100 Years Ago: 14 November 1924

Jupiter Pluvius strikes again

Day 1

Melbourne: Victoria v M.C.C.

Rain Impedes Woolley’s Progress

M.C.C. 113/3 (J B Hobbs 30, J W Hearne 18, F E Woolley 40*, E H Hendren 16*). VICTORIA to bat.

Jupiter Pluvius is ruthlessly following the English cricketers wherever they go.  He did it again at Melbourne, so the match pitch was soft and slow, although it played easily.  M.C.C. batted on winning the toss, and did only moderately.  Andy Sandham was soon caught in the slips for 4, but Jack Hobbs played very well, moving freely to 30, but then he was unexpectedly caught at the wicket.  The laborious Jack Hearne went for 18 after lunch, so three wickets were down for 58.  Frank Woolley and Patsy Hendren then consolidated, but later Woolley began to play more freely in between interruptions for rain.  Soon after tea another shower ended play for the day.  The former Middlesex all-rounder Frank Tarrant is playing for Victoria.

Cape Town: Western Province v S B Joel’s XI

Bolton Shatters English Middle Order

S B JOEL’S XI 166/8 (C A G Russell 15, P Holmes 41, G E Tyldesley 17, G Geary 26, A S Kennedy 37*, H L D Bartley 8*; J L Bolton 6 wkts). WESTERN PROVINCE to bat.

Even in South Africa now Jupiter Pluvius is attacking English cricketers.  This two-day match was further shortened by morning rain, so that no play was possible before lunch, and play also finished early owing to more rain.  The English team did not distinguish itself when put in to bat on a slow pitch and showed a little positive intent against a bowling attack that appeared to be quite bland apart from the paceman James Bolton.  Western Province were not playing their strongest team, preferring to use the match as a trial for young players.

Bolton first bowled out Jack Russell, and then came back to remove Ernest Tyldesley lbw at 79.  At 89 he achieved wonders by bowling out Jack MacBryan, Ted Bowley and Lionel Tennyson all in the same over, and then had Tom Jameson caught at the wicket in his following over.  Kenneth Hands then bowled out Percy Holmes, so the score went from 89 for two wickets to 97 for seven.  Fortunately for the tourists, George Geary and Alec Kennedy fought back with a stand of 51, and Kennedy was still there at the close.  There can be little chance of an outright result in this match tomorrow.

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