On the subsequent tour to New Zealand Evans scored his maiden First-Class hundred. Playing against Otago at Dunedin Evans came out at 207 for five and counterattacked from the very beginning. He scored 101 in an 80 minutes with 15 fours and a six in a 171-run stand with Jack Ikin. Evans’ first Test fifty came at Trent Bridge against South Africa: the hosts had to follow-on after a first-innings deficit of 325 runs and Evans came out to bat at 407 for five with the Test still hanging by its hinges. In complete contrast to his Adelaide innings he scored runs at a rapid rate, scoring 74 in 76 minutes with 14 fours out of a team score of 92. The innings took the Test away from South Africa. He eventually finished the series with 207 runs at 41.80, 10 catches, and four stumpings. Despite his sublime wicket-keeping skills the ordinary performances with the bat did not help: he did well in West Indies but his reputation was tarnished as he missed stumpings of both Arthur Morris and Don Bradman as the Invincibles chased down 404 at Headingley. His batting kept on deteriorating, and he was dropped for the last two Tests in South Africa and was replaced by Billy Griffith. Before being dropped, however, Evans had played 22 Tests on the trot at that point of time a record for any wicket-keeper.
Posted on: Sun, 18 Aug 2013 12:26:27 +0000
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