CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA 185 FOR NINE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27665, 23 May 1955, Page 12

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA 185 FOR NINE

SLOW SCORING IN M.C.C. GAME

CHEETHAM DECLARES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. The South African cricketers struggled in chilly weather on a soft pitch at Lord’s today on the opening day of their threeday game against the M.C.C., and scored 185 for nine declared in five hours. In a bold move. Jack Cheetham, the touring captain, declared, but in the 15 minutes remaining the M.C.C. •scored three runs without loss. Some of the England selectors went to the ground on a dual purpose mission. One was to consider the captaincy of the England team this season, < and the other was to study the South Africans who will provide the test opposition. Neither task should have caused them anxiety. They saw Len Hutton handle the tyI.C.C. team as competently as he did the England touring side in Australia last year, and the selectors must also have come to the conclusion that this latest South African team does not possess any batsmen of the highest class. Against some rather ordinary M.C.C. bowling, the South Africans took three hours 10 minutes to reach 100 runs. Their lack of enterprise not only left the initiative with the bowlers but it also led to the downfall of many of their wickets. Half the side was out for only 90. Not until lanky Paul Winslow, seventh in the batting order, arrived did the patient crowd of 9000 see anyone attempting to drive. He hit one mighty six off Peter Loader in scoring 25 in 20 minutes. Other batsmen constantly played the half-volley off the back foot. The opening bat, Trevor Goddard, took 70 minutes to score 19; Russell Endean occupied 95 minutes in scraping together 20; the left-hander, Hedley Keith, took two hours for 21; and Cheetham batted 130 minutes for the top score of 38. The match was played-in cold, cheerless conditions, and several short halts were made for showers. St ires:— < SOUTH AFRICA First Ininings T. L. Goddard, b Titmus .. .. 19 J. H. B. Waite, c Close, b Titmus .. .16 H. T. Keith, c Berry, b Loader 21 W. R. Endean, st Andrew, b Berry .. 20 R. A. McLean, lbw, b Loader .. 4 J. E. Cheetham, c Qraveney, lj Ber-ry 38 P. L. Winslow, c Andrew, b dose .. 25 A. R. A. Murray, c Andrew, b Bailey 9 E. R. Fuller, c Graveney, b Bailey .. 5 H. J. Tayfield, not out .. .20 Extras .. .. .. 8 Total for nine wickets, dec. .. 185 i"all of tickets: one for 23, two for 3B three for 83, four for 83, five for 90 six for 121, seven for 140, eight for 154, nine for 185.

O. M. R. W. Loader .. 20 8 45 2 Bailey . .. 13 4 29 2 Titmus . .. 20 11 27 2 Berry . .. 23 10 28 2 Close .. 19 6 48 1 • M.C.C. First Innings L. Hutton, not out T. W. Graveney, not out Extras Total for' no wickets Fuller Bowling O. . .. 1 M. 0 R. w. Goddard Tayfield • .. 2 .. 1 1 1 0 0 0