AUSTRALIA v INDIA 1947-48

At Melbourne, January 1, 2, 3, 5. Australia won by 233 runs. Bradman added to his long list of triumphs by hitting a hundred in each innings, the first time he had accomplished the feat in a Test match. India fared reasonably well up to a point, but were again faced with ill fortune with regard to the weather.

A third-wicket stand of 169 between Bradman and Hassett assured Australia of a good total. Hassett, missed in the slips off Hazare when 31, scored as fast as his partner, and at times runs came at two a minute. Bradman scored 132 out of 260, and on his departure the bowlers met with better reward, the last six wickets falling for 105.

When Mankad and Sarwate began India's reply with a stand of 124, the position was intriguing, but the fall of two of their best batsmen, Hazare and Amarnath, to successive balls changed the character of the game. Mankad, fifth out at 198, claimed the distinction of being the first India batsman to hit a hundred against Australia. Rain overnight altered the state of the pitch, and when three of his batsmen fell cheaply Amarnath declared, although India were 103 behind. Bradman countered this move by sending in his tail-end men in the hope that conditions would ease. He must have been worried, however, when three of them fell for 13, and Barnes, one of his leading batsmen, followed at 32.

Any hopes India may have held of a complete collapse were soon dashed, for Morris and Bradman thoroughly mastered the attack and shared in an unbroken fifth partnership of 223. Bradman reached his hundred first and Morris followed suit just before the close of the day. Heavy overnight rain made the pitch responsive to spin, and Bradman, seizing his opportunity, declared. The India batsmen never looked like making a fight. Half the side fell for 60 and, despite a few good hits by Rai Singh, the end was inevitable.