SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA 1949-50

Apart from the first two hours' play during which they lost three men for 71, Australia were always on top, though South Africa contributed to their own downfall by indeterminate batting and much poor fielding. The game opened on a sensational note when Australia won the toss and batted on a good pitch, the opening pair, Morris and Moroney, being dismissed without scoring. Miller left cheaply and South African hopes were high, but Hassett transformed the course of the game with a hundred of considerable quality. This paved the way for a maiden Test hundred by Loxton, who should have been caught when 24. He drove and pulled strongly, reaching the boundary fourteen times during two hours 30 minutes.

South Africa made a poor response, though E. Rowan did show that the bowling could be mastered, and when they followed on, 276 runs behind, they found the combination of a difficult pitch and the left-arm deliveries of Johnston too much. Johnston finished with the splendid figures of eight wickets for 65 runs in the match.