N.Z. Struggling For Its Runs

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30688, 2 March 1965, Page 15

N.Z. Struggling For Its Runs

IBy R. T. BRITTENDEN, special correspondent, N.Z.P.A.]

MADRAS, March 1.

Notwithstanding a brief burst of brilliance from the captain, J. R. Reid, and a determined half-century by B. Sutcliffe, New Zealand was struggling on the third day of the first test with India at the Nehru Stadium in Madras today.

At stumps New Zea- 1 land had taken its j score to 283—144 runs j behind and eight I wickets had fallen to ! the accurate Indian | bowling. The follow on was , set at 200 for these I tests. The pitch looked whiter than ever when New Zealand resumed at two for 92 before! a crowd of about 6000 thisi morning.

B. W. Sinclair was not well and may be the first victim of expected dysentery. But J. R. Reid was certainly fit for he hit the third ball of the day over long-on for the first six of the tour, swung the next four then took a single. Reid hit two magnificent square cuts to the boundary off Venkataraghavan. He also swept Durrani for four through a close leg field and in the first nine minutes scored 25 runs.

But the fierce flame of his aggression was snuffed out swiftly. Nadkarni bowled one a little short, Reid pulled the ball a little low and he was out leg before. Reid and Sinclair scored 61 in 45 minutes and Reid’s loss was a grievous blow to New’ Zealand. Bold Sweeps R. Morgan twice swept Durrani boldly for boundaries and Venkataraghavan came back at Durrani’s end. Sinclair, although he looked solid, scored only four runs in the first hour and was then bowled by Venkataraghavan in playing a sweep shot to a ball, which did not turn from the off but which seemed to go the other way.

Sutcliffe made a streaky start but a pulled four off Surti was an authentic stroke. However, he had an alarming experience when Nadkarni began a new spell. The first ball was short, Sutcliffe tried a pull but the ball barely rose and hit him on the front foot. It was a disturbing indication that the ball which bowled Reid was not to be unique. Morgan, with diligent batting, stayed through to lunch with Sutcliffe but the measure of New Zealand’s struggle was given by the fact that although Reid himself scored 25 in a few minutes, in the full two hours 43 overs yielded only 74. Decorous Batting

New Zealand again batted most decorously after lunch, three singles to Sutcliffe being the only contribution in the first 15 minutes.

The spectators were distinctly restive, addressing the batsmen in terms for which they were probably grateful they could not understand. At 22 Sutcliffe was very nearly caught at leg slip off Surti and then he hit Nadkarni for four to mid-wicket dangerously but turned the next ball beautifully for another four.

Morgan, scoreless for 40 minutes, hit Surti firmly through the covers to the boundary and the partnership realised 50 in 86 minutes. Further colour was brought to the batting with Sutcliffe timing a straight drive sweetly off Venkataraghavan for four. Out Leg Before Morgan began to show more freedom but lost his wicket as soon as New Zealand reached 200. Durrani bowled a rare full toss, Morgan swung eagerly but missed and was leg before.

The partnership with Sutcliffe was 61 in 104 minutes. New Zealand was in grave difficulties when Yuile turned Durrani straight to Nadkarni at leg slip. Sutcliffe, playing with more fluent touch, hit Venkataraghavan almost for a six with swift sure foowork and New Zealand won an unexpected bonus when the ball slipped from Durrani’s hand and lobbed high and wide on the off side. The umpire signalled a wide and Durrani, recovering the ball, threw it down in annoyance in the direction of the stumps and there were, two overthrows.

Pollard started nervously, and twice runouts were narrowly averted, but Sutcliffe went to 50 with a glorious square cut for four off Venkataraghavan. When the new ball was taken at 222 it should have been a moments relief for the New Zealanders, but a wicket soon fell at each end. Sutcliffe, cutting a short ball outside the off stump got the inside edge and was bowled. Then Jaisimha contrived to make one pop and Pollard was easily caught in gully. At tea, New Zealand had lost eight wickets for 232. INDIA First Innings 347 NEW ZEALAND First Innings T. W. Jarvis, b Durrani 9 G. T. Dowling, b Venkataraghavan ..29 B. W. Sinclair, b Venkataraghavan . 30 IJ. R. Reid, lbw, b Nadkarni 42 R. Morgan, lbw, b Durrani 39 B. Sutcliffe, b Surti .. 56 B. W. Yuile, c Nadkarni, b Durrani 0 V. Pollard, c Venkataraghavan, b Jaisimha 3 R. C. Motz, b Nadkarni 11 J. Ward, not out .. ..20 Collinge, not out ..20 Extras (8 byes, 7 leg byes, 3 wides, 6 no-balls) 24 Total for 9 wickets 283 Fall of wickets: one for 38, two for 58, three for 119, four for 139, five for 200, six for 200, seven for 227, eight for 227, nine for 254.

0. M. R. W. Jaisimha ..5 1 16 0 Surti .16 8 26 0 Durrani .. 32 14 47 1 Venkataraghavan 28 13 55 2 Nadkarni ..14 7 9 1