DEXTER STOPS SLUMP

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 10

DEXTER STOPS SLUMP

Tension Mounts As England Bats (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ADELAIDE, January 27. England will look to her dashing skipper, E. R. Dexter, tomorrow to keep her in the picture in the tense fourth test match against Australia. Dexter was 50 not out at the end of the second day yesterday, when England had reached a total of 192 for five wickets in her first innings.

Earlier, Australia, after resuming at 322 for five wickets, was all out for 393.

Dexter’s spirited defiance arrested a midinnings English slump in which D. S. Sheppard, K. F. Barrington and M. C. Cowdrey went within the space of 35 runs.

Australia's hero was 21-year-old G. McKenzie, who bowled with sustained hostility in spite of discouraging heat conditions.

The bowlers dominated play all day in spite of the gruelling heat. G. McKenzie finished with three wickets for 43 runs off 17 overs.

The loss of A. K. Davidson with a pulled hamstring muscle left the Australian attack greatly restricted—and be may not be able to bowl again in the match. Yet the Australians, at the end of an exacting day, must have been well pleased with the position. England had squandered excellent scoring opportunities. the wicket playing easily and the heat

all in favour of the batsmen. I Yesterday morning, the last five Australian wickets collapsed for 71 runs, only Davidson (46) showing any spirited resistance. B. Statham dismissed the left-handed batsman, B. Shepherd, to take his 237th test wicket, thus eclipsing A. V. Bedser’s world wicket-taking record of 236 victims.

Later Statham struck a decisive blow when he cleanbowled Davidson.

K. Mackay was caught behind the wicket off F. S. Trueman for one, and R. Benaud, after a promising start, played over a delivery from Dexter which bowled him.

Dexter finished with three for 94 and Statham three for 66. They had bowled with plenty of spirit in spite of the weather. The crowd, estimated at 35,000. saw Australians all out for 393 after 478 minutes’ batting. F. S. Trueman, who was off the field for an hour on Friday suffering from heat exhaustion. was fit again today. He made a notable contri-

button to England's cause when he had R. Mackay caught by C. Smith low down to the ground behind the wicket.

The pitch again played easily, but determined English bowling carried the prelunch session and Australia had missed a splendid opportunity to capitalise on its promising total yesterday. England made a bad start when G. Pullar was bowled for nine by McKenzie. K. F. Barrington and D. S. Sheppard pushed England's score along to 84, helped by the absence of Davidson from the Australian attack.

But Benaud enticed Sheppard to jump down the pitch and had him stumped for 30. Dexter, feeling the strain of his 23 overs in gruelling heat, put Barrington and then C. Cowdrey ahead of him in England’s batting order. At the tea adjournment. Barrington was 44 not out and England were two for 77. Before Davidson’s injury, Ba.rington had hit him for four successive boundaries, three of them edges from rising balls. Later he got bogged down against some accurate bowling and found runs at a premium. Barrington, one of the most consistent of the tourist’s batsmen, eventually played right over the top of a ball in R. Simpson’s first over, and was clean bowled for 63.

McKenzie removed both Cowdrey and Graveney, the former a controversial dismissal, caught behind the wicket by W. Grout. Cowdrew left the crease reluctantly, clearly indicating he did not think he had touched the ball that brought about his dismissal.

Dexter came in and after an uncertain start, hit two tremendous sixes in one over off Simpson. Dexter needed only 76 minutes to complete a spectacular half-century. It was by far the brightest and most entertaining batting of the day.

Victoria Well Placed

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, January 27. Victoria will resume its first innings against New South Wales here tomorrow only seven runs behind the home side’s total of 248, with five wickets in hand.

New South Wales, at one time 109 for six wickets, was all out shortly after play resumed on the second day yesterday. The fast bowler, I. Meckiff, took four for 75.

K. Stackpole and I. Redpath gave Victoria a good start with an opening partnership of 80 before the former was run out. Redpath (80) and the skipper, J. Potter (73), added 81 for the second wicket.

But from 199 for two. Victoria slipped to 222 for five as the New South Wales spin bowler, J. Martin, struck form. Martin finished the day with four for 84 and appeared to have foiled Victoria’s chances of a big first-innings lead. Scores:—

New South Wales 248 (D. Waiters 60; I Meckiff four for 75. J. Kirby two for 46). Victoria 241 for five wickets (I. Redpath 80, J. Potter 73; J. Martin four for 84).

Britain’s Cars. Nearly 1,250,000 cars rolled off Britain’s production lines last year—more than 500,000 of them for export, according to figures published today by the Board of Trade.—London. January 26.