ENGLAND BOWLERS BREAK THROUGH

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 12

ENGLAND BOWLERS BREAK THROUGH

Australia 282 For Six Wickets

<W.Z. Pram Awoctation— Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, January 2. Australia today lost its firm grip on the second test when England’s pace bowlers, Loader and Statham, captured four wickets for seven run an hour before stumps. The collapse followed a brilliant 167 by the Australian vice-captain, Neil k Harvey, in'a chanceless 319 minutes at the' crease. It was his 17 th test century in his 54th test match, and his fourth century against England. At stumps, Australia was 282 for six—23 ahead of England’s first innings total of 259 with four wickets in hand.

The collapse began half an hour after tea when • Harvey was bowled by Loader. Then, in quick succession, the huge crowd of 71,295 who had paid £11,384 to watch the third day’s play, saw the wickets ctf O’Neill, Benaud, and Simpson fall. O’Neill had scored a bright and entertaining 37, but Simpson and Australia’s captain, Benaud, both fell without scoring. This morning, McDonald and Harvey were able to score only 39 runs before lunch, but it was by no means their fault that the rungetting tempo propped. England completely closed up the game. Bailey bowled leg theory to Harvey, and there were occasions when he allowed half of the balls to pass outside his leg stump without offering a stroke. Bailey had five men on the leg side in an arc, and with Lock standing close at short fine leg, Harvey took no risks in exploiting his leg glance. The pair put on a 100 partnership after 157 minutes. Lock bowled most accurately and was the only one of the four bowlers used in the morning to cause the batsmen any discomfort. At lunch, Australia had been batting for 238 minutes (McLonald’s time for his 46), while Harvey had been at the wicket for 209 minutes for his 85. Harvey hit the only four of the morning. McDonald Out After lunch, each batsman took a single off Lock, but the fourth ball of Statham’s first over removed McDonald, who edged a catch straight to Graveney at first slip. x McDonald, Australia’s most consistent batsman over recent seasons, had done a fine job in making 47. He batted for 248 minutes and with Harvey put on 126 in 219 minutes for the second wicket.

O’Neill began by pushing Statham to the off for a single

and he edged Lock to the fine-leg fence for a four. Harvey latecut'Lock to reach 90 and Australia was 150 for two after 262 minutes. The last 50 had taken 100 minutes to score. /

Lock and Laker had two men stationed side by side in a silly mid-on trap about half a dozen yards in front of the bat, and they tied Harvey and O’Neill down.

Harvey reached his century amid tremendous cheers, turning Lock past square-leg for fourall run. It was a triumphant return to form by Harvey at a vital stage in the test, battle for Australia.

Both batsmen then stepped up the .scoring rate and at tea, Harvey was 140 not out. and Australia was 216 for two. Australia suffered an unpardonable slump between tea and stumps when it lost the wickets of O’Neill, Harvey, Simpson and Benaud in five overs for the addition of only seven runs.

It was an amazing 15 minutes of cricket as the shine had aimpst worn off the new ball.

O’Neill played inside a ball and was caught at the wicket while Harvey hit over a half volley and Simpson and Benaud simply played crooked bats at straight balls.

Harvey and O’Neill had provided a brilliant partnership of 118 tn 142 minutes a feature of which wak their brilliant running between the wickets. Harvey’s innings of 167 was made in 317 minutes and included 14 fours.

In the midst of this hitting barrage, Statham bowled superbly while Loader had 83 runs hit off him ■ before getting his first wicket At no stage did he reach the same heights as Statham. Mackay and Davidson safely negotiated some rather fierce bowling from Statham in adding a further 20 runs at stumps.