THIRD TEST DRAWN AT SYDNEY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28795, 16 January 1959, Page 10

THIRD TEST DRAWN AT SYDNEY

May Declares Innings

Closed For 287

(A.z,. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, January 15. Australia would have nothing to do with England’s challenge of getting 150 runs in 110 minutes to win the third test here today, which fizzled out into a draw, leaving Australia two up, with two to play in the series.

This followed May’s declaration immediately after Cowdrey had reached his century, when the score was seven for 287.

Australia’s openers, despite some slow handclapping and jeering from the crowd, were more concerned with time than runs. Burke and McDonald went to Laker, and Harvey and O’Neill saw the last dreary half-hour out, with Australia two for 54.

Burke made a yorker of a ball from Laker and was bowled, while McDonald, after going down with a leg injury, held up play while he called for a runner. Immediately he came out, McDonald was bowled by Laker. With May and Cowdrey still together in their unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 167 at lunch, England with three for 221 seemed safe from defeat. England was then 83 runs ahead. May and Cowdrey brought up the 150 partnership in 239 minutes, and the advent of the new ball, at three for 210, only served to increase the rate of run-getting, as Slater was hit for 11 off his first over. Davidson bowled at only half pace. At lunch May and Cowdrey were both on 82, with 19 overs being bowled in the pre-lunch session for the addition of 53 runs. May Bowled The unexpected came immediately after lunch when Burke, whose action has been widely queried, came on to bowl. In his second over he bowled May who attempted to force a ball to the onside. May had batted for 318 minutes arid hit 10 fours, missing his second century of the series by only eight runs. Dexter began confidently by cover-driving Burke and Davidson to the boundary, but in attempting to cut a ball from Benaud he was caught at the Wicket Swetman played back to Burke, missed and was out lbw. Burke had now taken two for 15 in eight overs. Trueman came out The field spread out but he was out off the first ball he faced when fie pushed forward defensively, dragged his back foot on to the line and was brilliantly stumped Four Wickets for 24 England was now seven for 270. with the last four wickets falling in an hour for the addition of only 24 runs. Cowdrey, who was 87 when

May was out, took nearly an hour and a half to score the next 13 runs which carried him to his hundred, which took 365 minutes, with seven fours. England’s declaration left Australia 150 runs to get in 110 minutes. May closed the innings 10 minutes before the scheduled tea adjournment, soon after Cowdrey had reached his century. It was Cowdrey’s fifth test century and his second against Australia. His previous century against Australia was in the third test at Melbourne in 1954-55. when he scored 102. Scores:— ENGLAND First innings .. 219 Second Innings T E. Bailey, c Simpson (sub.), b Benaud 25 C. A. Milton, c Davidson, b Benaud .. 8 T. W. Graveney, lbw, b Davidson 22 P. B. H. May, b Burke .. 92 M. C. Cowdrey, not out .. 100 T. Dexter, c Grout, b Benaud 11 R. Swetman. lbw, b Burke .. 5 F. S. Trueman, st Grout, b Benaud 0 G. A. R. Lock, not out .. ..11 Extras .. 13 Total for seven wickets declared 287 Fall of wickets: one for 30, two for 37, three for 64, four for 246, five for 262, six for 269, seven for 270.

ror 33. Bowlin* O. M. R. W J B. Statham . 2 0 6 0 F S. Trueman 4 1 9 0 J C. Laker . 8 3 10 2 G A. R. Lock 11 4 23 0

— Bowling O. M. R. W. 1 Meckiff ..31 70 A. K. Davidson 33 11 65 1 R. Benaud .. 33 7 94 4. K. Slater .. 18 5 61 0 K. Mackay ..11 2 21 0 J W. Burke .. 11 3 26 2

AUSTRALIA First innings .. • . 358 Second innings C McDonald, b Laker .. . 16 J- W. Burke, b Laker . 1 R. N. Harvey, not out .. . 18 N O’Neill, not out . 3 Extras 6 Total for two wickets . . 54 Fail of wickets: one for 22, two for 33.