CRICKET Australia Needs Early Break For First Win

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 15

CRICKET Australia Needs Early Break For First Win

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MANCHESTER, May 12.

The Australian team will need an early break through If it is to score its first win of the tour in the match against Lancashire which ends at Old Trafford today.

The county is 50 runs behind the Australian total and has nine second innings wickets left.

But they have lost one of their best batsmen in G. Pullar, the English opener, who was out late yesterday when he was caught off his glove by B. Booth from the bowling of G. McKenzie. The not out batsmen are the opener A. Bolton who has 17 and the fast bowler K. Higgs who has yet to score. Higgs was sent in as “nightwatchman” following Pullar’s dismissal. Lancashire at stumps were one down for 42 in the second innings following the Australians’ eight for 402 declared. This was in reply to the county’s first innings total of seven for 310 declared.

Probably Higgs will not last long but there is some solid backing to come, including the hard-hitting P. Marner and J. Bond who scored 87 and 68 respectively in the first innings and were mainly responsible for their side’s big total. The Australian bowlers will need to get both men out cheaply if they are to win this match.

Much will depend on the trio of fast bowlers—A. Davidson, R. Gaunt and G. McKenzie. L. Kline is virtually the only spinner. He will probably get some help from R. Simpson in spite of the battering he took in the first innings when the Lancashire batsmen took 47 from his last five overs. The Australian batsmen were in good form yesterday with fine centuries by N. Harvey and P. Burge. N. O’Neill scored 74. The Australian total was made in better than even time. Scores:— LANCASHIRE First Innings G. Pullar, b Kline .. .. 36 A. Bolton, c Davidson, b Kline .. .. . }6 K. Grieves, lbw. b Gaunt .. 15 P. Marner, c Jarman, b Davidson .. • • 87 R. W Barber c Jarman, b McKenzie .. •• 31 J. Bond, b Gaunt .. .. 68 R. Collins, c Burge, b Simpson .. • • •• *o J. B Statham, not out. .. 8 G. Clayton, not out •• 20 Extras •• •• 14 Total for seven wkts. dec. 310 Fall of wickets: one for 49. two for 58, three for 91, four for 165. five for 210, six for 282, seven for 283.

AUSTRALIA First Innings C McDonald lbw. b Greenhougb .. 27 R Simpson, b Statham 5 N. Harvey, e Marner, b Higgs .. ..120

N. O’Neill, c Grieves, b Statham .. .. 74 P. Burge, not out .. ..101 B. Booth, b Collins .. 36 A. Davidson, c Grieves, b Collins .. .. 0 G. McKenzie, c Barber, b Grieves .. .. 9 B. Jarman, b Statham .. 12 L. Kline, not out .. ..10 Extras .. ..10 Total for eight wkts. declared .. 402 Fall of wickets: one for 22, two for 45. three for 215, four for 235. five for 307, six for 313, seven for 358, eight for 384, Bowling Analysis

O. M R W J. B. Statham 29 5 82 3 K. Higgs ..29 3 106 1 R. Collins .. 30 6 104 2 T. Greenhough 25 1 84 1 R. W. Barber ..10 80 K. Grieves .. 9 3 8 1

Bowling Analysis R. W o. M. A. Davidson .. 16 1 50 1 R. Gaunt 20 6 34 2 G. McKenzie 20 7 55 1 L. Kline 20 4 78 2 R Simpson 17 2 79 1 Second Innings G. Pullar, c Booth, b VicKenzie 23 A. Bolton, not out .. 17 K. Higgs, not out .. 0 Extras 2 Total for one wicket 42 Fall of wicket one for 37. Bowling Analysis O. M. R. W. Davidson .. 6 2 15 0 R. Gaunt 7 3 17 0 G. McKenzie .. 4 3 4 1 u Kline 3 2 4 0