AUSTRALIA OUT FOR 231

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 20

AUSTRALIA OUT FOR 231

CRICKE7

Sussex 86 For Two Wickets (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) z HOVE. June 4. Sussex will resume its first innings on the final day of a three-day match against the Australians tomorrow needing 146 runs with eight wickets in. hand for a lead on the first innings. The Australians were all out for 231 44 minutes after the resumption on the second day today, when rain delayed the start by four hours and three-quarters. Sussex, in reply, was 86 for two at stumps—Sheppard (23) and Parks (9) being the not out batsmen. The Sussex openers, Donald Smith and Alan Oakman, who made 80 against the tourists for the M.C.C. at Lord’s, scored 37 in 28 minutes before Smith edged Crawford to leg slip to be caught nicely low down by Miller for 23. Oakman, besides delighting the crowd with his attractive batting, had them laughing. Miller bowled a shorter one to Oakman at 13, and the ball lodged in Oakman’s armpit. Oakman made to run, and the fieldsmen, temporarily bewildered, sought the ball in vain, only for Oakman to return and nonchalantly drop it near the crease. Both Crawford and Miller used ar attacking umbrella field. An occasional ball rose sharply from the pitch which, although covered, was quite damp from seepage after hours of steady rain. Sheppard, the former England cantain and now a curate in a London West End parish, joined Oakman, and the pair scored 50 in 42 minutes. The Australians’ 50 on Saturday took 100 minuteg. Rutherford missed Sheppard at 10 off Crawford—but obviously thought he had been unwise even to attempt to hold such a fast slips catch while his hands were cold. He repeatedly nursed his hand for several minutes. Sheppard and Oakman, after 60 minutes, brought up 65. Then a beautifully pitched faster ball from Miller took Oakman’s middle stump when Oakman was 30. Miller took Oakman’s wicket at Lord’s with a similar ball. Parks, who replaced Oakman, and Sheppard, carried the total to 86 in even time at stumps. Australian Innings Mackay and Johnson resumed the Australians’ first innings at seven for 220 at 4.15 o’clock after three inspections of the wicket by the captains. Mackay and Johnson had added only 5 runs to the overnight score when Mackay edged Thomson to Lawrence in the slips to be out for 73—his highest score of the tour. Mackay batted for 4hr 43min and hit seven fours. Johnson went next at 13, when he was run out after turning the ball to fine leg where W. Smith' whipped it to James, who broke the wicket with Johnson yards awav.

Wilson joined Crawford and snicked a boundary—his only score. He lofted an easy catch off Thomson to Parks at mid-wicket and the Australian innings ended after 399 tninutes. Scores:—

" AUSTRALIA First Innings J. Rutherford, b Ames .. 20 J. Burke, b Smith .. 19 R. N. Harvey, b Thomson .. 60 K. Mackay, c Lawrence, b Thomson 73 P. Burge, lbw, b Marlar 1 K. R. Miller, b James .. .. 26 R. Benaud, c and b Smith .. .. 1 G. Langley, b Ames .. .. 5 I. Johnson, run out .. .. 13 P. Crawford, not out .. 2 J. Wilson, c Parks, b Thomson .. 4 Extras .. .. ... 7 Total .. .. ..231

Bowling O. M. R. W. Thomson .. 35 13 51 3 James .. 33 7 63 3 Smith .. 27 11 37 2 Marlar .. 25 8 65 1 Oakman 3 1 7 0 SUSSEX First Innings D. Smith, c Miller, b Crawford .. 22 A. Oakman, b Miller .. • • 30 D. Sheppard, not out .. .. 23 J. Parks, not out .. •• 9 Extras .. • ■ • • • • 2 Total for two wickets . • 86 Bowling O. M. R. W. Miller .. 12 2 42 1 Crawford .. 11 2 42 1