O’Neill Back To Form With 71 n.o.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 6

O’Neill Back To Form With 71 n.o.

(N.Z Press assoeuitton— MANCHESTER. June 3. N. C, O’Neill hit 71 not out in two hours before rain stopped play at Manchester today with the Australians three for 324 in 317 minutes in reply to Lancashire’s 346.

W. Lawry (122) and R. B. Simpson (103) both Kit centuries and put on 177 in 164 minutes in their opening partnership It was a run-a-minute day until the rain came 15 minutes after tea, with the Australians almost monotonously grinding runs out of a Lancashire attack that was never on top and never looked likely to be The England fast bowler, J B Statham, who bowled sparingly, took two of the three wickets, both off good balls which gave catches to the wicketkeeper. The only other wicket fell to Australian-born K. Grieves, but it was the result of a tired stroke by L»wry. The stage was set in O’Neill's favour when he came to the crease at two for 187, but it. took him a long time to get moving. He was most unsettled and uncertain early, as if his scores of 0 and 1 in toe test at Lord’s were still Worrying him, and he scored only three

singles in toe first half-hour. But whesi he was through this period, hi« strokes came bursting back. From then he scored at even time. He was seeing the ball so well then that he began using his mveh criticised sweep shot. Three times he swept the off-spinners, K. Howard and R Collins, to the boundary He gathered his runs mainly from this pair, and two late cuts—one off each—were gems Scores were: LANCASHIRE First innings . 346 AUSTRALIA First Innings R. B. R. Simpson, c Clayton. b Statham .. 103 W. Lawry, c Booth, b Grieves -.122 R. N. Harvey, e Clayton, b Statham .. » N. C. O'Nel!!, not out .. 71 B. C. Booth, not out .. it Extras .. • Total for three wickets 324 Fall of wickets; OM for 17", two for 167, three for 2»1 Bowling O. M. It. W J. B. ' r'- p Statham 162 » 3» 2 K. Higgs ..21 2 74 0 * * Bather 16 1 76 0 Howard 18 3 46 0 K. Collins 25 8 50 0 K. Grieves 10 2 21 1 Statham Unfit For Test (N.ZJ».A.-Reu»«r-CopvrlplU) LONDON. July 3. The fiist bowler, J. B Statham, today reported unfit to play tor England against Australia on ’Ruiis<fey. The English selectors' chairman (Mr G. O. Allen) will discuss with Statham tomorrow whether there is any chance of the injury mending in time. Benaud Bowls At Nets (N JI.P. A .-Reuter— Copgrip M) MANCHESTER. July 3. The Australian captain. R. Benaud, bowled at the ne's at Old Trafford for 15 minutes this afternoon after rain had washed out the last two hourt’ play in (tie Australians’ match against Lancashire. It was still raining lightly when Benaud, wearing a heevy sweater, bowled to the Australian assistant manager. Mr R. Steele, who fielded toe balls and threw them back to Benaud. It was expected that the Australian manager, Mr S. Webb, would later make a statement on Benaud'a condition.