Australia v South Africa 1931-32

Played at MELBOURNE, December 31, January 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. Auastralia won by 169 runs. South Africa made a much better fight of it with their opponents in the third Test match, but in the end had to admit defeat by 169 runs. This result gave Australia the rubber. Australia did not start in a manner which suggested their ultimate victory for losing Ponsford, Woodfull and Bradman for 25 runs, they were all out for a total of 198, after which South Africa scored 46 for one wicket. By capital batting Kippax and McCabe added 49 runs, and for the seventh wicket Kippax and Rigg put on 51. By the time the tea interval arrived, however, eight wickets were down for 178 and altogether the innings lasted just over three hours and a half.

In dismissing Australia for so reasonable a score, the South African cricketers showed very fine form. Bell bowled with marked effect and the catching and ground fielding reached a high level. This good start for the tourists was most encouraging and the next day they followed it up by carrying their score to 268 for seven wickets. Although every man who went in reached double figures, they had to fight hard for their runs and not until Viljoen and Vincent came together was the Australian total passed. Still, South Africa wound up with a lead of 70 and on the Saturday another 90 runs were put on before the innings ended. Viljoen, who with McMillan added 104 for the eighth partnership, had the satisfaction of scoring 111 for which he batted in good form for about three hours and a half.

Australia thus had to go in a second time 160 runs behind but any anxiety they may have had was soon dispelled, Ponsford and Woodfull putting on 54 for the first wicket and Woodfull and Bradman then carrying the score to 206 without being separated. Thus the situation had been retrieved and on the Monday the Australian score stood, at the close of play, at 554 for nine wickets. Woodfull and Bradman were not separated until the total reached 328, their partnership for the second wicket having realised 274 runs. This beat the previous highest for the second wicket in Test matches of 235 made by Macartney and Woodfull against England at Leeds in 1926. The South Africans bowled and fielded well, but Bradman scored with much freedom during the three hours he was at the wicket. In his 167 he hit eighteen 4's, his batting generally being of high order. The only bowler to trouble him was Vincent. Woodfull and Kippax next added 80 before Woodfull was brilliantly caught in the slips. Woodfull had given a characteristic display. During his stand with Bradman he was to a large extent overshadowed by the latter. Kippax and McCabe put on 111 but after they had been separated five more wickets went down quickly. Mitchell's slip fielding was very fine indeed.

Having made such a fine recovery, Australia pushed home their advantage in good style on the next day. They added no more runs so that after the fall of the fourth wicket on the previous day at 519, the last six men were disposed of for only 35 more runs. Thus South Africa were left to get 395 runs to win, a smaller number than had at one time been likely. Before the day's cricket ended, however, the match was as good as over, Grimmett and Ironmonger bowling so well that seven wickets had fallen for 198. Christy batted soundly for nearly two hours, Mitchell was in for three hours and Taylor an hour and three-quarters, but no effective resistance was made and on the last day the innings closed for 225. Grimmett carried off the bowling honours with six wickets for 92, the South Africans again finding him very difficult to play.