Wisden
Fourth Test match

South Africa v Australia 1935-36

Played at Johannesburg Saturday, Monday, February 15, 17. Australia won by an innings and 184 runs. In winning by an innings and 184 runs, Australia gained their third victory of the series and so made the rubber safe. Their all-round superiority was most marked, and they finished off the match in two days. South Africa began with a good deal of promise, Siedle and Wade, in a bright opening partnership, scoring 81 together. Then Grimmett and O'Reilly brought about such a collapse that the innings closed for 76 more runs. So complete was the mastery gained by O'Reilly that in 21 overs he conceded only 20 runs and took five wickets. In strong contrast, Australia went in front with nine wickets in hand. Fingleton and Brown gave them a sound send-off with a stand of 99, and McCabe helped to add 80. Fingleton, who did not offer a chance, was third out at 184, having hit eight 4's. At the close of the day Australia led by 28 with seven wickets to fall, and on the game being resumed, South Africa had to pay dearly for a series of dropped catches. O'Brien and Oldfield were both let off, and three chances were missed during a last partnership between O'Reilly and McCormick that realised 69. Davies, who made the new ball swing awkwardly, suffered most from blunders in the field, and he did much better world than his figures would suggest. Going in against arrears of 282, South Africa lost Siedle first ball, McCormick commencing breakdown from which there was no recovery. Harvey and Nupen each hit Grimmett for 6 and Mitchell brought off some good leg-side strokes, but the end came a few minutes after the time arranged for drawing stumps , the captains, in view of the state of the game, agreeing to play on. Grimmett in this innings, took nearly all the honours, seven wickets costing him less than six runs apiece.

© John Wisden & Co