McKenzie keeps test HOPES FLICKERING

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 3

McKenzie keeps test HOPES FLICKERING

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

PORT ELIZABETH.

Australia’s flickering hopes were kept alive in the fifth test against South Africa on Saturday with one of lion-hearted G. D. McKenzie’s greatest performances.

South Africa buckled before McKenzie’s inspired bowling at a moment when it seemed poised to take a commanding first-innings lead. South Africa 220 for six, holds a 47-run lead with four first innings wickets still standing, including R. G. Pollock (67 not out). Three days remain, and the Australians, in spite of their first innings flop, could yet make a challenge for the match, and square the series at 2-2. A WEARY HERO When the players raced from the field in heavy rain an hour before the scheduled finish on Saturday, McKenzie was a weary hero: He had sent down 24 overs in which his pace never once slackened. And at a personal cost of only 42 runs he had whipped out five top Springbok batsmen. Even so, he suffered cruelly from dropped catches. In his first over after lunch, J. Martin and D. Renneberg dropped catches from the South African opener, E. J. Barlow. Undeterred, McKenzie warmed to a task that in the end earned him five wickets for 14 runs in his last 11 overs. His victims included D. Lindsay, who, with a tally of 605 runs behind him in the first four tests, was out for one this time. McKenzie lifted his career test wicket tally to 159 at the age of 25. On a slow-paced, green pitch, he showed amazing stamina with a 13-over spell after lunch that lasted 90 minutes, and turned the tide for Australia after T. L. Goddard and Barlow had given the Springboks a 112run start.

lock and H. Lance inched the score past the Australian total before Renneberg held an acrobatic catch to dismiss Lance.

Later, Pollock and his captain, P. van der Merwe, held out the rampaging McKenzie from further inroads until rain sent the players scurrying from the field. It had been the strength of the South African seam bowling which had upset the Australian batsmen on Friday, after van der Merwe had won the toss and put the tourists in. Australia struggled hard but never recovered from a disastrous opening when W. M. Lawry was run out before a run had been scored. AUSTRALIA

Total .173

Barlow played a battling innings, but Goddard was in his finest touch of the series, excelling with cuts, glances and some forceful drives. However, from 112 for none, South Africa slipped to 125 for three, but R. G. Pol-

Fall of wickets: one for 4, two for 17, three for 27, four for 89, five for 137, six for 137, seven for 137, eight for 137, nine for 173.

SOUTH AFRICA First Innings

Total (for 6 wkts.) .. 220

Fall of wickets: one for 112, two for 124, three for 125, four for 175, five for 201, six for 201.

First Innings R. B. Simpson, c Lindsay, b Pollock 12 W. M. Lawry, run out 0 1. Chappell, c Bacher, b Procter 11 1. R. Redpath, c Du Preez, b P. Pollock 26 R. M. Cowper, c Lindsay, b Trimborn 60 K. Stackpole, c G. Pollock, b Goddard 24 J. Martin, lbw, b Goddard 0 G. Watson, c Barlow, b Goddard 0 G. D. McKenzie, c Trimborn, b Du Preez 14 S. Taber, c Bacher, b Procter 20 D. Renneberg, not out 0 Extras (no-balls 5, wides 1) 6

Bowling M. R. w P. Pollock .. 17 2 57 2 Procter . 15 1 36 2 Trimborn .. 18 4 37 1 Goddard .. 10 3 13 3 Barlow ... 4 2 9 0 Lance 8 4 15 0 Du Preez . . 2 2 0 1

T. L. Goddard, c Taber, b .74 46 McKenzie E. J. Barlow Kenzie lbw, b McA. Bacher, c Taber, b MeKenzie 3 R. G. Pollock tt ot out 67 H. Lance, c Renneberg, b Simpson 21 D. Lindsay, c Redpath, b McKnezie 1 M. Procter, hit wkt, b MeKenzie 0 P. Van Der Merwe, not out 6 Extras (wide 1, bye 1) 2

Bowling W 0 a M. R. McKenzie .. 28 11 42 5 Renneberg .. 14 4 34 0 Cowper 16 7 23 0 Martin .. 17 64 0 Simpson . . 8 2 13 Watson . 14 3 42 0