Australians Fight Back In Test

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31277, 25 January 1967, Page 15

Australians Fight Back In Test

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

DURBAN.

The Australians slowly batted themselves back into the third cricket test against South Africa at Kingsmead on Monday.

Trailing by 153 on the first innings, Australia scored 185 for the loss of only two wickets before an appeal against the light was upheld 35 minutes before time for stumps to be drawn. The openers, W. Lawry and R. Simpson, put on 94 before Lawry was caught by the South African wicketkeeper, D. Lindsay, off T. Lance for 34.

Simpson plugged on to within sight of a century when the controversial umpire, Mr H. Kidson, gave him out lbw to Trimborn for 94.

With eight wickets standing, Australia had an over-

all lead of 32 runs with two days to play. Australia staged a grim day-long fight to get back into the game. The decision of the South African captain, P. Van der Merwe, to force the Australians to follow on appears so far to have misfired. Simpson was out once again to a controversial decision by Mr Kidson. Although he had advanced down the

pitch to drive the mediumpacer, P. Trimborn, Simpson was adjudged lbw.

He looked shocked by the decision and turned to examine the distance of his pad from the stumps before he walked briskly back to the pavilion. It was the third time in

succession that Mr Kidson has given Simpson out in the series—all debatable decisions. For the packed crowd it was a day of dour batting—the slowest of the tour—but the Australians earned admiration for the resolute way they fought to wipe out their big first-innings deficit. They succeeded with the loss of only Lawry’s wicket but then lost Simpson.

L Redpath (36) and R. Cowper (14) were together in a promising stand when bad

light ended play after the South Africans had called for the second new ball. Both P. Pollock and M. Procter bowled bouncers in the fading light with the new ball and the umpires promptly ended play for the day.

The scoreboard at stumps on the third day was: SOUTH AFRICA First Innings .. ~.300 AUSTRALIA First Innings ... 147 Second Innings Lawry, c Lindsay, b Lance 34 Simpson, lbw, b Trimborn 94 Redpath, not out .. 36 Cowper, not out .. .. 14 Extras .. 7 Total (for two wkts.) 185 Bowling

0. M. R. W. P. Pollock 9 2 24 0 Procter .. 14 4 34 0 Barlow 9 4 22 0 Trlmborn ..16 4 33 1 Pithey .. 19 9 32 0 Goddard .. 13 5 13 0 Lance .10 3 20 1

QUICK SUCCESS.—The South African opening batsman, E. J. Barlow (right), leaving the pitch after being caught and bowled by G. McKenzie off the first ball of the third cricket test against Australia at Durban. The jubilant Australian captain, R. B. Simpson, who put South Africa in to bat after winning the toss, runs from his position at first slip (upper left) to congratulate McKenzie.