Durban, Mar. 15.
1n the Fifth Test Match, at the close of play today, England had scored 496 runs for the loss of only three wickets towards the total of 696 runs required for victory.
England has a very good chance of victory, as Hammond and Paynter, two of the best bats in the side, were still undefeated, when play was brought to a close owing to bad light, Resuming play &fter the tea interval, Edrich, who was 216 not out, was soon out after adding another three runs to his total, being bril-hantly caught at silly leg by. Gordon diving low at a ball off Langton (447/3).
Edrich played a brilliant innings lasting 436 minutes. He did not give a semblance of a change during his long innings, which was featured by sound on driving. He scored 25 fours.
Paynter was the next man in and both he and Hammond showed the utmost edufion owing to the poor light. Hammond reached his fifty after being at the crease for 132 minutes, his innings including three boundaries.
After adding 49 runs for the partnership, stumps were drawn because of bad light. Hammond then had scored $8 Minis and Paynter 24 runs, both not oüt—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.