AUSTRALIA OUT TO WIN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 59, 13 March 1929, Page 9

AUSTRALIA OUT TO WIN

CRICKET IN LAST TEST

WOODFULL AND BRADMAN

Dnltod Presi Association—By Electric Xeto-

sraph—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, 12th March.

The weather was much. warmer today when play was resumed in ■ the Test match, the conditions being greatly in favour of tho batting side still. •

The batsmen opened cautiously, only five runs being added in twenty-five minutes. Even when the batsmen be-

came more aggressive runs were difficult to get, owing to the accurate bowling and fine fielding. Ryder reached double figures after batting for an hour in all. He then hit White tovthe on for four, all of which were run out, but there were few such efforts. After a long period of dull play eight'were scored off one of White's overs. When Ryder had reached 23 he had made 1000 runs in Test cricket. In the last over bowled by Hammond before lunch, the total was taken to 200, and Woodfull had reached his century, after batting 322 minutes. On the second last ball Ryder, who had batted for 112 minutes, went for a big hit, skied the ball, and was easily caught at point. WOODFULL NOT SATISFIED. There was a sensation just after lunch. In Larwood's first over Woodfull played a ball into the slips. Geary took the ball low down, and signified a catch. Woodfull refused to leave the wicket until given out, evidently being very dissatisfied. He had batted 325 minutes without giving a chance, and made three boundary hits. Bradman commenced confidently, and soon reached double figures. Fairfax also was enterprising. Bradman aroused enthusiasm by scoring seven off one of Tate's'overs, his strokes including a perfect straight drive to the fence. The total of 250 was reached in 37D minutes. Bradman was playing very pluckily and skilfully, while : Fairfax was batting solidly. When 40 Bradman drove a ball straight and hard to Geary at mid-on, off White^ but the fieldsman dropped the ball. Bradman reached 50 after batting 71 minutes. It was a refreshing display after so much" dull cricket. YOUNG BATSMEN CARRY ON. The batsmen played quietly for some time after the tea interval, and then, increasing the pace slightly, the third century was brought up after 449 minutes' play. Shortly after the partnership realised the century in 116 minutes. Bradman then got on to Larwood, [ scoring 4, 2, and 3 in one over, with delightful strokes. The crowd now was greatly excited at the change which had come over the scene. Bradman entered the nineties with a forceful ou drive to the boundary, off Geary. When the partnership had realised 143 runs, the previous Australian fifth wicket record by Darling and Gregory, made on the I same ground 35 years ago, was' broken. The tbtal of 350 was reached in 493 minutes, each run being wildly cheered. BRADMAN A CENTURY. Thero was a great demonstration when Bradman reached tho century, in 172 minutes. It was his second century in Test matches. Fairfax,'who'had played au invaluable innings, reached 50 in .173 "minutes. An appeal against the light was refused at 5.40 p.m., but a second appeal was granted at 5.47. Bradman gave a great exhibition, bat-' ting for 181 minutes, during which he hit seven fourers. Fairfax gave a sound display, hitting two fourers.

The attendance was 20,700, and the receipts £1550.

The following are the scores:—

ENGLAND,

First innings

AUSTRALIA.

First innings.

Woodfull, c Geary, b Lnnvood .... 102 Jackson, run out , 30 Kippax, c Duckworth, b White... 38 Ryder, c Tatej b Hammond 30 Bradman, not out 109 Fairfax, not out 50 Extras • 8

Total for four wickets