West Indies Struggling

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 3

West Indies Struggling

GV.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON.

England finished in a strong position against the West Indies in the fifth and final test match at the Oval on Saturday.

England was all out I for 527, to gain a first ’ innings lead of 259, [ and at the close the ’ West Indies were 135 | for four. The West Indies, who have already clinched a winning 3-0 lead in the series with lone match drawn, now face a tremendous struggle to avoid defeat over the remaining two days of the game. From the start of the third day, England remained in control. 217-RUN STAND First, T. W. Graveney (165) and J. T. Murray (112) took their overnight eighth-wicket stand to 217 in just under four hours. Murray reached his first test century with a three to mid-wicket off C. C. Griffith before Graveney was run out (from the next ball. I Graveney, who batted six ’hours with 19 fours among ’his strokes, survived an l.b.w. appeal and half-heartedly set off for a run which was never there. L. S. Gibbs ran in quickly and whipped off the bails, as Graveney tried to regain his ground. Murray, whose 112 included 13 fours and lasted 264 minutes, went leg-before to G. S. Sobers as he tried to sweep shortly afterwards. MISSED RECORD Then came a last-wicket stand of 128 between K. Higgs (63) and J. S. Snow (59 not |out). I For both it was their highest score in first-class cricket and the partnership was only two runs short of I the world record tenthwicket stand in tests. Higgs, who hit a six and three fours, and Snow, whose strokes included eight boundaries, excelled with drives and pulls. Higgs gave a stumping chance early on and Snow was missed in the slips with the score 492. Otherwise they batted well, surviving against all six West Indies bowlers and a new ball before the left-handed Higgs gave a return catch to the leg-spinner, D. Holford. England's last three wickets added 361 runs—a recovery seldom known in test history.

When the West Indies batted again they lost the openers. E. McMorris and C. C. Hunte with only 12 runs on the board. Both edged catches to the wicket-keeper as they sparred at deliveries from Snow outside the off stump R. B. Kanhai was bowled by an off-cutter from B. D'Oliveira at 50. but B. F. Butcher and S. M. Nurse stood firm while 57 runs were added. Butcher, making strokes all round the wicket, reached 60 in only 87 minutes, with nine fours, before tamely pulling a full toss into midwicket’s hands. Holford came out as nightwatchman and stayed with Nurse until the end. when the West Indies still needed 124 runs to make England bat again.