Aust. Defeated Again: “Not A Disaster”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31237, 8 December 1966, Page 26

Aust. Defeated Again: “Not A Disaster”

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

EAST LONDON.

“It’s not a disaster,” said the Australian captain, R. B. Simpson, after his team plunged to its second defeat in its South African tour, yesterday.

“We deserved to lose but we can do a whole lot better,” he added.

The South African XI, led by the veteran T. L. Goddard, defeated Australia by 190 runs with 70 minutes to spare. The Australians collapsed in their second innings to be all out for 184 against keenedged South African bowling. I. Chappell, an unbeaten 47 at the finish, played a vain lone hand for the beleaguered Australians. Lost To Transvaal

Australia had suffered its first defeat of the tour when it was beaten by Transvaal by 76 runs in Johannesburg last month.

It was the best performance by a South African XI since the defeat of P. B. H. May’s M.C.C. side at Pretoria on the 1956-57 English tour. The South Africans, holding a lead of 374 runs, never lost its grip from the moment Simpson was dismissed for 12. W. M. Lawry and R. M. Cowper held the tourists together to push the total to 83. But then Australia lost five wickets in just over 50 minutes while adding only 38 runs.

Skilfully shuffling his speed and spin bowlers, Goddard put the Australian batsmen under steady pressure, while a wearing pitch and gloomy light

aggravated the Australians’ plight. The off-spinner, D. B. Pithey, was the chief destroyer with three for 28 from 19.4 overs. R. G. Pollock captured two late wickets with his legspinners and Goddard in a

persistent spell of nine overs, including six maidens, took two for 11. The Australian batsmen gave an intensely disappointing display and the tourists’ test prospects took another blow.