TEST CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22357, 2 March 1936, Page 9

TEST CRICKET

AUSTRALIA. LEADS SOUTH AFRICANS' FAILURE GRIMMETT IN DEADLY FORM CENTURY TO FINGLETON By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 1, 5.5 p.m.) DURBAN, Feb. 29 In the final Test cricket match between South Africa and Australia the home side batted first. When an appeal against the light was upheld at 5.25 p.m., the South Africans had lost eight wickets for 199. The weather was overcast and muggy when the game began, the sun breaking through just before lunch,, The wicket was in perfect order, Wade won the toss and quiet, uneventful cricket in the first half-hour produced 16 runs, after which the captain had a sudden . burst of energy, which was too good to last. The opposing skipper, at deep raid-off, dismissed him with a well-judged catch, low down. A further spell of quiet play was followed by the dismissal of Mitchell, who returned a high catch to the bowler. Australia again seems set for victory. Wade, Siedle, Nourse and Viljoen made good showings, but Grimmett was again too wily and reaped a, rich reward in wickets, finishing the day with seven for S6. O'Reilly, however, was not in the picture. Viljoen was the only batsman who appeared safe facing Grimmett. Damage to the Fitch Siedle disliked McCormick's deliveries, some of which bumped head high. The umpire also had to draw attention the way the bowler was damaging the pitch. The Australian fielding after lunch lacked its customary sparkle. Siedle failed to get hold of a ball from Grimmett and presented Fingleton with an easy catch at mid-off. Nourse . was deceived by a disguised straight-through ball, and once again the South Africans were struggling for runs. Harvey had a good look at the bowling before lifting Grimmett twice in succession to the leg boundary. The later howled for three hours unchanged. Harvey began nibbling at balls going away on the eff, and finally paid the penalty. Pain fell during the tea adjournment, and there was a delay of 40 minutes. Langton was dismissed early, being stumped. Balaskas suffered the same fate, Oldfield beating him by inches. Crisp was bowled round his legs first ball. Australia's Tine Start When play was continued to-day, McCormick soon finished off the South i African innings, taking the last two | wickets. Grimmett finished with the excellent figures of seven for 100. The weather was overcast at first and decidedly muggy, while the wicket had every appearance of being easy. Fingleton and Brown gave Australia a splendid start, scoring 162 tor the I first wicket. The batsmen moved confidently, several changes in the bowling | failing to worry them. Crisp bowled leg theory with four men close in on I the leg side. Fingleton was almost out at 32, when j he snicked a ball on the leg side and I tin? wicket-keeper failed to hold, a diffiI cult chance. Brown, when at 62, reached his 1000 runs for the tour. Huns came freely before the tea adjournment, but when the total was at 161, Brown raised the ball to Langton in the covers. Brown had batted in a cool and effortless style. McCabe Out to Simple Catch McCabe soon went, returning a simple catch to Mitchell. O'Brien should have been out before scoring, snicking a ball from Mitchell, but Van der Merwo failed to accept the chance. Fingleton commenced to gather runs at a faster pace, taking 10 off one over from Balaskas. A successful appeal against the light was made at 5 p.m. Details of the scores are:— SOUTH AFRICA.—First innings. Siedle, c Fingleton, b Grimmett . . 36 Wade, c Richardson, b Grimmett . . 26 Mitchell, c and b Grimmett . . . . 10 Nourse, lbw, b Grimmett . . . . 50 Viljoen, c Chipperfield, b McCormick . . . 56 Harvey, c Oldfield, b McCormick . . 28 Langton, st Oldfield, b Grimmett . . 1 Balaskas, st Oldfield, b Grimmett . . 2 Crisp, b Grimmett 0 Van der Merwe, not out 7 Davies, b McCormick . . . . . 0 Extras . 6 Total . . . . 222 Bowling: McCormick took three wickets for 37 runs, McCabe none for 20, Grimmett seven for 100, O'Railly none for 59. AUSTRALIA.—First Innings. Fingleton, not out . . .... . . 117. Brown, c Langton, b Mitchell . . 84 McCabe, c and b Mitchell .... 1 O'Brien, not out .23 Extras 14 Total for two wickets . . . . 239 INTER-STATE GAME BRADMAN IN FORM SUCCESSFUL CAPTAINCY (Received March 1. 5.5 p.m.) ADELAIDE. March 1 In an inter-State cricket match against South Australia yesterday Tasmania in the first innings made 158 runs (C. Smith 62, W. Thomas 42). Ward took three wickets for 35. South Australia in the first innings made 222 for two wickets (Bradman not out 127). Although the exact number of points is not determined, it is announced that South Australia, under the captaincy of Bradman, has decisively won the Sheffield Shield cricket competition. New South Wales was second, Victoria third, then Queensland, *