PROMISING REPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26544, 20 August 1947, Page 8

PROMISING REPLY

SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETERS GOOD SCORE IN FIFTH TEST LONDON, Aug. 18. .In reply to England’s first innings total of 427 in the fifth test, South Africa has lost four wickets for 204. Evans hit out at nearly every ball when England resumed to-day. The weather was fine and the wicket hard. Evans apparently indicated to Gladwin that he would run at every opportunity, but he was run out through a misunderstanding. Both Wright and Copson were clean bowled in attempting hard drives. England's innings lasted 475 minutes. Melville, for the first »time this tour, was not one of South Africa’s opening batsmen. He had a recent run of poor scores, but, more important, he is feeling the effects of the tour and has lost over a stone in weight since he arrived in April. Neither Copson nor Gladwin, the opening bowlers,. could get much life out of the pitch, but Howorth, the left-hand slow bowler, with his * first ball in the match, separated the South African openers, Mitchell and Dyer, the latter being caught at cover. South Africa scored 100 in 120 minutes. Nourse began full of aggression, but was caught when he hit a shade too soon at a flighted ball from Howorth. Wright bowled well, though in pain, because of a sharp blow on the left thigh received when batting. The injury also Handicapped his fielding. Mitchell and Melville added 86 runs for the fourth wicket, and Mitchell and Dawson added 40 in an undefeated partnership for the fifth wicket. Mitchell played as well as he has yet done during the tour. Melville’s footwork was sure, until he was out trying to turn the ball to fine leg. Mitchell was sure and certain until stumps, when he was just eight short of his century. ENGLAND First Innings' Hutton, b Mann 83 Washbrook, lbw, b Mann 32 Robertson, c Melville, b Smith .. .. 4 Compton, c Tuckett, b Rowan .. .. S 3 Yardley, b Mann 59 Cranston, st Fullerton, b Rowan .. .. 45 Howorth, c Fullerton, b Rowan .. .. 23 Evans, run out 45 Gladwin, not out 51 Wright, b Mann 14 Copson, b Dawson 6 Extras 12 Total 427 Fall of Wickets,—One for 63, two for 80, three for 178, four for 178, five for 271, six for 290. seven for 332, eight for 358, nine for 408. Bowling Analysis.—Tuckett, 32 overs, 6 maidens, 82 runs, 0 wickets; Dawson, 35, 5 80, 1; Mann, 64, 28, 93, 4; Rowan, 38, 9', 92, 3; Smith, 21, 0, 68, 1. SOUTH AFRICA First Innings Mitchell, not out 92 Dyer, c Gladwin, b Howorth 18 Viljoen, c Evans, b Wright 10 Nourse, c Yardley, b Howorth .. .. 10 Melville, lbw, b Cranston 39 Dawson, not out 28 Extras ' 1 Total for four wickets .. .. 204 Fall of wickets. —One for 47, two for 63, three for 78, four for 164. * Bowling Analysis.—Copson, 15 overs, 4 maidens, 32 runs, 0 wickets; Gladwin, 13, 2. 24, 0; Wright, 18, 4, 62, 1; Howorth, 27, 13. 32 2; Compton, 11. 4. .31, 0; Cranston, 6 1. 16, 1. MIDDLESEX LEADS IN COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 18. Middlesex, by defeating Gloucestershire by 68 runs, has an eight-point lead in the county cricket championship table. The match was remarkable for low scoring by both sides and splendid bowling by the spinners, Goddard, Sharp and Young on a responsive pitch. Scores:— Middlesex: First inn mgs; L seven for 70); second, 141 (Goddard eight First innings, 153 (Sims six for 65 Young four for 55): second, 100 (Young five for 27, Sharp three for 39).