CRICKET Australians Draw With Ireland In 85 Mile-an-Hour Gale

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 6

CRICKET Australians Draw With Ireland In 85 Mile-an-Hour Gale

(NJB. Press Assn.—Copyright i BELFAST, September 16. The Australians competed for attention with “Hurricane Debbie” at the Ormeau Ground, Belfast, today, when they drew their match against Ireland. “Hurricane Debbie” is at present raging in the Atlantic, but its fringe struck Ireland this afternoon. As the players struggled to keep their balance in the 85 mile-an-hour gale, the 10,000 spectators fought just as hard to remain upright on their seats.

The condition* were appalling—the Australians aaia they had never played in worse—and several times the batsmen were blown back towards their stumps as they took Strike. No bail* were used —the wind was so . strong that the umpires did not bother to bring them out. For a long time there was more action off the field than on. The afternoon tea marquee blew down twice, and the press tent once. The numbers flew off the scoreboard like flying saucers, and tiles cart-wheeled off the rooftops in the adjacent streets, cracking like rifle-shots as they struck the ground. A pine tree crashed by the side of the pavilion, and the Irish Cricket Union flag was ripped to pieces on its bending, groaning flagpole. There was not much attention to the cricket until Davidson came out after tea, and hit 50 runs in 24 minutes, with three sixes and five fours. In this time, the Australians added 66. to declare

their second innings closed at 155 for seven wicket*. Earlier, the last two Irish wickets had added 54, with the captain, A. O’Riardan hitting a well-made 28. The Australians. were 83 ahead, and increased this lead to 235 at their declaration, but there was then only 90 minutes of play left, insufficient time to force a decision. Simpson and Harvey opened the bowling, and Benaud kept wicket. In a lighthearted finish. Ireland made 138 for six wickets. Scores;— AUSTRALIA First innings .. ..209 Second Innings Simpson, c Stevenson, b Huey ..44 Grout, b Bernstein .. 2 Harvey, c Bergin, b Bernstein 1 O’Neill, st Colhoun, b Huey 16 Benaud, b Hunter .. .. 1 Davidson, st Colhoun. b Lyness .. .50 Kline, c O'Riordan, b BernStein .. .. 18 Gaunt, not out .. ..10 Extras .. ..13 Total for seven wickets declared .. 155 Fall of wickets: one for 12. two for 24. three for 60. four for 72. five for 74. six for 141, seven for 155. Bowling.—O’Riordan, 4 overs. 1 maiden, 19 runs. 0 wicket: Bernstein, 7.1, 0. 29. 3; Hunter, 10. 2. 41. 1; Huey, 9. 0, 43, 2; Lvness 2. 0 10 1. IRELAND ’’irst innings ..126 Second Innings I. Martin, b McDonald .. 57 S. Bergin hit wkt, b Simpson 0

'L. W«rke b Harvey 2 M. Stevenson, c Jarman, b Simpson 8 G. Duffy, hit wkt, b Simpson 3 R. Hunter, c Gaunt, b Jarman .. 27 A. O’Riordan, not out ~ 15 R.’Bernstein, not out .. 6 Extras .. 20 Total .for six wkts. 138 Fall of wickets: one for 3 two for 6 three for 31. four for 43. five for 93. six for 126. Bowling.—Simpson. 7 overs. 3 maidens. 13 runs, 2 wickets; Harvey. 11 3, 22. 1: O'Neill. 5. 0. 23, 0; Jarman. 9. 1. 41. 1; Kline, 4. 1 8 0: McDonald 3. 2, 41, 1; Grout. 1, 0. 7, 0. LANCASTER PARK CLUB

Officers elected at the eightysecond annual meeting of the Lancaster Park Cricket Club were:— President, Mr E. E. Weston; vice-president?, Mrs H. G. Hutchison. Messrs I. B. Cromb, A. M. Jones. G. Rose. G. Bussell. A. W. Sellars, F. A. Smith, V. Smith. C. V. Walter. J. C. Were. A. Snelling. M. J. McKendry, J. S. McGuinness. P. M. Kerr, J. Lawlor; club captain. Mr I. J. Lawson; deputy club captain. Mr W. P. Daly; secretary. Mr I. J. Kennedy; assist-ant-secretary, Mr B. A. Lapthorn; treasurer. Mr R. T. Dowker; management committee, Messrs W. G. Dennis. G. P. Dryden. A. Harrison. B. C. Irving, R. R King. J. M. McNaughton, J. R. Sansom. J. L. Saunders. D. E. Woods: delegates to C.C.A., Messrs M. E. Chapple. G. P. Dryden. I. J. Kennedy, and ,I. J. Lawson; delegate to C.A.S.P.A., Mr K. H. Perrin; selectors. Messrs A. G. Duckmanton, Irving, and Saunders; auditor. Mr J. Brown; life member. Mr H. Wilson.