M.C.C. DRAWS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27533, 15 December 1954, Page 13

M.C.C. DRAWS

105 To May At Melbourne (Rec. 10 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Dec. 14. The match between the M.C.C. and Victoria ended in a draw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today. Peter May showed his best form when hitting his second first-class century of the tour. Hutton preferred to let May reach three figures to making ah early declaration. Consequently the match ended in an uninteresting draw, for Victoria was left the impossible task of scoring 272 in just less than two hours. The rain on Saturday, which reduced play by nearly four hours, was mainly responsible for the stalemate. Cowdrey, as well as May, gave of his best, which means, that England will enter the Sydney test with two leading amateur batsmen on the top of their game. Hutton and Bailey failed to repeat their substantial first innings stand. Bailey was the victim of a shooter

and Hutton, adopting a forcing game, was taken by the wicket-keeper. Graveney’s ill-luck continued and he suffered the same fate as his captain. Three wickets were down for 69 but May and Cowdrey gave a glorious exhibition, adding 120 for the fourth wicket, in 9£> minutes. Both drove magnificently and forced the ball wide of mid-en in a masterly fashion. Simpson got under a harmless looking leg-side full toss, being caught backward of square-leg. lan Johnson bowled only seven overs and restricted Johnston to 10. Neither caused much trouble. Cowdrey provided them with their solitary victim when attempting a big hit Maddocks again kept wickets efficiently and may be the test deputy to Langley. Hutton gave a long spell to McConnon. It would appear that he is a favourite for a place in the test. Scores:—

ENGLAND r First innings .. 312 Second Innings L. Hutton, c Maddocks, b Loxtofi .. 25 T. E. Bailey, b Power P. B. H. May, not out 105 T. W. Graveney, c Maddocks, b Loxton 12 M. C. Cowdrey, c McDonald, b Johnson .. .. 7.* 54 K R. T. Simpson, c Chambers, b Hill .. T. G. Evans, not out 11 Extras (byes 12, leg-byes 1, wide 1. no-balls 2) 18 Total for five wickets declared 236 Fall of wickets: one for 26, two for 52, three for 69, four for 189, five for 199. Bowling O. M.' R. V. Power .. ..10 0 63 Loxton .. .. 14 2 67 2 HiU .. ..12 3 30 Johnston .. ..10 4 37 0 Ian Johnson .. 7 2 23 1 VICTORIA First innings 277 Second Innings McDonald, retired hurt Q Hallebone, lbw, b Loader Ray Harvey, c Hutton, b McConnon 38 Neu Harvey, not out 34 Chambers, lbw. b Wardle Loxton, not out Extras (byes 1, leg-byes 1) 2 Total for three wickets 88 Fall of wickets: one for 29, two for 53, three for 68. Bowling O. M. R. AT. Tyson .. .. 6 0 33 0 Loader . .. 5 0 16 McConnon ..11 5 23 a Wardle .. 4 0 14 1