SECOND TEST SEEMS DOOMED Slow Progress On Third Day At Carisbrook

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 19

SECOND TEST SEEMS DOOMED Slow Progress On Third Day At Carisbrook

{From

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

DUNEDIN. It seems now that nothing can save the second test against the Australians from being quietly interred.

Although there was warm sunshine in the morning, the afternoon was again one of chilly misery, and half an hour was lost because of bad light.

To cheer the hardy spectator, there was another bright innings by B. R. Taylor, a good opening partnership of 84 for the Australians by Favell and Cunningham, a dramatic spell of bowling by Pollard; and from Yuile, one of the best displays he has given in an international match. The weather has blighted this match, and so has the pitch. On Saturday it seemed that it could help the bowlers sufficiently to set aflame a slow-smouldering sort of game. Yesterday there was turn, but it was fairly slow, and it was a difficult pitch on which to make shots, for fairly regularly the ball came through unhappily low. So now it seems the main interest may be in the struggle for the minor distinction of winning the firstinnings lead. Erratic Progress New Zealand’s erratic progress began with two wickets falling to bad balls. Pollard and Thomson made some circumspect runs until Favell, with the score 195, and 117 overs gone, took the new ball. Seven runs later, Freeman bowled a short one and Pollard was taken at second slip. Thomson was caught from a long hop by Connolly. He went back to hit through the off side but directed it straight and at amiable pace to Booth at cover. But these two had scored 67 together in 91 minutes, a useful ad- i vance. ; At 212 Yuile was well caught in the gully off Free- j man, so that New Zealand , had lost three for 26 in 40 , minutes. I But there was still Taylor, , and he began with a clear , indication that this was to be ' another of his days. He pushed the first ball he faced on to the covers and there was a single available with sharp running. But Bitmead over-ran the ball and Taylor had two. Then he swung Connolly and the ball flew to a tremendous height, as the leg slip raced back for it and Gleeson at deep fine leg ran in for it The ball landed between them, and the fieldsmen, unable to agree on a satisfactory working policy about its return, allowed Taylor to run another two. When he had nine, Taylor edged Connolly and Davies missed the catch in the slips. Useful Rule While Taylor thus made mockery of justice, Cunis, bat and pad together in decorous defence, played a very useful role. And soon Taylor was properly in his stride. There was a mighty hit for six off Connolly to mid-wic-ket and an on-drive for four off the same bowler. Taylor then turned his attention to Freeman, who had been bowling with considerable enthusiasm and most economically. He forced him to the mid-wicket boundary, pulled him for another four and then, all elegance, coverdrove for four. Taylor continued to play a merry melody but at 37 he might have been caught and bowled by Freeman, if the bowler had been able to leap

There had been a belief that wickets might fall quickly on a deteriorating pitch, but progress has been far too laboured for a result to be achieved. New Zealand went from 186 for four to 284; the Australians made 133 for four; and there can be little prospect of excitement today.

a little higher and hold a thunderbolt There was another four, from a pull, off Freeman before Taylor was deceived by a slower one and bowled. It was been another uninhibited display, and the partnership with Cunis brought 43 in 59 minutes, of which Taylor scored 38. In his 44 runs there were 34 in boundaries. New Zealand was not finished with Taylor’s dismissal. Motz struck two hearty blows off Bitmead for 12 runs, and Cunis, batting with much confidence and competence, picked up more useful runs before Harford was bowled by a full toss. New Zealand had taken 71 hours to make 284, but conditions had often been difficult, and there was some satisfaction in having topped the first innings total at New Plymouth.

' Freeman bowled with commendable energy, but he was a little flattered by his final figures. Connolly did not have the fierce flame which was within him on Saturday, but he again bowled very well indeed.

Bitmead, not turning the ball as he had on the second day, controlled length and flight admirably. Best Start The Australians made the best start of their tour, and they made it with an air of authority. Favell, batting with much more discipline than he had shown at New Plymouth, found little to worry him in New Zealand’s opening bowling, and then Cunis seemed to come comfortably on to the bat. Favell made some firm square cuts, on-drove handsomely, and picked up runs at a good rate. Cunningham, who plays the hook shot more willingly than well, was twice in trouble when Taylor pitched short to him, but Taylor was given only three overs at the start, and it seemed he was taken off a little too soon, for he was better able to get a little lift than the others. The score was 40 before Pollard came on, and he alarmed Cunningham deeply by turning the first ball across him sharply. Then Pollard made one jump and it came from Harford’s glove to give him a bloody nose. In Difficulties At 61, Yuile joined Pollard, and the Australians were again in difficulties against the bowling Which had beaten them in the first test Favell, playing very cor-

rectly, kept the left handed Cunningham away from Pollard for some time, but Cunningham, with fine foot-work, brought off some delightful off-drives off Yuile.

However, Yuile occasionally found that bat edge when bowling to the right-handers, and there was sufficient turn to furrow the Australian brow. When Favell' was 37, he should have been stumped off Pollard, but Harford lost the ball in his pads. He made a few more runs, with little apparent difficulty, but went well down the wicket to drive Pollard, was badly stranded and easily stumped. The opening pair has scored 84 in 111 minutes, a very good rate. Straight after tea, however, Pollard struck two more hard blows. Cunningham played all over one of ample length, and O’Neill, from a deflection

on to a pad, was superbly caught by Congdon at forward short leg. So, in 26 balls, Pollard had taken three for eight Burge, refraining from the massive swings across the line which had marked his batting against Pollard in the first test, played patiently and well and Booth also ap- ; plied himself diligently. Just Reward

They were together threequarters of an hour before Booth moved across his stumps to pull a shortish one from Yuile, but it came through low and took his leg stump, ft was just reward for Yuile. In the previous over Burge had hammered one back very hard and low to Yuile’s right, and a most difficult chance had been dropped. In the same over Booth was missed by Jarvis at slip when young Davies came in to play his first international. There were 15 scoreless minutes before bad light halted play

nearly half an hour after an appeal against it had been rejected. There was another 20 minutes of play after the break for light and Davies, who has a distinct tendency to play across the line, looked vulnerable against the spinners but just before stumps Pollard came off, after bowling 27 overs on end—another splendid performance. Yuile’s figures give a clear

indication of the respect he was accorded. His control of length and direction was excellent and none of the Australian batsmen was happy against him. New Zealand, notwithstanding the missed chances, looked an efficient and eager team in the field. Even the catches which went to ground were not expensive although Burge’s may become so. Cunningham was 44 when he pulled Pollard to Sinclair at mid-wicket, low and hard, but he made only one more run. Booth scored two more after being dropped, Favell only an additional eight. But that sort of luck will not last

Good Attack The New Zealand spin attack looked very good again, although the turn Pollard and Yuile obtained was not excessive. Yuile kept a fine line, flighted the ball confidently, and beat the bat fairly frequently. Pollard was all business again, and the Australians now have a healthy respect for the New Zealand spin pair, certainly when the pitch permits the ball to turn willingly. But yesterday the ball did not turn very quickly, save in that dramatic first over by Pollard. The New Zealand seam bowlers must be looking forward to the prospect of taking a full share of the burden in the Christchurch match. At New Plymouth and at Carisbrook, they have been little more than the preliminary boys before the main event.