A STRONG START

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 14

A STRONG START

M.C.C. AT DURBAN

THIRD CRICKET TEST

PAYNTER'S BIG SCORE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received January 21, 10 a.m.)

DURBAN, January 20.

The third cricket Test between England and South Africa was commenced today in fine weather and on a good wicket. Hammond won the toss for the seventh time in succession in Test matches and when rain in the afternoon stopped play for the day England had made 373 runs for two wickets (Paynter not out 197, Hammond not out 99). The teams are: England:—W. R. Hammond (captain), K. Fames, B. H. Valentine, P. A. Gibb, W. J. Edrich, L. Huttor., E. Paynter, H. Verity, A. J. Wilkinson, D. V. P. Wright, L. E. G. Ames, with N. W. D. Yardley as twelfth man.

South Africa: —A. „ Melville (captain), B. Mitchell, P. G. van der Byl, E. A. B. Rowan, A. D. Nourse, K. G. Viljoen, H. F.'Wade, E. L. Dalton, A. B. C. Langton, N. Gordon, and R. E. Davies.

Hutton and Gibb were the opening batsmen, Edrich having been reduced to number seven on the batting list.

Gibb was shaky but Hutton was confident and scored four boundaries in his tally of 31. Paynter narrowly escaped stumping when he was 54 and Wade also missed Paynter just before tea, after which the batsmen scored most freely despite the defensive fielding. Details:— ENGLAND. First Innings. | Hutton, lbw, b Gordon 31 Gibb, c Wade, b Davies 38 j Paynter, not out 197 Hammond, not out 99 Extras 8 Total for two wickets 373 Bowling.—Davies took one wicket for 81 runs;. Langton, none for 87; Gordon, one for 98; Mitchell, none for 45; Dalton, none for 54.