CRICKET Australians Score 381 For Five Against M.C.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29525, 29 May 1961, Page 17

CRICKET Australians Score 381 For Five Against M.C.C.

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, May 27. Ihe Australians made another big total today when they scored five for 381 against the M.C.C. at Lord’s. B. Booth picked up some useful runs in his 59 while C. McDonald had started promisingly before lie retired hurt when struck in the face by the ball while hooking.

N. O’Neill and W. Lawry each hit their third centuries of the tour. O'Neill made 122 in 235 minutes with 15 fours and a six before he was out just before stumps.

Lawry finished with 104 made in 205 minutes with 14 fours and a six and virtually gave away his wicket when he went for a big hit off J. Mortimore and was easily caught at mid-on by Larter. R. Benaud announced after the close of play that he would declare on Monday at yesterday’s score. The fast bowlers. D. Larter and H. Rhodes, took only one wicket each. Larter certainly was unlucky because O’Neill was missed off him three times. The lift he got from the pitch early had both Lawry and McDonald watching him closely, although both got runs from him without much difficulty.

Rhodes did not have a good match. He was noballed five times for overstepping and his 21 overs cost 88 runs for O'NeiU’s wicket.

Lawry and O’Neill both took heavy toll of him. Lawry took 10 of the 11 scored off his eleventh over and then O’Neill with two square puts, an on drive and

a single to the leg, took 13 off his seventeenth over. Mortimore's off-spinners were just as nagging and accurate as they were in the last match, against Gloucestershire. although again he checked the batsmen without ever looking really dangerous. A. Greenhough, the Lancashire leg-break bowler, was not quite as consistent as Mortimore and although he had a short but keen midinnings duel with O’Neill, he did not seriously trouble the batsmen. The Australians had set off at a fast pace and got 38 in the first half-hour. It was the liveliest opening of the tour and it included a dramatic third over from Rhodes when he was no-balled three times. McDonald hooked the first of these for six but the second struck him on the cheek as he hooked again and he reeled down the pitch for a single, head in hands, and flopped into the arms of Mortimore. He recovered temporarily, although he

later left the field and meanwhile Lawry was struck in the stomach by the third noball.

It was a sensational beginning and it had the big crowd bubbling with excitement. Scores:—

AUSTRALIANS First Innings W. La wry, c Barter, b Mortimone 104 C. McDonald, retired hurt 24 N Harvey, c Subba Row, b Greenhough 35 N. O’Neill, c Barrington. b Rhodes 122 R. Simpson, b Barter 14 B. Booth c Horton, b Barrington 59 A. Davidson, not out 10 R. Benaud, not out 2 Extras (9 leg-byes. 2 no-balls) 11 Total foe five wickets 381 Fall of wickets: One for 123. two for 216 three for 239, four for 365, five for 370. Bowling O. M. R. W. T. W. Greeaihough 28 6 93 1 J. Mortimore 31 11 56 1 K. F. Barrington 7 1 28 1 J. F. Barter 21 5 74 1 H. J. Rhodes 21 3 88 1 M Horton 8 1 31 0