DISASTER AND TRIUMPH

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1924, Page 7

DISASTER AND TRIUMPH

SOUTH AFRICANS' GREAT SECOND INNINGS RECOVERY. ■-" (AUSTRALIAN-NEW . CABLE ' ASSOCIATION.) ' :_'■ ''/ LONDON, 17th June. .Mr. .A." C. MacLaren, in the"Daiiy Express," says":, "Despite the first innings sensation; the" day's play , will cause some anxiety/to the English Selection .Committee. Taylor put a heavy .roller on the wicket, which brought the ,damp to the top, so that the. ball was. certain," to turn. For about 20 minutes the star batsmen failed to break" down these early difficulties and pave the way for the rest ;of .the team1 to bat on a plumb wicket. Gilligan's direction and length were splendid. iTate was equally difficult,, but the Africans in the second innings 'made Parkin, Kilner, and Fender'seem tame.1 Just when the game should have been finished quickly- Catt^all and Blanekenberg-played in 'heroic style. The Africans may surprise us yet. The man must'be an optimist who shouts' about the bowling strength of England." '-Mr. P. F. Warner, in the "Mqrnin<* Post,1 says: "The'day began with disaster' for, the Africans, but ended in a triumph.-. The wicket was'perfection it- ' self, : but the batsmen seemed quite helpless, against the splendid bowling of Gilhgan and Tate. It was an -utter"' rout, and what followed made it more incomprehensible. Scarcely evei- can there' have been a greater contrast1 in a sino-le day's cricket. The explanation of the first; innings lies in the fact that the Africans for the first-"time .in the tour met ■with.a really fast wicket, and were all late in_ timing the ball. Taylor and Commaille started the second innings with-as much confidence'as if the side1 ' had, made 3CO instead of 30. It was only natural, that towards the end of the hot day that the Englishmen •should tire in the field,/and during the last hour Cafctterall and Blanckenberg scored'at a fast rate.: Both should have been out before the close of play, but their free b'attinc delighted everybody, the crowd dispers^ ing full of enthusiasm for the, African's pluck. It was a remarkable day's play, and if there should "be a succession of hard, 'true wickets,' I, think the Africans will\ prove a far better side than they hare been hitherto regarded."