Bynoe Defies M.C.C. For 4hr To Force Draw

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31615, 28 February 1968, Page 17

Bynoe Defies M.C.C. For 4hr To Force Draw

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRIDGETOWN. Four hours of defiance by the opening batsman, R. Bynoe, enabled Barbados to hold the M.C.C. to a draw after followingon on the final day of the four-day match.

A fourth - wicket stand of 91 in even time between Bynoe and G. S. Sobers revived Barbados after it had seemed to be heading for defeat soon after lunch. But Bynoe's sheet anchor innings ensured that Hutton's 1953-54 touring team remained the only M.C.C. squad to beat Barbados. Hutton’s team won by one wicket

Bynoe was joined by S. M. Nurse, who scored a century in the first innings, 65 minutes before the close. The experienced Nurse took his cue from the younger Barbados batsman and contributed only seven runs in their unbeaten stand of 21 for the fifth wicket.

Barbados was three for 37 shortly after lunch when Sobers came to the wicket. J. Shepherd, P. Lashley and D. Holford had gone cheaply, but Bynoe settled down and ventured nothing except stubborn resistance and Sobers, after two narrow escapes, stood firm until after tea. But no team can afford to

drop Sobers, as England had found out in the second test. He was only seven with the Barbados total 46 when the wicket-keeper, A. Knott, missed him off d’Oliveira. P. Pocock was guilty of the second error when he failed to collect a hard return drive above his head with Sobers 31 and 90 runs on the board. Sobers was never completely happy and was clearly anxious to “get after” Pocock to establish his superiority be-

fore the third test starts tomorrow, but the young offspinner again bowled intelligently and was not mastered. Sobers was eventually out to a fine return catch by d’Oliveira and R. Brancker was run out soon afterwards, but Bynoe and Nurse held out to the end. Scores: M.C.C. 578/5 dec., Barbados 276 (S. M. Nurse 144; P. Pocock 5/84, D. Higgs 3/77) and 161/5 (R. Bynoe 64 not out, G. S. Sobers 56).