Sensational Collapse, Indians Six For 41

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 15

Sensational Collapse, Indians Six For 41

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON.

The first day of the Indian cricketers’ match against the President’s XI ended sensationally yesterday with the tourists six wickets down for 41 in reply to the New Zealanders’ modest 202.

Within three overs, two wickets had gone to R. E. Sutton and one to N. A. Huxford. A short time later a catch off Huxford had the Indians fighting desperately, four down' for 16.

With 12 minutes to stumps, the spinner, J. M. Mclntyre, replaced Huxford, and with the fifth ball of of his first over had E. A. S. Jaisimha caught in slips.

G. E. Vivian came on at the other end for the last over of the day, and had the Nawab of Pataudi caught by J. W. Burtt from his first ball.

The Indians were all struggling and flashing at rising balls outside the stumps, but this could be attributed to the change of pace from the Australian wickets to the slower New Zealand pitches. M. J. Horton won the toss and elected to bat. He and his opening partner, B. A. G. Murray, were soon back in the pavilion with only 49 runs on the board, and by this time India had already brought on its spinners. Good Stand This brought the two young batsmen, Burtt and M. Burgess, together and they made their first 50 runs in 42 minutes. At lunch they were still together and the score was 102 for two wickets. In the afternoon the Indian bowlers dominated play. They took six wickets, while only 82 runs were added.

The President’s batsmen helped their own downfall by playing carelessly, and four were out to poor shots. The best of the batting came from M. Burgess, who, in his 42 runs, included six fours and one six. « Four For 70 When the innings ended at 202, E. A. S. Prasanna had the excellent figures of four wickets for 70 runs.

C. Borde, who captained the Indian side most of the day in the absence of Pataudi, who was off the field getting treatment for blistered hands, did an excellent job in rotating his bowlers. The medium-paced R. B. Desai had the creditable figures of three for 34 off 17 overs.

When the Indian innings began at 4.47 p.m., few could have predicted the dramatic

collapse. TJie President’s XI was chosen primarily for batsmen and it was thought that the bowling would let it down. R. E. Sutton opened the attack but five runs were taken off his first over, and so Huxford began his first over. With his first ball the wickets started tumbling when D. N. Sardesai edged one to second slip and Burgess made no mistake. Next to go was R. Surti, who played a good ball from Sutton on to his stumps and India was two for six. Engineer, who had looked fairly comfortable, spooned an easy catch from Sutton to Burtt at mid-wicket. Borde then went in similar fashion to Sardesai. Again it was Huxford the bowler and Burgess who completed the sequence. Pataudi began like an accomplished batsman and never seemed in too much

trouble. Jaisimha was battling to get off the mark, but never made it. He edged one off J. M. Mclntyre low into the slips where Murray dived to his right and took a brilliant catch low down. At the other end Sutton bowled Pataudi but it was a no-ball. For the last over G. E. Vivian came on. This first ball was short and Pataudi guided it to Burtt.