The 1940's World XI won a dramatic test match against Australia to book their place in the next round of this tournament.
Australian skipper Lindsay Hassett won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry and grassless wicket at Newlands. Hassett must have regretted his decision as his team quickly slumped to 28-2, as Fazal Mahmood and Jack Cowie removed both openers in the early exchanges. Hassett and McCool added 42 before Hassett was out for 43. McCool hit 42 and Keith Miller smashed 72 but Australia were looking at a sub-par target on 272-9. Johnston and Toshack hit 42 for the final wicket however to give the Australians something to work with.
Australias pace attack bowled brilliantly at the World XI and they were bowled out mid afternoon on day 3. Ernie Toshack (4-31) and Keith Miller (3-37) took advantage of humid overcast conditions to bowl out the World XI for 193, giving Australia an impressive lead of 124.
Australia must have felt in total command but Mahmood and Cowie changed the game on its head in just over one session. With pace, seam and swing they routed the Australian lineup, bowling them out for 104 in just over 35 overs. Hassett hit 47, but the World XI were brilliant in bowler friendly conditions. Mahmood starred, taking 5-26 in 12 overs.
The World XI needed 229 to win, but a thunderstorm delayed the start of their innings. They faced only 4 overs and ended day 3 on 11-0. Day 4 saw much better conditions for batting, but the World XI quickly fell to 15-3, as Miller and Lindwall ripped out the top of their order. Merchant hit 60 and held the innings together as the World XI chipped away at their target. He fell on the stroke of tea however and Australia must have felt confident with the score 159-6 (still 70 runs away and bowling conditions still helpful). Vinoo Mankad batted brilliantly with the tail and made 45 before he was out, still 19 short of the win. Hugh Tayfield and Fazal Mahmood then rode their luck and survived several chances, before Mahmood hit the winning runs in an unlikely win for the World XI. Tayfield finished unbeaten 17 and Mahmood 13, who combined with his bowling figures of 8-96, earned a well deserved man of the match.
World XI 1940s: B Sutcliffe; JB Stollmeyer [c]; MP Donnelly; TVM Merchant; VS Hazare; RJ Christiani [w]; MH Mankad; AMB Rowan; HJ Tayfield; Fazal Mahmood; J Cowie
Australia 1940s: SG Barnes; WA Brown; AL Hassett [c]; CL McCool; SJE Loxton; KR Miller; IW Johnson; D Tallon [w]; RR Lindwall; ERH Toshack; WA Johnston
Australia 1940s 1st Innings 317-10 (115.4 Ov)
KR Miller 72, AL Hassett 43, CL McCool 42, J Cowie 4-65, Fazal Mahmood 3-70, HJ Tayfield 2-62
World XI 1940s 1st Innings 193-10 (78.3 Ov)
B Sutcliffe 55, TVM Merchant 54, AMB Rowan 29, ERH Toshack 4-31, KR Miller 3-37
Australia 1940s 2nd Innings 104-10 (35.3 Ov)
AL Hassett 47, Fazal Mahmood 5-26, J Cowie 4-42
World XI 1940s 2nd Innings 229-8 (96.3 Ov)
TVM Merchant 60, MH Mankad 45, VS Hazare 35, KR Miller 3-36, RR Lindwall 3-45
World XI 1940s win by 2 wickets
Man of the match: Fazal Mahmood
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