M.C.C. Morale Raised For Final Test

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 15

M.C.C. Morale Raised For Final Test

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright; SYDNEY. The M.C.C. raised team morale for the decisive fifth test against Australia by easily avoiding defeat at the hands of New South Wales at Sydney yesterday.

Outplayed for the first three days of the match and forced to follow on, the tourists set about the N.S.W. howling in determined style yesterday. They scored 472 for six j wickets in 358 minutes in their second innings to force) an honourable draw. The M.C.C., dismissed for 329 in its first innings ini reply to the New South Wales j total of 488, cleared off its arrears of 159 after only two hours. Set The Pattern R. W. Barber (75) and G. Boveott (77) set the pattern with an opening partnership of 120 in 92 minutes, and in the later stages E. W. Russell; reached a fluent and unbeaten' 101. Fierce hitting by the allrounder, B. R. Knight (94), dominated a sixth-wicket; stand of 150 in 71 minutes with Russell. Their partnership was an; M.C.C. record for this wicket I against New South Wales, beating the 101 by L. Braund I

and W. Rhodes in 1907-08. The cricket was as bright as the weather and both openers, Barber and Boycott, batted freely. G. Corling’s i first over cost 10 runs, then jD. Renneberg was hit for 15 in his third over. M.C.C. passed 50 in even time. Barber’s Second Six When J. Martin relieved , Coding, Barber pulled a six over mid-wicket. Martin conceded 21 runs in his third I over, and 17 in his fourth. ; Barber’s 50 came after 73 minutes when he hit his second six of the day, and the partnership became worth 100 in 79 minutes. Barber was dismissed trying another big hit and his 75 runs came from 29 scoring shots in 92 minutes. He hit ;two sixes and eight fours. ! Boycott went soon after lunch, but his 10 fours in an ) ining of 77 presumably made i certain of his place in the final test match, starting at ! Melbourne on Friday. | J. H. Edrich, the other I England batsman on trial, was; j hitting the ball cleanly, and; Ibis 79-minute stay for 47; I included six fours.

M. J. K. Smith, who scored 64 of 105 added in 96 minutes, and P. H. Parfitt went after tea, but Russell, playing ; more fluently, square-cut Corling for two to reach 51 ■ in 150 minutes. Knight looked quite at ease and drove Davies and Martin freely. The stand passed 50 in 31 minutes. Knight continued to hit the ball crisply all round the ! wicket, nearly every delivery bringing a run. He passed 50 in 40 minutes with six i fours, then survived a chance ' to deep mid-off off Davies. The partnership became ; worth 100 after 48 minutes, and 10 minutes before stumps Knight was caught and bowled by Simpson and the match ' was declared a draw.

NEW SOUTH WALES First Innings 4SS M.C.C. First Innings 329 Second Innings G. Boycott, c Thomas, b Simpson R. W. Barber, c Renneberg. b Simpson i o J. H. Edrich, st Taber, b Simpson 4 7 E. W. Russell, not out 101 M. J. K. Smith, c Taber, b Renneberg 64 P. H. Parfitt, c Simpson, b Corling 10 B. R. Knight, c and b Simpson 94 Extras (leg-byes 3. noball 1) 4 • Total for s>ix wickets 472 Fall of wickets: one for 120. two for 181. three for 204. our for 309. five for 322. six for 472. Bowling 0. M. R. W. Renneberg 13 0 70 1. Corling ..13 2 49 1 Walters 9 0 61 0 Martin ..17 3 123 0 Sampson 15.6 2 71 4 Davies .. 20 3 S3 0 Booth ..4 2 11 0