AUST. MAKES POOR START

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 14

AUST. MAKES POOR START

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PORT ELIZABETH. Put in to bat after the South African captain, P. van der Merwe, had won the toss, Australia made a disastrous start to its first innings on the opening day of the fifth and final test at Port Elizabeth yesterday.

Van der Merwe gambled on the green pitch and the heavy atmosphere helping his fast bowlers, was immediately rewarded when Australia lost three wickets for 27.

Resolute batting by I. R. Redpath and R. M. Cowper stemmed the collapse, and at lunch Australia was 71 for three.

The innings opened disastrously when W. M. Lawry was run out off the fifth ball of P. M. Pollock's opening over.

Simpson confidently turned the ball down the legside and the batsmen set off for what was an easy two runs. F. du Preez chased after the bail and scooped it back to E. J. Barlow, who was running close behind him. The Australian openers then decided on a fatal third run and Bartow’s return over the stumps enabled the wicketkeeper, D. Lindsay, to take off the bails with Lawry out of his crease.

Splendid Understanding

It was a superb throw by Barlow and a splendid piece of understanding with du Preez in the outfield.

Lawry made a disconsolate exit, without having faced a bail, and Australia was four for one.

In spite of its green-tinged look the pitch was not playing especially fast, and Simpson and I. Chappell had time to play their strokes. But after 19 minutes, Simpson was out to a poor stroke off P. M. Pollock. He sparred at a short rising ball and gave Lindsay a catch behind the wicket. Equalled Record

It was Lindsay’s twentyfirst dismissal of the series, equalling the most dismissals in a series between Australia and South Africa of R. Saggers (Australia), established in the 1949-50 series. Australia lost its third wicket with the total 27 after

47 minutes’ play. Chappell played defensively at a sharply-rising ball from M. Procter which bounded off the bat to short leg. A. Bacher dived forward and held the catch in his outstretched right hand. Cowper joined Redpath with Australia in its grimmest start of the series. He played tentatively at a Procter delivery and was lucky to escape an edge. Soon afterwards he went precariously dose to being run out, taking a single that brought Redpath his 1000 runs in first-class games on the tour.

Thirty-three runs in the first hour was the best the harrassed Australian batsmen could achieve, as play continued through a faint drizzle. Scores:—

AUSTRALIA

First Innings

R. B. Simpson, c Lindsay, b Pollock .. 12 W. M. Lawry, run out o I. Chappell, c Bacher, b Procter .. 11 I. R. Redpath, not out ... 24 R. M. Cowper, not out .. 22 Extras .. 2

Total (for 3 wkts.) .. 71 Fall of wickets; one for four, two for IT, three for 27. Bowling

0. M. It. .w. P. Pollock ..6 1 16 1 Proctor i.« 9 3 16 1 Trim born ..6 0 U ® Goddard ..6 0 10 0 Barlow .. 4 2 9 0