TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 127, 25 November 1935, Page 11

TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET TEAM

BIG SCORE AT DURBAN

United Press Association—by Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright. DURBAN, November 23. The Australian cricketers opened their South African tour against Natal auspiciously. A crowd of 10,000 witnessed Fingleton, Brown, McCabe, and Richardson in a very bright batting display characterised by daring. Early spectators included a man from Belgian Congo, affording an indication of the tremendous public interest in the tour. The weather at first was ideal and summery, but conditions later became windy and overcast, portending rain. The wicket was perfect. At stumps the Australians had amassed 522 for the loss of five wickets. The teams are:— Natal.— Wade, Siedle, Harvey, Nourse, Dalton, Tutton, Wade, Murray, Anderson, Smith, Sparks. Australia.— Richardson, McCabe, Oldfield, Fingleton, Brown, Chipperfield, McCormick, Fleetwood-Smith, O'Reilly, Grimmett, Darling. Richardson won the toss and Fingleton and Brown opened for the Australians. Brown was particularly attractive against the spin bowler, Anderson, hitting three 4's in succession, but he had a narrow escape at 29 when he hit up a catch to silly leg which Sparks dropped. Fingleton made many fine drives and leg shots. The score at lunch was 120 for none. SLOW BOWLERS HIT. Dalton and Murray shared the slow bowling after lunch, but the batsmen continued to score freely. Fingleton, at 80, skied the ball to Murray, who was just about to take it when a sudden gust of wind deflected the ball out of harm's way. Fingleton continued to take risks and at 105 was twice dropped, first by Siedle at mid-off and then by Nourse near the sight-screen. However, bis glorious free innings could not last and he was caught in the slips by Tutton when the score was 215. He hit one 6 and six 4's. McCabe was immediately aggressive with hard, straight drives and polished shots on the leg side. Brown, meanwhile, struggling towards the century, gave a hard chance to Wade at mid-off when 99. SOME BIG HITS. Thereafter he threw caution to the winds and scattered a portion of the crowd with a 6. McCabe then hit two 6's in succession off Murray and 300 runs were on the board in 185 minutes. McCabe was caught at midoff by Wade. He hit seven 4's in addition to the 6's. Brown lashed out wildly and threw away his wicket, being caught by Sparks. He hit four 6's and 11 4's. The score at tea was 374 for three wickets. Darling, in attempting a big hit, was also caught at mid-off. Richardson, when 20, was dropped by Dalton off his own bowling. Then he drove a ball high out of the ground, and went on merrily until caught by Smith off his own bowling. Chipperfield and Oldfield were batting briskly ■at stumps. The former was very exact, treating the bowling purely oh its merits. Wade has been appointed captain of the South African team for the first Test against Australia. Details:— • AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Fingleton, c Tutton, b Sparks 121 Brown, c Sparks, b Murray 148 McCabe, c Wade, b Murray 65 Darling, c Sparks, b Anderson .. 26 V. Richardson, c and b Smith 75 Chipperfield, not out 60 Oldfield, not out 20 Extras 7 Total for five wickets 522