AMAZING TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 61, 14 March 1939, Page 9

AMAZING TEST

M.C.C. HAS WIN IN SIGHT

EDRICH SETS NEW RECORD

200 STILL WANTED

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received March 14, 11 a.m.) DURBAN, March 13^ The amazing cricket Test between England and South Africa will enter upon its tenth day tomorrow. England require 200 runs to win and have seven wickets in hand. play saw England's score taken from 253 for one wicket to 496 for three, Gibb reaching 120 and Edrich 219. After the dismissal of the second-wicket partners an experienced pair in Hammond and Paynter settled down and were still together at stumps, Hammond having passed the half-century. Edrich's 219 was a new individual record for Tests between England and South Africa, the previous best being J. B. Hobbs's 211 at Lord's in 1924.

Today was the ninth day of the match, although there was no play on! Saturday owing to rain. The position at the resumption of play was that England had made 316 and 253 for one wicket in response tq South Africa's scores of 530 and 481. The not-out batsmen were Gibb (78) and Edrich (107). The pair were still together at lunch, when the score was 333 for one wicket (Gibb 112, Edrich 152). GIBB OUT TO SHOOTER. j The wicket showed signs of cracking up, but it played few tricks until a shooting top-spinner from Dalton got past Gibb's bat. The outgoing batsman had taken 451 minutes •to get his 120 runs, his big partnership with Edrich giving England a good chance of winning after being in an almost hopeless position. Hammond joined Edrich, who continued to bat at the top of his form until he failed to get properly on to a rising ball from" Langtoh and was caught. In making his record score Edrich gave a chanceless display for 436 minutes. He hit twenty-five 4's. It was Edrich's first real success as a Test batsman, and it came at the right time. Stumps were again drawn early on account of bad light. The Englishmen must leave Durban tomorrow evening to catch the liner for Home. . Details:— SOUTH AFRICA. First innings 530 Second innings k 481 ENGLAND. First innings 316 Second Innings. Hutton, b Mitchell 55 Gibb, b Dalton 120 Edrich, c Gordon, b Langton .... 219 Hammond, not out 58 Paynter, not out 24 Extras 20 Total for three wickets 496 Bowling.—Newsbn took ho wickets for 60 runs, Gordon none for 130, Langtort one for 10, Dalton one for 84, Mitchell one for 97.