SOUTH AFRICA COLLAPSES AND FOLLOWS ON

Evening Star, Issue 26136, 25 June 1947, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICA COLLAPSES AND FOLLOWS ON

(Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. South Africa collapsed in its first innings on the third day of the second test and had to follow on. At stumps the visitors had lost two wickets for 120 in the second innings and were still 107 runs short of England’s first innings total. South Africa’s test captain, Melville, made his, fourth successive test century when the tourists resumed their first innings this morning. Melville thus equalled the performance of Jack Fingleton, who It years ago hit three successive centuries against South Africa, followed by one against England. Melville, after batting 255 minutes, was caught backward of short leg. Nourse missed a mighty drive and was out leg before after 160 minutes’ batting. The dismissal of these two men changed the state of the game, with England definitely on top, and Yardiey closed in the field. The last six wickets fell in 90 minutes after 61 runs and South Africa’s innings closed after 405 minutes. # Rope and Bedser failed in this test to solve England’s bowling problem. Bedser seems to have lost some of his “ devil ” since the Australian tour. Pope rarely troubled even the tailenders. Wright justified his return to test cricket. South Africa followed on. Viljoen batted 'lB minutes for his six and like Melville was well beaten and bowled by the irresistible Edrich. Mitchell and Nourse had to fight for every run. They took the score to 50 in 65 minutes. Mitchell played carefully and took toll of any loose balls. The King-and Queen and the Princesses enjoyed the match so much that they stayed one and a-half hours longer than had been planned. Scores• —

SOUTH AFRICA. First Innings. Melville c (Bedser b Hollies 117 Nourse lbw b Wright ... 61 Dawson c Barnett b Hollies ... ... 36 Harris c Evans b Compton 30 (Rowan b Wright 8 Mann b Wright 4 Tuckett b Wright 5 Lindsay not out 7 Smith c Edrich b Pope 11 Sundries 1 Total ... 327 —Bowling Analysis.— Edrich, 9 overs, 1 maiden, none for 22; Bedser, 26 overs, 1 maiden, none for 76; Pope. 20 overs, 5 maidens, one for 49; Wright, 39 overs, 10 maidens, five for 95: Hollies, 28 overs, 10 maidens, two for 52; Compton, 21 overs, 11 maidens, two for 32. Second Innings. Melville b Edrich 8 Mitchell not out 47 Viljoen b Edrich 6 Nourse uot o t 58 Sundries 1 Total for two wickets ... 120