CRICKET W. Indians Target 248 Runs In Two Days

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 13

CRICKET W. Indians Target 248 Runs In Two Days

(N.ZJ’A.-Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, August 25. A world wicket-keeping record by the West Indian, D. Murray, and another fighting innings by P. Sharpe, of England, left the fifth test delicately balanced after the third day’s play at the Oval on Saturday.

At stumps, the West Indies needed 248 runs for victory with all their second innings wickets in hand and with two days left The scores were: England 275 and 223, West Indies 246 and five for no wicket.

The West Indies lead in the series, 2-1. England must win this test tn square the rubber.

Murray, aged 20, playing his first series, set the record of 24 vrctans in an official ser.es when he caught Sharpe for 83 to end the innings. The previous joint holders, with 23, were W. Grout (Australia), J. Waite (South Africa) and G. Alexander (West Indies).

With a capacity crowd ot over 25,000, including thousands of West Indians, roaring at every ball, the excitement became feverish with the fall of every wicket.

Intriguing Position Fortunes fluctuated for both sides until the very end of the day when the game was left in an intriguing position. Tlie target set the West Indies is not an easy one on a* wicket which can still turn in favour of the England bowlers. England dismissed the West Indian tail-enders in 25 minutes for the addition of 15 nuns to the overnight score of 231 for eight. This gave England a lead of

29 runs. The margin was soon whittled away when England lost both openers tor 31 runs. Two more wickets went while the score reached 89, and England was in a precarious position.

But this brought tn Sharpe, who was the top scorer in the first tunings with 63. He shared in two stands of 52, with E. R. Dexter for the fifth wicket, and J. H. Parks for the sixth wicket. Game Swings Back

The match was again turning in England’s favour, but it swung back to the West Indies when Parks was lbw to C. Griffiths for 23 at 173. F. S. Trueman made only five and G. A. R. Lock a ’■duck,” felling to successive balls from Wm. Hall. Sharpe batted 3] hours for his 83. The West Indies might have been in a better position had they held their catches. L. Gibbs dropped Sharpe in the slips when he was only 32 and the score 130 tor five. Dexter and Trueman were also missed, although these were not so expensive.

A lively 14 by J. B. Statham helped, and England finisbed 253 rum ahead. Golden Chance The Went Indian batsmen had their chances on Friday, but let slip a golden chance. C. Hunte (80). R. Kanhaa (30), and B, Butcher (53) gave them a fin* start and. with 153 for t>wo on the board in mid-afternoon, they looked set tor a good first innings lead. Two run-outs started the slide, dismdaffing Butcher and G. Sobers, and six wicket* tell for only another 7# runs. ENGLAND First Innings ng Second Innings J. B Bolus, e Gibbs, b Sobers .. is J. H. Edrich, e Murray, b Griffith .. It ■■ R. Dexter, e Murray, b Sobers .. Tt w * Griffith tt D. B. Close, lbw, b Somers 4 P. J. Sharpe, c Murray, b H*U 85 J. M. Parks, lbw, b' Griffith 21 F. S. Trueman, e Sobers, b Hall j G. A. R. Lock, b Mail a J. B. Statham, b Ball .. la D. Shackleton, not out ~ * Extras (bya* 5, leg byes 1, no-balls 4) ..it Total .. ..’zn Fall of wtekete: one for t 9, two for 21, three for M, four for 69, five for 121, six for 113, seven for 196. elsht for IM, nine for 218.

WEST INDIES First Innings C. Hunte, c Parks, b Shackleton ..80 W. Rodrigues, e Lock, b Statham s R. Kanhal, b Lock .. 30 B. Butcher, nut out .. 53 G. Sobers, run out .. 2* J. Solomon, e Trueman, b Statham ..16 F. Worrell, b Statham • D. Murray, e Lock, b Treeman S W. Hall, b Trueman t C. Griffith, not out .. 11 L. Gibbs, b Trueman .. 4 Extras (leg-byes 1) .. J Total .. ..*244 Fan of wleketa: one for 10, two for It, three for 112, four for 185, five for IM, six for t!4, seven for 221, eight for 225, nine for 223. Bowling

Second Innings Hunte, not out ..I Rodrigues, not out .. • Total (for no wicket) 3

Bowling R. W. O. M. Hall .. K 3 39 4 Griffith .. n 7 44 3 Sober! .. 33 < 77 3 Gibbs * 1 » •

O. M. jt W. Trueman .. 26.1 1 65 j Statham . n I 69 3 Shackleton 21 I 37 1 Lock 29 < <5 1 Dexter • 1 • •

Bowline O. M. R. W. Statham .. 1 0 3 t Shackleton It St