HUNTE HAS NO MERCY WITH TEST BOWLERS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 19

HUNTE HAS NO MERCY WITH TEST BOWLERS

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

MANCHESTER.

A masterly innings of 135 by C. C. Hunte and an unbeaten 83 by the captain, G. S. Sobers, gave the West Indies a splendid start to the 1966 test series against England at Old Trafford yesterday.

At the close, the free-hit-ting West Indians, at one time 42 for two wickets, were 343 for five.

Three years ago, Hunte scored 182 on the same ground in the corresponding match which led the way for Sir Frank Worrell’s team to win the rubber.

By his superb performance yesterday, Hunte may well have put this year's team on the victorious trail again. England toiled after Its early successes as the West Indies made the most of winning the toss. They played gay cricket from the moment Hunte cut the first ball of the day to the boundary. Watchful in defence, Hunte, with his compact Stance, had

no mercy on the half-volley or anything short. He cut, hooked and pulled with equal certainty off the back foot, and when the ball was well up to him he went forward and drove straight with graceful ease. He batted five hours and hit 19 fours before being brilliantly caught by M. G. K. Smith at short leg. Hunte had one narrow escape. In the fifth over, when he was seven and the total 10, he hooked I. J. Jones high, but Higgs lost sight of the ball against the dark background of spectators and was too late when he shot out his right hand near the boundary. Hunte’s innings paved the way for a West Indian recovery after Higgs had captured two wickets in the space of four runs, to make the tourists 42 for two. He shared a third-wicket stand of 74 with B. Butcher,

a fourth partnership of 99 in. 86 minutes with ,S. M. Nurse, and a fifth stand of 68 in 58 minutes with Sobers. Sobers was at his brilliant best. He took only 68 minutes to reach his 50, which included nine fours. He lashed the tiring England bowlers in the last hour, going from 33 to 83 in that time. His 83 included 15 boundaries.