BRILLIANT BATTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26773, 17 May 1948, Page 5

BRILLIANT BATTING

ESSEX BOWLING SLAUGHTERED Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, May 15. In two hours of matchless run-mak-ing Bradman slaughtered the Essex bowling at South Church ground today. Australia’s first innings totalled 721, four batsmen scoring centuries. Bradman hit 32 4's in his 187. He scored generally at the rate of two runs a minute and, with Brown added 219 for the second wicket at the rate of nearly three a minute. Brown's 153 following his 200 against Cambridge was another hint to the selectors for the first test. Australia won the toss to-day and batted on a good wicket. Barnes batted brilliantly and seemd set for a century before lunch when he hit his wicket playing back to a good length ball from Ray Smith. Bradman hit five 4's off Vigar's first over and at lunch was 42, made in 20 minutes His hurricane hitting infused Brown with the spirit of adventure. He was dismissed when he mistimed on a drive off Bailey, giving an easy catch. He batted for 190 minutes and hit 17 4’s-

Miller was dismissed sensationally from the first ball. He played over a yorker from Bailey and his off stump was flattened. Bradman continued to play the bowling. He scored 50 in three overs. He was out when trying to pull a' straight ball from Peter Smith to leg. Australia's 500 was scored in 247 minutes, the last 300 in 132 minutes. Loxton thrashed the tired bowling and rattled up 100 in 76 minutes. Saggers reached the century in 94 minutes. Scores:— Australia First Innings Barnes, hit wicket, b Ray Smith .. 79 Brown, c Horsfal. b Bailey .. .. 153 Bradman, b Peter Smith .. .. 187 Miller, b Bailey 0 Hamence, c Peter Smith, b Ray Smith •• .. .. 46 Loxton, c Rist. b Vigar .. .. 120 Saggers, not out 104 lan Johnson, std Rist. b Peter Smith 9 Ring, c Vigar, b Peter Smith .. 1 W. Johnston, b Vigar .. .. .. 9 Toshack, c Vikar, b Peter Smith .. 4 Extras 9 Total 721 Bowling Analysis. Bailey, two wickets for 128; Ray Smith, two for 169; Peter Smith, four for 193: Price, none for 156; Vigar, two for 66. The M.C.C. XI to meet Australia at Lord's on May 22 is.—Yardley (captain), F. R. Brown, S. C. Griffiths, M. P. Donnelly (of New Zealand), K. Cranston, W. J. Edrich, J. H. Deighton, Hutton, Robertson, D. Compton, Young.