On this day: Don Bradman scores his last Test century
Even before Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards etc. attained fame and fortune in international cricket for their batting, it was Sir Donald Bradman who made batting look easy during the 1900s and scored runs at will at the peak of his career in the 1930s and 40s.
Don Bradman ended his career average at 99.94 and was on the verge of maintaining a perfect 100, but unfortunately for him, he was dismissed on a pair in his final Test match which denied him of this honour.
Meanwhile, it was on this very day in 1948 that the legendary batter went on to register the final Test century of his career.
When Don Bradman scored his 29th Test ton
Bradman breached three figures in international cricket for one final time during the fourth Test against arch-rivals England at the Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds. Heading into this contest, the Aussies were already 2-0 up in the five-match series.
England after electing to bat first were bowled out for 496 riding on centuries from Cyril Washbrook (143) and Bill Edrich (111). Australia in reply scored 458, but Bradman was bowled for 33 by Dick Pollard as Neil Harvey top-scored with 112. The hosts capitalized on their 38-run lead and went on to score 365/8 in their second innings before declaring.
With a mammoth 404 runs to get for the Aussies, there were only two probable results – an English victory or a draw. However, Don Bradman had other ideas as he decided to take matters into his own hands and his risk paid off handsomely in the end.
While he handled the good balls with care, he showed absolutely no mercy in dispatching the bad deliveries to the boundary and thereby, kept on reducing Australia’s deficit. He decimated the England bowling attack and registered his 29th and final Test century.
The batting legend did not relax after reaching three figures and kept on punishing the hosts for errant bowling. Bradman finished as the second-highest run-scorer in Australia’s second innings after opener Arthur Morris (182).
Donald Bradman remained unbeaten on 173 runs as Australia successfully got past the finish line by seven wickets to seal the series.
Sadly, Don Bradman would go on to bid adieu from international cricket in a few weeks’ time after the conclusion of the inconsequential fifth Test match at London’s Kennington Oval. Australia emerged victorious in that contest by an innings and 149 runs to complete a 4-0 win.
