. Barnes, c Ikin, b Bedser 2M A. R. Morris, b Edrich ......... ■ J I. Johnson, c Washbrook, b Edrich 7 A. L. Hassett, c Compton, b Edrich M K. R. Miller, c Evans, b Smith .. <• D. G. Bradman, lbw b Yardley .. 334 C. V. McCool, not out | D. TaJlon, not out 4 Extras !• Total for 6 wickets 511 Fall of wickets: one for 24, two for 37, three for 96, four for 159, five for 564, six for 564.

Bowlin* O. M. B. W A. V. Bedser 44 7 141 1 W J. Edrich 26 2 ’/■y 3 D. V. P. Wright 41 8 127 9 T. P. B. Smith 33 1 138 1 3 0 15 0 D. C. S. Compton .... 6 0 38 0 N. W. D. Yardley .. 9 0 23 1