BRADMAN’S MASTERY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13857, 16 May 1938, Page 5

BRADMAN’S MASTERY

FIREWORKS AGAINST M.C.C,

AUSTRALIA 5 1 OR 428

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph-—Copyright. LONDON. May 14.

The weather was dull and the wicket damp for the n .‘itch between Australians and Mar\lobone at Lord’s and the bowlers’ footprints showed up quickly after a few deliveries. Bradman won the toss and Australia batted, having score 428 (Bradman 257 not out) for five wickets at stumps. Fiugleton and Brown were' the openers and they allowed many fast balls from Smith to pass harmlessly. Brown was badly beaten by Fames in the fourth over ami his stump was uprooted. Bradman, when five, made a lusty swing at a full toss Iron Stephenson, missed, then received a painful blow on the toe. He survived an appeal for leg before, and simultaneously an aeroplane flew overhead towing an advertisement for foot ointment. Bradman, soon turned on the fireworks, hacking, driving and glancing prettily. He eased up when 70. Fingleton was uncomfortable facing Robins. When the score was one for 149 Smith reappeared and got Fingleton in his first over.

McCabe went for the bowling. He hit two sixers in the course of his merry knock and he was yorked by Smith when the score was two for 217.

Stephenson thoroughly deserved the wicket when he clean bowled Bad cock at only 14. Hassett received an ovation when he arrived and he was soon exercising his nimble feet. Rain delayed play for ten, minutes at 4.50 Bradman, later took ten off one over from Smith, thereafter concentrating on boundaries in older to save his injured foot. Three hundred came iq) in 255 minutes and Bradman’s double century was potted in 265 minutes It included 27 fours So far his innings had been a chanceless and brilliant display of batting. Drizzling rain marred play at intervals after tea. but Bradman and Hassett continued to paste the bowling, scoring frequent boundaries despite the excellent fielding. Both batsmen were timing their shots perfectly. Hassett twice in succession drove Compton, shattering the wicker at the howler’s end. Four hundred vent up on the score board in 330 minutes and Hassett was caught at the wickels ten minutes before stumps were drawn. He hit seven fours. Bradman at present has 32 fours. The attendance was 30.000. Facing what England considers + o be about the best speed attack that can he mustered, Bradman flogged the three fast men unmercifully, scoring his second double century of the tour. He still remains unconquered and once again he proved himself England’s bogeyman. His heavy score of 257 was compiled ii. the face of an early mishan, the painful 1 low’ oil the toe compelling him to stop running singles and twos and concentrate for a time on boundaries Brown again crashed. McCabe was reckless rather than unskilful. Bndonck was unable to net going against the fast men, hut Hassett wa,s well up to his recent good standard. Scores: AUSTRALIA. —First Innings. Fingleton, b Smith 44 Brown, b Fames 5 Bradman, not out 257 McCabe, b Smith 33 B-adcock, b Stephenson 14 Hassett, c Maxfcll, b Compton .. 57 Waite, not out 4 i:Xt ,as 14 Total for five wickets .... 425 Tin Australian team is: Bradman, Fingleton. Brown, McCabe, Badcock. Hassett. Waite. O’Reilly, McCormick, Fleet wood-Smith. Barnett-. Bradman lias batted four fin-es and he now has an aggregiii =• of 710 rims. He has iwg double-eenturitK to hi* credit and his average over the weekend was 233.3. FI as sett’s aggregate is 614 in five innings, once not o»t, and his average i s 122.8.