South Africa v England 1922-23

Played at Johannesburg, February 9, 10, 12, 13. Drawn. In the fourth Test Match the batting on each side asserted itself, and in the four days no definite result could be arrived at. So good was the South African bowling and so smart the out-fielding, that the Englishmen took nearly the whole of the first day to get 244. This was a much better total than it looked on paper, Sandham, Russell and Woolley being out with only 37 on the board. Carr and Mead warded off danger by taking the score to 108, but all the afternoon run-getting was a laborious business. Carr was so restrained that he took two hours and three-quarters to get his 63. Fender, also kept very quiet, batted with unfailing judgment for an hour and a half.

On Saturday, there was such a big crowd that the gates had to be closed soon after lunch. Playing for the most part, like the Englishmen, a very good, stubborn game, the South Africans stayed in nearly all the afternoon, and gained a lead on the first innings of 51 runs. The performance was all the more creditable as Taylor was soon got rid of. Nourse played admirably for an hour and a half, and Francois and Tapscott brightened the game by some fine hitting.

The Englishmen went in just before time, and on Monday, when rain caused delays, showed some of their best batting during the tour. Russell and Sandham sent up 150 for the first wicket, Russell, whose innings of 96 lasted just over three hours, playing splendidly before lunch. Carr, Mead and Fender failed, but Woolley, who was in great form, at last found a helpful partner in Mann, and at the close the score stood at 294 for five wickets. Rain fell in the night, but the last day was fine. In all, Woolley and Mann put on 124 for the sixth wicket. Woolley reached his hundred in three hours and twenty minutes, and not long after this the innings was declared.

South Africa being set an almost impossible task in having to get 326 in the time that remained. There seemed a good prospect of an English victory when the second wicket fell at 32, but Taylor and Nourse wore down the bowling, and in a partnership that extended over two hours and ten minutes, added 134 runs. Taylor, who hit out freely when fear of defeat had gone, played a masterly game, but he had a little luck.