England v South Africa 1909-10

Played at Johannesburg, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, February 26, 28, March 1, 2.- at last the Englishmen were successful in a Test match, winning after a great fight by three wickets. Once more Blythe was left out of the team. The match opened under rather unfavourable conditions, rain preventing any play on the first day from ten minutes to one until after half past five. Winning the toss the south Africans lost four wickets for 144, but on the Monday they carried their score to 305. Gordon White, Faulkner and Vogler divided the batting honours, the first two putting on 114 for the fourth wicket. Faulkner hit a dozen 4's and White six. Being unwell, Hobbs did not field during part of the afternoon, and when the Englishmen went in Fane opened the innings with Rhodes. At the end of the afternoon five wickets were down for 201. Denton, hitting brilliantly all round the wicket, scored 104 out of 161 in an hour and forty minutes. Among his figures were eighteen 4's. The spectators were delighted with his batting, and a collection on his behalf amounted to £88. On the following morning England had nine wickets down for 253, but Strudwick stayed in while Woolley hit, 69 runs being added before the innings ended. Owing to rain little more could be done during the day, the south Africans scoring 35 for one wicket. On the fourth day the South Africans had seven wickets down for 123, and looked like a beaten side. Snooke, however, played a great game at a critical time and received excellent support from Vogler and Pegler, the eighth wicket added 55 and the ninth 36. In the end the total reached 237, the Englishmen being left with 221 to get to win. Before the close of play, Thompson and Strudwick scored seven without loss. So finely did Faulkner and Vogler bowl on the last morning that four wickets, including those of Denton and Rhodes, were down for 42, the chances seeming all in favour of South Africa. Hobbs, however, saved the English team. He began in very uncertain form, but, having once settled down, played most brilliantly. Fane helped to add 50 runs, but Woolley failed and with six wickets down the position was desperate. Fortunately, Bird proved equal to the occasion. Batting with great nerve he stayed in while 95 runs were put on, and was unlucky in being run out with victory in sight. After he left, Hobbs and Leveson-Gower finished the match. Hobbs scored his 93 out of 179 in two hours and ten minutes, hitting ten 4's. Of the seventeen English wickets that fell, Vogler and Faulkner took fourteen. Vogler bowled splendidly in the last innings and a collection on his behalf realised £60.