R. BENAUD SAVES AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28099, 15 October 1956, Page 12

R. BENAUD SAVES AUSTRALIA

CRICKET

Innings Defeat Averted PAKISTAN STILL ON TOP IN.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) KARACHI, Oct. 13. The Sydney all-rounder, Richie Benaud. today again proved that he is the bats\man for a crisis. Eenaud was 53 not out at stumps on the third day of the test match against Pakistan. He had helped Australia to recover from a second innings total of 47 for five wickets to 138 for six. and so avoid an innings defeat, which seemed imminent when he went to the wicket. Australia now leads by 19 runs, and Pakistan has the first-ever test between these countries in its grasp. Benaud was dropped twice, at 12 and 40? but he deserved to have a little luck as he overcame one of the world’s best bowling combinations—Fazal Mahmud and Khan Mohammad.

Benaud paved the way for Australia’s victory in the second test in England with a cavalier-like 98.

Today Benaud played down the line of the ball, but always hit the loose one. He and Alan Davidson, who batted in spite of a bad attack of “Karachi tummy,” had added an unfinished 27 stumps after Ron Archer, who was recovering from a similar stomach upset, had shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 64. Archer lost his wicket when he cut a ball with great power into the safe hands of Fazal Mahmud, fielding in the gully. Crowd Cheers and Boos The day was full of excitement with the crowd of more than 30,000 rarely quiet. They cheered and clapped the early Australian dismissals, then booed fieldsmen. Alimuddin and Khan, for dropping catches. Fights were frequent among the spectators, and the more than 500 police on duty had a busy time quelling them. The noise often reached a crescendo as the Australian batsmen prepared to play strokes. When play began, Australia needed 119 runs to avoid an innings defeat. This seemed a hopeless task when they lost five wickets for 47. McDonald, Burke and Harvey once again failed to adapt themselves to the conditions.

Fazal Mahmud and Khan, as in the first Australian innings, cut and swung the ball on the matting pitch and the occasional ball kept low.

lan Craig and Keith Miller defied the bowlers until lunch, but they succumbed immediately on the resumption. Then came the Benaud-Archer partnership. Slowly the score mounted, and as it did the crowd became anxious. So did Fazal Mahmud. Several times he showed his annoyance when he beat the batsmen without gaining a wicket. He stamped his feet in disgust and waved his arms wildly in the air when the umpire disallowed an appeal for a catch against Benaud. Captain Kardar waved to him to continue bowling. Scores were:— PAKISTAN First Innings Hanif Mohammad, c Langley, b Miller 0 Alimuddin, c Lindwall, b Archer .. 10 Gul Mohammad, b Davidson .. 12 Imtiaz Ahmad, c Burke, b Benaud .. 15 Waqar Hussan, c Langley, b Miller .. 6 Wazir Mohammed, c and b Johnson 67 Kardar, lbw. b Johnson .. 69 Mathias, b John 0 Fazal Mahmud, not out ..10 Zulfiqar, c Langley, b Lindwall .. 0 Khan, b Johnson ..3 Extras byes 5 (no-balls 2) ..7 Total .. .. 199

First Innings .. 80 Second Innings C. McDonald, b Fazal Mahmud .. 3 J. Burke, c Mathias, b Fazal Mahmud 10 N. Harvey, b Fazal Mahmud v . 4 I. Craig, lbw, b Fazal Mahmud .. 18 K. R. Miller, b Khan ..11 R. Archer, c Fazal Mahmud, b Khan 27 R. Benaud, not out .. 53 A. Davidson, not out .. .. 9 Extras .. .. .. 3 Total for six wickets .. 138

Bowlihg O. M. R. W. R. R. Lindwall ..27 8 42 1 K. R. Miller .. 17 5 40 2 R. Archer .. .. 4 0 18 1 A. Davidson .. ..6 4 6 1 R. Benaud .. .. 17 5 36 1 I. Johnson .. 20.3 3 50 4 AUSTRALIA

Bowling O. M. R. W. Fazal Mahmud .. 33 11 S5 4 Khan Mohammad .. 28 11 45 2 Zulfiqar .. 9 1 18 0 Kardar .. .. 8 3 7 0