Rain-Ruined Second Test May Still Come Alive

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31317, 13 March 1967, Page 3

Rain-Ruined Second Test May Still Come Alive

(From R. T. BRITTENDEN) DUNEDIN. In terms of time, the second test seems destined to be drawn. Only 140 minutes’ play was possible on Saturday, and in that period New Zealand advanced its score from 111 for one to 186 for four.

But this match, which has dragged its slow length along through two damp and dreary days, may yet provide considerable excitement.

On Saturday, the Australian bowlers were able to do far more with the ball than they could achieve on Friday, and there are indications that the Carisbrook pitch, which used to be renowned for its lasting qualities, may deteriorate quite steadily. If that occurs, New Zealand is already in a very sound position. The batsmen were in all sorts of difficulties on Saturday, apart from those met in countering some very good Australian bowling. The light was not good for considerable periods, the sightscreens were again found to be inadequate and the fre-

quent breaks in play made particular demands on the batsmen. BREAKS IN PLAY The players left the field and returned so regularly that the playing periods seemed like the advertisement breaks in a television film on winter at Carisbrook. The seagulls held frequent conventions and scored heavily against the worms every time the tractor traced a path

to the pitch with the covers in tow.

The game could not be resumed until 2.35 p.m. and three minutes later rain drove the cricketers from the field. This break lasted 12 minutes. Then there was cricket until tea, 50 minutes of it. After the interval of 20 minutes, the game went on for another 50 minutes.

Bad light stopped play for nine minutes, and the Australians bowled for a further 25 minutes. Another break because of the light left only the last 10 minutes of the day for play. They provided New Zealand with one run—a no-ball.

But the Australians had their troubles, too. They did not want the game to resume when it did, because they felt the run-ups were too wet, but the fitness of the ground is in the hands of the umpires only. EARLY WICKETS

The Australians must have felt the cold badly, but at least they had the encouragement of some early wickets. Three batsmen went while only 15 runs were scored, but New Zealand’s fortunes were restored by a partnership between Pollard and Thomson which so far has added 51 runs. Even this success did not come without many narrow escapes, Thomson being in particular trouble for much of his innings.

It was hard going for the batsmen. Connolly from his short run, cut the ball back sharply from the off; Bitmead turned from leg, although on the first day he had been able to do very little off the pitch, and Gleeson also spun the ball quite alarmingly. The Australian batsmen might not have felt as much satisfaction as their bowlers at this turn of events.

DOWLING 100 MORE

There was a determined innings from Congdon, an adhesive one from Thomson, and one of much violence from Pollard. It had been plain sailing for the New Zealand batsmen on the first day, but they were in troubled waters as soon as they cast off again on Saturday. Dowling struggled desperately to score one run in 48 minutes before he was beaten off the pitch by Connolly. His 51 took his aggregate for the season to 699, and he now needs 100 more runs to beat the second-best total by a New Zealander in a home season.

Dowling outlasted Congdon, whose naturally aggressive instincts had to be firmly curbed. He did make one splendid hit, a straight drive for four off Bitmead, but he

tried the shot again to a ball pitched a little shorter and he was caught at extra cover. Dowling went at the same score and at 135, only 15 runs later, Sinclair was also forced back by a ball which cut through his defence.

Pollard and Thomson put their heads down, but after the first stoppage for light, there was a change of policy.

If New Zealand is to make a strong bid to win the match in the little time remaining, quick runs will have to be scored. But it is clear that Connolly is unlikely to be a source of batting revenue, so Pollard attacked the slow bowlers vigorously. POLLARD’S VIOLENCE

He was beaten occasionally, but his was a disciplined attack, save for one attempt to hit Bitmead out of the ground. So in the 26 minutes between interruptons for light, 31 runs were made. Pollard, who is as sharp a thorn in the Australian side as Taylor, straight-hit Bitmead for four, the product of convincing footwork, pulled him for four, and later, in an over from Gleeson, had a pulled drive for four and a tremendously strong pull for six.

The pair put on 50 in 58 minutes, compared with the 24 added in the previous 71 minutes. Thomson chimed in with two grand shots off over-pitched balls from Gleeson—a cover drive which sent the ball swiftly over the holding turf, and a pull of similar vehemence.

It was good to see Thomson beginning to score runs, but he was beaten with embarrassing regularity by Gleeson and Connolly. He had to bat in a very dull light for a long time, with Gleeson spinning the ball much more abruptly than might be expected of a pitch which has been in use little more than five hours. Gleeson, however, bowled enough loose ones to sustain the batsmen. Bitmead was tighter and bowled very well indeed. His flight is deceptive, the apparently over-pitched ball dropping quickly, and with his quite discernible turn from leg he had a little bounce. Connolly is the man who could thrust through the rest of the New Zealand batting if he can move the ball today as he did on Saturday. He was no-balled fairly regularly, but the rhythm of his attack was not affected. He frequently forced the batsmen back into their stumps, and worried them with his pace from the pitch and his movement off the turf. NEW BALL TODAY

He will no doubt take the new ball first thing today—already 113 overs having been bowled in the innings—and it should be an interesting morning. New Zealand will have to attack vigorously at one end.

Two aggressive batsmen are in possession, and they will be followed by Taylor, who must by now seem larger than life size to the Australians. Yuile, too, has an impressive record against the Australians. In four innings, he has made 127 and has been out only once. Motz and Cunis -are also capable of making useful runs —and they will no doubt be eager to get runs quickly or get out, because they must by now be showing a very keen interest in bowling on this pitch.