100 Years Ago: 17-18 November 1924

Victoria Poised for Victory

Melbourne: Victoria v M.C.C.

Day 3

Narrow Lead for M.C.C.

M.C.C. 240 and 83/2 (A Sandham 30*, F E Woolley 11*; F A Tarrant 2 wkts). VICTORIA 229 (H S T L Hendry 63, J L Ellis 36, F A Tarrant 35, A E Liddicut 31*; A P Freeman 3/37, F E Woolley 3/62, J W H T Douglas 2/25). Overnight score was: Victoria (1) 44/2 (Hendry 24*, Ellis 0*).

The standard for cricket today was not good, especially the batting and fielding; M.C.C. especially missed several chances in the field.  Dodger Whysall at the wicket and Patsy Hendren at slip were particularly fallible.  The pitch was now in fine condition for batting, but Victoria failed to make the best use of it against some very good bowling, despite all the errors in the field.  Hunter Hendry batted very well today after his dull batting yesterday and topped the scoring.  Eight wickets were down for 161, but Frank Tarrant and Arthur Liddicut then added 62 for the ninth wicket.  Victoria, however, still fell 11 runs behind on the first innings.

When M.C.C. batted again, Jack Hobbs and Andy Sandham put on 65 for the first wicket, but Hobbs, given out lbw despite an edge on to his pads, and Whysall both went quickly before the close.

Day 4

M.C.C. in Danger

M.C.C. 240 and 241 (A Sandham 66, F E Woolley 24, E H Hendren 54, J L Bryan 18*; F A Tarrant 4/33, H S T L Hendry 3/23). VICTORIA 229 and 111/1 (E R Mayne 55*, W M Woodfull 54*). Victoria target: 253 to win. Overnight score was: M.C.C. (2) 83/2 (Sandham 30*, Woolley 11*).

Before play started it was arranged between the teams that this originally four-day match would be extended into a fifth day, until lunch time (in time to catch the train to Sydney), if there should be any chance of an outright result.  This is to be the case, and it could well work to M.C.C.’s disadvantage.  Their second innings was rather a poor show, with only Andy Sandham playing a really good innings, though it took him three hours.  Patsy Hendren also passed 50, but it took him over two hours and he was dropped twice.  M.C.C. were without Jack Hearne, who injured a knee ligament yesterday and could not bat.  Few of the batsmen showed any effort to dominate the bowling; it was a slow grind.  Frank Tarrant was the best of the Victorian bowlers.

Victoria were set 253 to win, the highest total of the match.  However, they responded with the best batting of the match, after Arthur Gilligan bowled out Dr Roy Park for 1.  Edgar Mayne played a fine innings, and he was joined by Bill Woodfull who played quietly and soundly in support.  By the close of play they had added 107 runs and tipped the balance of the match in favour of Victoria, who need another 142 runs in two hours before lunch tomorrow to win the match.

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