USEFUL TOTAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26779, 24 May 1948, Page 5

USEFUL TOTAL

PERFECT WICKET FOR AUSTRALIANS MATCH AGAINST M.C.C. N.Z.P.A. —Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, May 22. The Australians, finishing the first day's play against the M.C.C. on a perfect wicket at five down for 407, might have made their total even more formidable if they had taken due toll of the tiring bowling towards the close of play. Bradman and Barnes in a fast scoring partnership of 160 set a pace which Hassett and Miller maintained until tea. Brown on joining Miller, did not enhance his test prospects with a very slow 26 that led the barrackers to disturb Lord's Olympian calm with whistles and shouts of “ have a go.” The accurate, but not menacing bowling by. 'the slow left-hander. Young, and Laker, a right arm offspinner, also pegged Miller in the crease. Bradman had an unusual experience on reaching the nineties when he failed to make the century. He was caught in the slips when 98. He was his only faulty shot ir. a magnificent innings. He batted 148 minutes and hit 11 4’s. Miller reached his century after a sedate spell shortly before stumps. He hit 13 4’s and his customary 6 which landed among a crowd sipping beer on the steps of the famous Lords’ tavern. The adjournments neatly djvided play into three acts, each with its own feature—Morris’s dismissal leg before with the Australian total 11 surprised him and many spectators; Bradman’s unexpected departure after the lunch break, and Miller’s brilliance as he neared the century put sparkle into the last stage. The attendance was officially estimated at 30,000. Scores:— Australia First Innings Morris, lbw, b Edrich 5 Barnes, c Edrich. ,b Cranston .. 81 Bradman, c Edrich, b Deighton .. 98 Hassett, lbw, b Young 51 Miller, not out’ 114 Brown, c Cranston, b Laker .. .. 26 I. Johnson, not out 26 Extras 6 Total for five wickets .. 407 Bowling Analysis.—Edrich 20 overs, 1 maiden. 86 runs, 1 wicket; Deighton, 22, 4, 88, 1; Cranston. 26, 6, 69, 1: Young, 41, 9. 96, 1; Laker, 25, 9. 57, 1; Compton, 3,1, 5, 0. Fall of wickets: one for 11, two for 171, three for 200, four for 280, five for 343.