Cricket SECOND TEST AT LAHORE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29061, 25 November 1959, Page 5

Cricket SECOND TEST AT LAHORE

Australia 107 Ahead fN-Z. Press Association— CopyngM) LAHORE, Nov. 24. Pakistan has only a slender chance of saving the second test against Australia at Lahore. Unless something unexpected happens Australia must win the match, which resumes tomorrow, and settle the series. But no man could have done more to save his side than the Pakistan captain, Imtiaz Ahmad. Called ip at the last moment to take over the captaincy when Fazal Mahmood found that his sore right knee would prevent him plAying, Imtiaz captained the side from behind the stumpd with imagination and courage.

Imtiaz promoted himself to opener with Hanif Mohammad in the first innings and together they gave Pakistan a worthwhile opening partnership of 56. It was the best partnership of the innings. When Australia was batting Imtiaz switched his bowlers constantly probing for weakness in the batting and for favourable spots on the wicket.

His field placing, particularly for Haseeb Ahsan, the off-spinner, might have been better, but still Imtiaz and his fieldsmen managed to keep Australia’s scoring to below a run a minute. Faced with a deficit of 245 when Pakistan started its second innings, Imtiaz went for the bowling from the start. His 54 included some chances, but he was always looking, for runs. His score included eight h’s and a field of four slips and three leg slips which Benaud set for the start of the innings was soon broken for Imtiaz.

lan Meckiff thought he should have had the Pakistan captain’s wicket when he was 49.

Meckiff, the wfeket-keeper, Wally Grout, and most of the close in fieldsmen appealed for a catch behind. When it was disallowed Meckiff stood for a moment looking at Imtiaz. Then he bowled a bouncer next ball. Instead of ducking Imtiaz calmly hooked it for four. '

More annoyed by this treatment, Meckiff sent down a fast full toss next ball, but Imtiaz played it down safely. When Imtiaz went to a good catch by O’Neill the fight might have gone out of the Pakistan side, but he promoted the experienced all-rounder Shujaud Din in the batting list and this dour player supported the stroke-play-ing of Saeed Ahmad through spin and speed to fight again tomorrow.

Pakistan still needs 107 to make Australia bat again. ♦Scores.—

AUSTRALIA First Innings R. N. Harvey, lbw, b Munaf .. 43 C. T. Stevens, c Imtiaz, b Mohammad Manaf .9 C. C, McDonald, c Imtiaz Ahmad, b Haseeb - Ahsan . > 42 L. Favell, b Israr Ali ..32 W. Grout, lbw, b Nasimul Ghani 12 W. O’Neill, st Imtiaz Ahmad, b Shujaud Din ..134 R. Benaud, b Haseen Ahsan .. 29 A. K. Davidson, c Imtiaz Ahmad, b Israr AU .. 47 K. Mackay, c Imtiaz Ahmad, b Haseen Ahsan .. .. 26 L. Kline, not out .. 0 Extras .. . •• H Total for nine wickets declared .. ..391 Fall of wickets: One for 27, two for 83, three for 114, four for 213, five for 247, six for 310, seven for 311, eight for 391, nine for 391.

PAKISTAN First Innings ..146 Second Innings Alimuddin, b Kline ..7 Imtiaz Ahmad, c O’Neill, h Kline 54 Saeed Ahad, not out .. 58 Shujaud Din, not out .. 9 Extras .. .. .. 10 Total for two wickets .. 138 Fall of wickets: One for 45, two for 87. Bowling

Bowline O. M. R. W. Mohammad Nunaf 31 8 28 2 Israr AU 13 5 29 2 Nasimul Ghani 21 3 72 1 Shujaud Din 20 2 58 1 Haseeb Ahsan .. 30.3 8 115 3

O. M. R. W. Meckiff .. 10 2 26 0 Davidson .. 11 2 28 0 Benaud .. 15 2 52 0 Kline .. 14 1 21 2 O’Neill .. 1 0 1 0