EXCITING END TO BRISBANE MATCH

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1936, Page 11

EXCITING END TO BRISBANE MATCH

Cricket

QUEENSLAND JUST SAVE DEFEAT

[By J. B. Hobbs. —Copyright' in all countries. Reproduction in whole >r

in part forbidden.! (Received 10 a.m.) BRISBANE, December 1

Thei’e was an exciting finish today to the match between England and Queensland which was drawn, Queensland’s last pair playing out time. England continued batting till lunch, instead of declaring and trying to win the match, so as to afford the batting practice to some members who were badly in need of it. Though I agreed with this policy, I must confess 1 should have been happier if they had declared because the batting . was patchy, five wickets being lost for the addition of 69 runs.

This fact unsettled me, after I had gained confidence yesterday. The batsmen scraped about and could not time the ball. I doubt if the practise did them any good, because Oxenham, probably with intent, did not put Allen or himself, the only two slow right-handers, on to bowl.

Ames Times Badly.

Wyeth is a slow left-hand bowler., well able to make the ball turn, but it was against slow right-handers the batsmen wanted practice. Days of net, practice are of less value than an hour at the wicket. Ames was missed off the first ball sent down. Even he was faulty in his timing today. Fishlock, in the same over, was caught in the gulley where Ames was missed, Robins was bowled when trying to hook a fast ball from Wyeth. Verity was caught at mid-on after scratching about for a long-time. Leyland was caught at cover.

Considering the position, Queensland held out splendidly in the field. When they again batted I noticed that Robins. Hardstaff, Verity and Fames did not wear their caps. You do not find the Australians taking this risk. Our i players should remember that Brisbane is sub-tropical, and the sun is far more dangerous than at Sydney. As things turned out, England’s bowlers made such a quick start after lunch that, by tea-time, they found themselves with a chance of winning. '

A Quick Start.

Brown was caught at the wicket when fishing for a wide ball off Fames. Rogers went out leg before to Robins off a full toss, and Allen was completely surprised by the same bowler. Verity made a ball come quickly off the pitch and dismissed Tallon leg before under the new rule. Andrews, after hitting a bright 44, went out in a similar manner to a googly from Robins. Oxenham was the fourth leg-beforc victim of the afternoon. but Baker and Amos made a stubborn stand.

With 40 minutes to go three wickets were left. Ames missed stumping Amos, the ball sticking in the top of the wicket-keeper’s pad. The pitch was in favour of slow more than fast bowls, and Robins, Verity and Wyeth found it respond to a spin.

Baker and Amos held the fort for 55 minutes, Baker completing 50 in 101 minutes. Hammond bowled a soft over to hurry the 200.

Race Against Time.

A new ball was taken, with 18 minutes left, by Fames and Voce. With the last ball of his first over, Fames had Amos well caught in the righthanded slip by Fagg. Amusement was caused by a field of five slips and two short-legs behind the wicket, a lady shouting to the batsman: “Look behind you.” With eight minutes to go Fames, in the next over, f dismissed Baker leg before. He played a great innings of 63, and it was entirely due to him that Queensland saved the day. Fames put all he knew into every ball of the last over, but failed to take the necessary wicket.