AUSTRALIA AHEAD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 9

AUSTRALIA AHEAD

Fifth Test in South Africa SUCCESS OF GRIMMETT Fingleton and Brown Give Side Good Start By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 1, 6.30 p.m.) Durban, February 29. Australia is in a strong position in fifth cricket Test against South Africa, which commenced yesterday. Wade, Siedle, Nourse and Viljoen made . a good showing in South Africa’s first innings, but Grimmett was again too wily.’ He reaped a rich reward of wickets, finishing the day with seven for 86 and the innings with seven for 100. O’Reilly, however, was not in the picture. Viljoen was the only batsman who appeared to be safe when facing Grimmett. Siedle disliked McCormick’s deliveries, some of which bumped head high, and the umpire also bad to draw attention to the way he was damaging the pitch. The weather was overcast and muggy early, the sun breaking through just before lunch,. The wicket was perfect. South Africa batted first and when stumps were drawn had scored 199 for eight wickets. Africans Soon Out. To-day McCormick soon finished off the Africans’ innings, and then Fingleton and Brown once again gave Australia a splendid start, scoring 162. for the first wicket. The weather at first was overcast and muggy. The wicket had every appearance of being easy. The Australian fielding after lunch yesterday lacked its customary sparkle. Siedle failed to get hold of a ball from Grimmett and presented Fingleton with an easy catch at mid-off. Nourse was deceived by a disguised ball which went straight through, and once again the South Africans were struggling for runs. Harvey had a good look at the bowling before lifting Grimmett twice in succession to the leg boundary. The latter bowled for three hours unchanged. Harvey began nibbling at balls going away on the off and finally paid the penalty. Rain fell during the tea adjournment, causing 40 minutes’ delay. Langton went out to the first ball he received on the resumption, completely missing it and being stumped. Balaskas suffered the same fate, Oldfield beating him by inches. Crisp was bowled round his legs first ball. Failing light and an approaching storm brought the day’s play to a premature close at 5.25 p.m’- when an appeal against the light was upheld. Saturday's Play. When play was resumed to-day Viljoen just got his bat to a high bumping hall which spun back high for Chipperfield at second slip to take an easy catch. The end come when Davies was bowled by McCormick without playing the ball. Grimmett finished with the excellent figures of seven for 100. Fingleton and Brown faced a fast opening attack shared by Davies and Crisp. The batsmen went along confidently, not worried by changes in bowling, and took 12 off an over by Balaskas before lunch. Crisp bowled leg theory with four men on the leg side close in. Fingleton was nearly out for 32 when he snicked a ball to the leg side, but the wicketkeeper failed to hold a difficult catch. Brown, when 62. reached bis 1000 runs for the tour. Runs came freely before tea and when the Australian score was 162 Brown scooped up a ball to Langdon at cover. Brown had batted in cool, effortless style. McCabe soon went, returning a simple catch to Mitchell. O’Brien would have been out before scoring, snicking a ball from Mitchell, but the wicket-keeper, van der Merwe, failed to hold it. Fingleton continued to gather runs at a faster rate, 10 coming from one over by Balaskas. An appeal against the light was upheld and stumps were drawn about 5 p.m. Scores: — SOUTH AFRICA.—First Innings. Siedle, c. Fingleton, b. Grimmett .... .38 Wade, e. Richardson, b. Grimmett ~ 2fl Mitchell, c. and b. Grimmett 10 Nourse, 1.b.w.. b. Grimmett 5b Viljoen, c. Chipperfield, b. McCormick nf > Harvev, c. Oldfield, b. McCormick .. AS Langton, st. Oldfield, b. Grimmett .. 1 Balaskas, st. Oldfield, b. Grimmett .. 2 Crisp, b. Grimmett 0 Van der Merwe, not out ‘ Davies, b. McCormick 0 Extras G Total 222 Fall of Wickets One for -11, two for 57 three for 124, four for 125. five for 17®, six for 133. seven for 199, eight for 199, nine for 220, ten for 222.

A USTR ALT A.—First Innings. Fingleton, not out 117 Brown, c. Langton, b. Mitchell 8! McCabe, c. and b. Mitchell 1 O’Brien, not out 23 Extras 14 Total for two wickets 230 Fall of wickets: One Cor 162, two for

WISDEN’S SELECTION Cricketers of the Year London, February 28. "Wisden’s” live cricketers of the year, based ou performances in England during the 1935 season, are:— Bruce Mitchell (South Africa). The late H. B. Cameron (South Africa). E. R.. T. Holmes (Surrey). Denis Smith (Derbyshire). A. W, Wellard (Somerset). SHEFFIELD SHIELD South Australia’s Win Adelaide, February 29. Although the exact number of points has not been determined, it is announced that South Australia, under the captaincy of D.. G. Bradman, decisively won the Sheffield Shield cricket com-

petition. New South Wales were second, Victoria third and then Queensland South Australia beat Queensland (twice), New South Wales and Victoria outright, but were behind on the first innings in the second match against New South Wales when play was abandoned owing to the death of the King. Victoria beat New South Wales outright and Queensland on the first innings (twice). New South Wales beat Queensland and Victoria outright. CENTURY TO BRADMAN (Received March 1, 6.30 p.m.) Adelaide, March 1. In an Inter-State cricket match against South Australia yesterday, Tasmania, in their first innings, scored 158 (C. Smith 02. W. Thomas 42, Ward three for 35). South Australia, in their first innings, have two wickets down .for 222 (Bradman 127 not out). Badcock went cheaply for 13. BRADMAN’S CAPTAINCY London, February 28. The “Daily Telegraph” comments that, not the least among Bradman’s feats Is South Australia’s winning of the Sheffield Shield in the first year of his captaincy, which augurs well for Australia's chances when the time comes for him to assume the leadership. Badcock is likely to become a thorn in the side of the English bowlers for many years.

BOWLING ANALYSIS. W (). M. R. McCormick 20 S 37 3 McCabe 7 0 ‘20 0 IS lot) 7 O’Reilly 37 13 59 0

1G4. BOWLING ANALYSTS. 0. M. 11. w. . 11 1 32 0 Crisp . 12 1 42 n Langton . 17 6 37 0 Halaskas 2 90 0 Mitchell 7 0 24