DRAW WITH VICTORIA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26265, 9 November 1950, Page 7

DRAW WITH VICTORIA

Rain Ends M.C.G Innings (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 8. A heavy mid-afternoon downpour washed out play on the last day of the match between England and Victoria, and the game, which ended in a draw, was abandoned at 4.40 p.m. After trailing Victoria by 25 runs on the first innings the Englishmen surprised by losing four wickets for 79 against an attack that was accurate but Tacked sting, L. Hutton and C. Washbrook appeared to have settled down and were batting well when they lost their wickets. D. S. Sheppard also was sound in defence, but J. G. Dewes again disappointed. Victoria scored the 24 runs needed to pass England’s first innings total of 306 after 42 minutes’ batting this morninft, when Howard moved to 135 and Bill Johnston reached 11. lan McDonald had lost his wicket in Hollies’ second over. Johnston should have been out without adding to his score. Hitting wildly at a ball from Warr, he sliced jt to Washbrook, who dropped a fairly easy running catch at deep third man. When Hollies and Warr failed to dislodge the stubborn Johnston, Denis Compton put himself on. but suffered the indignity of watching two of his deliveries fly to the mid-off boundary. Instead of Johnston losing his wicket it was Howard who fell in the next over to Brian Close, who had replaced Bailey. Howard, who opened the innings, batted 363 minutes in making 139 (one six and 11 fours L Johnston was stumped by Mclntyre in Compton’s next over, and the innings ended at 331. England Rate Again In the 20 minutes that remained before lunch Huitpn scored 11 and Washbrook five. The handful of spectators in the outer ground were beginning to resign themselves to an uneventful afternoon when Hutton at 13 fell to a brilliant catih which almost spun Kerr off his feet at second slip off Johnston's bowling. The scored had reached 49. of whiqh Washbrook had made 29. after penetrating the covers with two beautiful fours, when rain drove the players from the field. Play was not interrupted for long, and on the resumption Washbrook, in trying to drive lan Johnson past cover, was easily caught by Loxton. He made 32 in 61 minutes and hit two fours. Dewes. who has been having a run of outs, began with a three to fine leg off lan Johnson, and a two past cover off Bill Johnston, but the tall left-hander’s next ball caught him dead in front and he, too, was back in the pavilion.

With the score at 66 after 11 oven. Johnston gave way to Rjng. whose fifth ball completely beat Sheppard and gave McDonald an edsy stumping. Sheppard had batted 63 minutes m scoring 19 (one four). Compton, whose century had saved England in the first innings, and who had hoped to rest, was forced to attempt another rescue act. but rain again intervened and relieved him of the task. Scores:— M.C.C. \ « x . First Innings Total for nine wickets declared .. 306 Second Innings L. Hutton, c Kerr, b W. Johnston 13 C. Washbrook, c Loxton, b I. Johnson D. S. Sheppard, st McDonald, b , Rmg . It 'I Hewes- lbw. bW. Johnston 5 B. Close, not out .. 7 D. C. S. Compton, not out .. o Extras g Total for four wickqts ... 79 Bowling: W. Johnston, two for 30; Kerr, none for 25; I. Johnson, one for 20; Rihg, one for 1. VICTORIA ; First Innings K. Meuleman, b Bailey .. . 6 5 J? owar d, lbw, b Close .. x 3t N. Harvey, c Sheppard, b Bailev .. 7 A. L Hassett, b Bailey .. 19 S J. Loxton. c Huttort, b Bailey 4 Kerr, c Close, b Bailey .. .3 I. W. Johnson, run out .. .. 38 D. Ring, c Berrv, b Close .. 75 I. MacDonald, c Bailey, b Hollies . 4 W, Johnston, st Mclntyre, b Compton 30 Iverson, not out . ’ ?" 1 Extras .. * ” . T - Tot ai .331 Bowling: Bailey, five for 54; Warr. none for 77; Hollies, one for 95; Compton, one for 16: Close, two for K' Berry, none for 29.