BRADMAN’S OPENING CENTURY

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 9

BRADMAN’S OPENING CENTURY

UNBEATEN WITH 112 AGAINST WORCESTER HOME TEAM DISMISSED FOR 112 GRIMMETT CAPTURES FIVE WICKETS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 10 a.m.) A perfect example of a benign English spring day greeted the Australians at the opening of their tour. The wicket appeared to be true and easy, the outfield ‘ being much faster than normally at the beginning of the season. Worcester batted first, and was dismissed for 112. When stumps were drawn Australia had lost three wickets for 199. THE PLAY. Worcester’s fielding was excellent, but Bradman was dealing out punishment to all the bowlers, his form improving as he went along. Woodfull, after lingering for half an hour in the forties, attempted a big drive, and was well caught behind the howler. , Kippax survived only four balls. M'Cabe was almost bowled next ball, but undeterred he hit cheerfully. • Bradman meanwhile was steadily approaching the century. He was now sighting the ball perfectly and placing it at will. His 100 came with a slashing pull from Brook made in even time. It included thirteen 4’s. Demonstrating the phenomenal interest England is taking in the tour, over 100 journalists and fifty photographers were present at the first match. Ebeling drew first blood of the tour, his third ball skittling Gibbons’s wicket without a run being on the board. Wall’s first four overs were all maidens. Pataudi almost had Walters run out when he refused the captain’s call, but later Pataudi’s _ irresponsible running cost him his wicket. When the total was 34 he was yards out of his crease. Walters handled Grimmett and O’Reilly splendidly. Grimmett then found his length, and trapped Nichol. O’Reilly obtained his first wicket when Martin played a feeble shot back to the bowler, Just before lunch Walters, like Nichols, failed to distinguish between Grimmett’s leg-break and his straight ball and was out Ibw t after batting eighty minutes. He played an impressive innings without a bad stroke. Six thousand were present after lunch, when Grimmett’s ascendancy became pronounced. Worcester’s innings ended after 170 minutes’ play, Oldfield taking a spectacular catch to dismiss tho last batsman, Quaife. Ponsford and Woodfull opened confidently. Ponsford played a sox-ies of crisp attacking shots before he was caught in the slips. Jackson was keeping an admirable length,' with considerable; nip from the pitch. Bradman once almost played him on. Woodfull was jogging along comfortably. After the tea adjournment Bradman opened his shoulders, slamming Perks and Brooks to the boundary. He drew level with Woodfull, who had had fox-ty minutes’ start. Bradman reached 50 in an hour. Details: —

WORCESTER. First Innings. Walters Ibw b Grimmett ... 32 Gibbons b Ebeling ... ... 0 Pataudi run out ... 14 Nichols Ibw b Grimmett ... 6 Martin c and b O’Reilly ... 0 Bull st Oldfield b'’Grimmett ... ... 13 Quaife c Oldfield b Wall ... ... ... 20 Howarth b Wall ... 16 Brook b Grimmett ... 3 Jackson Ibw b Grimmett ... 0 Perks not out ... 0 Extras ... ... ... 8 Total ... ... 112 Bowling Analysis.—Wall, two for 6; Ebeling,- one for 10; Grimmett, five for 53; O’Reilly, one for 35. ' AUSTRALIA. First Innings. Woodfull c Perks b Martin ... ... 48 Ponsford c Nichols b Jackson ... 13 Bradman not out ... 112 Kippax b Jackson ... 0 M'Cabe not out ... 19 Extras ... 7 Total for three wickets ... 199