100 Years Ago: 11 September 1924

South Africans struggle in cold conditions

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Day 2

Scarborough Festival: C I Thornton’s XI v South Africans

Holmes Outscores South Africans

SOUTH AFRICANS 143 and 45/0 (J M M Commaille 13*, G A L Hearne 31*). C I THORNTON’S XI 461/6 dec (P Holmes 202*, E H Hendren 101, A P F Chapman 37, W Rhodes 56; D J Meintjes 2/111, S J Pegler 2/51, A W Nourse 2/51). Overnight score was: C I Thornton’s XI (1) 83/2 (Holmes 41*, Hendren 15*).

Another cold, dull day was the last thing the South Africans needed in their final match, and there was a very cold wind.  Their bowlers could not adjust to it or find their accuracy, and they appeared very weary, except for Douggie Meintjes, who has had less work to do on tour than the others and was the best of them today, the only bowler able to get any life from the slow, flat pitch.  Percy Holmes and Patsy Hendren were the main figures of the day, putting on 170 together for the third wicket, with Holmes playing a steady game, strongest on the leg side, while Hendren was more entertaining.  He scored his century in about even time, passing 2000 for the season, brilliantly square-cutting any ball at all short, even those on his leg stump, and making some daring off-drives.  Percy Chapman was not at his best, playing many hit-and-miss strokes, but Wilfred Rhodes batted soundly.

Johnny Douglas declared immediately Holmes reached his double-century, with a lead of 318.  Holmes had given just one rather awkward chance at the wicket when 138 and batted for 5¼ hours.  The South Africans had 45 minutes to bat, and the dour Mick Commaille and more the enterprising George Hearne saw them through without loss.  But if the weather remains dry, they will have to work hard tomorrow if they are to save this match.

John Ward is an ACS member and a long-serving Zimbabwean cricket statistician. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.