CRICKET Booth’s Classic Century Rescues Australia

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29994, 1 December 1962, Page 14

CRICKET Booth’s Classic Century Rescues Australia

(NX. Preu Association—Copyright)

BRISBANE, November 30. A 29-year-old Sydney teacher, B. C. Booth, today led a fighting Australian recovery in the first test against England.

Booth scored 112 in his first test on home soil, and his maiden test century enabled Australia to finish a tense first day with 321 for seven wickets.

England’s bowlers performed magnificently to dismiss half the Australian side for 140, but Booth, in partnerships with A. k. Davidson and K. Mackay, lifted Australia to a face-saving total.

Booth baited for 173 minutes and hit 14 boundaries.

Australia’s formidable depth in batting has rarely been more in evidence than today when the middle order men steadied an early collapse and then took toll of the tiring bowlers. R. Benaud appeared to strike an early blow for Australia when he won the toss. The pitch looked easy-paced. But for most of the first four hours the English speed bowlers held command.

Trueman, in a long, inspired spell, removed Lawry and O'Neill. He had Lawry

caught behind the wicket for five, then dismissed O’NeiU for 19 with a shortish ball that lifted and flew off the top of O’NeiU’s bat gently to Statham at leg slip. Mistimed Shot R. Simpson restored Australia's fortunes to some extent with a stylish halfcentury. but in Dexter’s last over before lunch he was out to a mistimed puU shot which gave Trueman an easy catch at mid-on. At lunch, Australia was 97 for three.

Trueman went on to take the wicket of Burge for six and Statham struck a key blow when he dismissed Harvey.

On a perfect batting wicket Australia faced total coUapse with half the side out for 140. But then Davidson and Booth began the recovery with a stand of 54. Barrington broke the partnership when he had Davidson brilliantly caught on the leg-side fence by Trueman. Stuck to Task The English bowlers stuck manfully to their task as the middle-order batsmen began their rescue operation. Stat-

ham, Dexter and Knight provided solid support for the pace attack, but Dexter could have done with another frontline bowler, especially at this stage of the innings. The English fielding was keen. The pitch appeared solid enough to last out most of the test without any difficulty. AUSTRALIA First Innings W. Lawry, c Smith, b Trueman • • .. 5 R. Simpson, c Trueman, te Dexter .. .. 56 N. O’Neill, c Statham, b Trueman .. ..19 N. Harvey, b Statham .. 39 P. Burge, c Dexter, b Trueman .. .. 6 B. Booth, c Dexter, h Titmus .. ..112 A. Davidson, c Trueman, h Barrington .. .. 23 K. Mackay, not out .. 51 R. Benaud, not out .. 13 Extras .. .. 3 Total (for 7 wickets) 321

Fall of wickets: One for 5, two for 46. three for 92. four for 101, five for 146. six for 194, seven for 297.

Bowling R. W o. M. Statham .. 13 1 51 I Trueman .. 14 0 62 3 Knight .. 10 0 45 0 Titnins .. n 3 •o 1 Dexter .. io 0 46 1 Barrington i? x 11 1