South Africa Hits N.Z. Attack

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29713, 5 January 1962, Page 9

South Africa Hits N.Z. Attack

CAPE TOWN, January 4.

New Zealand’s first test victory in an overseas country, which had seemed a strong possibility yesterday morning, was still in sight, but further removed, when South Africa with four wickets down for 244, still needed 158 in 150 minutes.

The early dismissal of J. H. B. Waite gave New Zealand hope when the score was 100 for three wickets. But there it stopped for 75 minutes as D. J. McGlew and R. McLean scored a brilliant 100 runs.

Just when it seemed that, instead of New Zealand wondering whether it had sufficient time in which to get South Africa out. it was the turn of South Africa to think of a victory. Bartlett, in the midst of an inaccurate spell, had McGlew caught behind. The game was now poised delicately. A quick wicket to New Zealand would swing it its way—4o quick runs to South Africa could put New Zealand on the defensive. But if McLean and McGlew had halted New Zealand's once steady march towards its long sought victory there would be few who would cavil at the manner in which it was carried out. It was not a question of a grim delaying battle by the batsmen. There were strokes of power and grace, watchful defence against the spin of Alabaster, and always the search for the quick runs which might give South Africa a chance of wresting the game away from New Zealand. , McLean has graced test cricket with some of the finest inning£ since the war His innings today was one that must rank with his centuries against England and Australia. Stroke players with his uninhibited approach are rare, but so necessary for cricket. The teams are:—

New Zealand. — J. R. Reid (captain). M. E. Chaople, J. T. Sparling, G. T. Dowling. S. N. McGregor. A. E. Dick. R. C. Motz, G. A. Bartlett, F. J. Cameron. P. G. Z. Harris, J. C. Alabaster.

South Africa.— D. J. McGlew (camtain), R A. McLean. J H B. Waite, K. C Bland, G Lawrence, E. J. Barlow, H. D. Bromfield, A. McKinnon. M. K. Elgie, S F. Burke. W. R. Farrar.

D. J. McGlew. with his right hand heavily bandaged, gave immediate notice that South Africa would not stumble its way to defeat. In Bartlett’s opening over he scored seven runs and he and Waite had 30 runs in the first 30 minutes.

Alabaster opened the bowling with Bartlett. but neither bowler troubled the batsmen. R. C. Motz relieved Bartlett after two overs, but he too could find no life in the wicket. •

Gaining increasing spin from the wicket. Alabaster struck a vital blow for New Zealand when he had Waite lbw with a googly. Waite and McGlew had scored 46 runs in 54 minutes. While they were together South Africa was gradually coming back into the game as both batsmen were prepared to play attacking strokes and had been very severe on any loose bowling. The duel between Alabaster and McGlew was the highlight of the morning’s play. Gaining quite a sharp turn Alabaster troubled the bats-

men, but the wicket, while giving the spin bowlers some help, allowed the batsmen to play strokes. It was McGlew who took the main honours. He has played many fine innings for South Africa, but his innings this morning must have been one of his greatest. His injured hand proved no handicap as he scored freely off all the bowlers except Alabaster. Gained Turn The dust rising from the wicket brought J. R. Reid into the attack with Al.abaster. He gained slow but appreciable turn, but with R. A. McLean coming to the wicket and giving immediate notice by hitting Alabaster for four that his strokemaking would not be curbed by the situation, Motz was brought back. Motz’s first over to McLean saw him hit an attempted bumper for four. McGlew and McLean, while watching Alabaster’s leg spin closely were scoring steadily, but South Africa had slipped behind the scor-ing-rate needed if any attempt was to be made to score the runs needed for a win. Alabaster's duel with the batsmen maintained the tension of the match. Now spinning the ball sharply from leg he was inducing the occasional false stroke. But the pressure was not so apparent from the other bowlers. Reid brought his fifth bowler on at 11 a.m., when Cameron replaced Motz. His first two overs gave eight runs to McGlew, four coming from a magnificent late cut. Alabaster's spell of 28 overs for three wickets ended when Reid replaced him. He had looked like the only New Zealand bowler capable of getting wickets. Thirteen runs came from one over from Reid as McGlew and McLean hit fours and one ball went for four byes. McGlew’s 50 and the 56 partnership came in the over. With Alabaster off, runs were coming freely as the last 36 runs of the partnership came up in 20 minutes. The initiative was swinging back to South Africa The ratio of a run-a-minute had been restored as South Africa now needed 250 runs in 250 minutes. Chasing Runs After lunch McGlew and McLean unleashed strokes as they showed every intention of chasing what once seemed the unattainable total set by New Zealand. McLean, driving and hooking strongly, had a life when he slashed a ball from Bartlett through the slips but Dick obscured the slips' view and the chance went begging Bartlett, bowling at his fastest, was straight driven by McLean for four —a stroke that flashed past the fieldsmen. Five minutes later the 100 partnership came in 75 minutes. A steady spell of bowling by Alabaster, which had McGlew and McLean chafing as the flow of runs lessened, brought New Zealand its next wicket. At 201, Bartlett had McGlew caught behind by Dick for 63, when he flashed his

bat at a short ball on the off-stump. It was a wicket needed badly by New Zealand.

South Africa now required 207 runs in 220 minutes. The dismissal of Waite gave New Zealand its chance but its bowlers failed to seize it.

Bartlett and Motz were wildly inaccurate when the new ball was taken immediately as K. Bland came in. Both bowled wides and many balls outside the off-stump. The appearance of Cameron with his unfailing accuracy restored some sanity to the bowling. McLean, unperturbed by the situation, continued to play strokes, some injudicious, but always powerful. Biand, unhappy against Cameron, finally scored off Mota and after 15 minutes the partnership was worth 20. Quick Runs

Yesterday, the last wicket partnership of 49 by A. E. Dick and F. J. Cameron gave New Zealand badly needed quick runs and made South Africa's task all the more difficult.

It was Dick's best innings of the tour, full of powerful drives and pulls but allied with a watchful defence. Cameron, who is rapidly developing a reputation for being almost impossible to bowl, batted sensibly The partnership broke the previous beat tenth-wicket partnership by New Zealand against South Africa, the 34 by R. W. Blair and B. Sutcliffe in 1953-54.

If Dick's batting gave some substance to the New Zealand total, it waa the bowling of S. F. Burke thet nearly denied New Zealand the chance of a decisive lead. He took 11 wickets for 196 runs in his first teat —a magnificent debut. J. H. B. Waite’s two stumpings and one catch gave him seven dismissals for tha match and 19 for the series. He already holds the record for the number of dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a test series 23 against New Zealand in 1953 54, a total which is now being threatened by him. Scores:— NEW ZEALAND First Innings .. 3U Second Innings G. T. Dowling, e Barlow, b Burke ..It S. N. McGregor, run out .. 2b J. T. Sparling, c Waite, b Burke • I. R. Reid, c Bromdeld, b Burke ..14 P. G. Z. Harris, e Bland, b Burke .. IS M. L. Chapple, b Burke .. 31 G. A. Bartlett, st. Waite, b McKinnon .. » A. E. Dick, not out .. SO R. C. Mota, c Barlow, b Bromdeld .. • J. C. Alabaster, st Waite, b McKinnon .. ..4 F. J. Cameron, not out .. IS Extras (byes 1) .. 1 Total for S wkts. (declared) .. 212 Fall of wickets: one for 2S, two for 40. three for 44, four tor Si, five tor 104. six fur 127, seven for 13S, eight for IM, nine for IS3.

SOUTB AFRICA First Innings .. ..IM Second Innings D. J. McGlew, c Dick, b Bartlett .. S 3 E. J. Barlow, e Reid, b Alabaster .. IS W. R. Farrar, e Dowling, b Alabaster .24 J. Il B. Waite, lbw, b Alabaster ..21 R. A. McLean, not out M K. Bland, not out a Extras ~ 2t Total for foar wkts. 2M Fall of wirkets: One for 37. two tor 34, three for IM, four tor 201.

o. M. ■ . w S. F. Burke 27.1 14 M s E. <1. Barlow 2i 1 U • McKinnon 17 H. D. Brom1 12 1 Self 24 1 M 1