South Africa v England 1930-31

Played at Durban, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, January 16, 17, 19, 20. Drawn. Seriously interfered with by the weather, the third Test match - played on a matting wicket - was drawn. Deane won the toss but South Africa lost four men for 51 runs before lunch on Friday and little more happened until Monday. Not a ball could be bowled on Saturday, and then, after the wet weekend, South Africa, if doing a little better, were outplayed, their batsmen keeping almost entirely on the defensive against excellent bowling. England, going in at four o'clock, made an admirable start. Hammond scored freely all round the wicket while Wyatt batted steadily, the total reaching 130 before the close of play, and in the morning Hammond went on to complete his first century in a Test match in South Africa. In the hope of finding time to force a victory, Chapman declared at lunch time with a lead of 46. Wyatt took two hours fifty minutes over his 54 runs but Leyland did not hesitate to punish the bowling. Hammond played a fine innings in his best style. The disasters that befell South Africa subsequently came as a surprise. Tate with his first ball disposed of Siedle and not until after Mitchell was third out at 47 and Catterall came in did Taylor receive enough help to relieve South Africa of all anxiety. Going in second wicket down at 27, Taylor had scored 64 out of 118 added in two hours when the match was abandoned, South Africa being 99 ahead and having eight men out. Curnow and Quinn came into the home side for Nupen and Balaskas. England's eleven included Allom in place of Peebles.