Rain Mars Start Of The Match Against Victoria

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 November 1950, Page 5

Rain Mars Start Of The Match Against Victoria

Cricket

MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND, Nov. 3 (Recd. 9pm).—The Australian test bowler, lan Johnson, captured the only two wickets that fell on the first day of the match between England and Victoria today. He trapped Hutton in front for 32, and caught Washbrook off his own bowling for 40. Jack Iverson was unlucky with his spinners. Except for one or two lapses he kept an immaculate length and should have had Compton stumped when that batsman was only 4. His deceptive spin puzzled all the English batsmen. Play was held up three times by rain, and when stumps were drawn at 5.25 p.m. England had lost two wickets for 143. Compton won the toss and gave England first use of a perfect wicket. Hutton and Washbrook took full advantage of the batsman’s wicket and, in the first half-hour, had 27 runs on the boai’d in that time. The tali lefthander Bill Johnston, who opened the Victorian attack bowled five overs for 16 run£ .and Dave Kerr, a left-hander of equal pace, five overs for 11 runs. Jack Iverson, bogyman of the Victorian attack, took the ball when the score had reached 48, and the Englishmen scored 11 in his first over, including 4 past mid-or., and 3 deep of square leg. Rain was threatening when Hutton brought up England's first 50 in 64 minutes, and jive minutes later the players left the ground while the groundsmen raced in heavy coats to cover the pitch. With the score at 58, Hutton was 29 and Washbrook 38. There was one sundry. lan Johnson, in two previous overs, had badly beaten Hutton a couple of times. Play was resumed at 2.25 p.m., and after one over from Iverson, lan Johnson completely surprised Hutton by trapping him leg-before-wicket. Hutton looked dejected as he returned slowly to the pavilion after having made 32 (two 4's), in 71 minutes. The first wicket fell at 61. Both ran Johnson and Iverson bowled an immaculate length early in the afternoon and frequently had Washbrook and the new batsman, Sheppard, in trouble. Iverson struck a bad batch in his fifth over after lunch when Sheppard hit him for a 4 to long-on and two 2’s to reach 14, but in his next over he twice struck Washbrook on the pads, bringing halfhearted appeals. He followed that with'a maiden to Sheppard. The score had reached 89 when lan Johnson, who had pinned Washbrook down with a perfect length, induced that batsman to open his shoulders to a slower, higher pitched ball and caught him off his own bowling. Washbrook had made 40 in 112 minutes. He hit no 4’s. Compton began by driving Johnson past mid-off for 3. but there was a loud appeal when the first ball in Iverson’s next over whipped through and struck his pads. Compton played the rest of the over very cautiously. 1. McDonald missed a gift stumping in Iverson's next over. Compton raced down the pitch and lunged forward to a ball, which completely beat him, and while he was still several feet out of his ground the keeper fumbled the ball. Compton had then made only 4. Two halls later, the same bowler also beat Sheppard badly. After bowling 15 overs for 28 runs, lan Johnson was relieved by the leg-break bowler, Ring, who also beat Compton and the keeper with his fourth ball, which went over the stumps. Iverson bowled 14 overs for 39 runs before giving way to Bill Johnson, who bowled only one over before tea. The score was then 2 for 127, with Compton 29 and Sheppard 21. A second heavy shower delayed play for 25 minutes after the resumption, when Compton, after a single off Bill Johnston, moved to 34 by sweeping Ring to the leg boundary. Johnston had some difficulty in holding the slippery ball, and one of his deliveries flew at head height to the keeper. Neil Harvey bowled one more over when players again left the field in heavy rain. As there was; no sign of rain abating. slumps were drawn at 5.25. Scores:— ENGLAND. First Innings. Hutton, lbw. b 1 Johnsen 32 Washbrook, c and bI. Johnson .. 40 Sheppard, not out 28 Compton, not out Sundries “ Total, for 2 wickets 143 Bowling: W. Johnston, 0 for 24; Kerr. 0 for 11: Loxton, 0 for 11: Iverson, 0 for 39; I. Johnson. 2 for 23: Ring, 0 for 24; Harvey, 0 for 1.