Storm Floods Test Wicket At Oval

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 19

Storm Floods Test Wicket At Oval

At lunch Australia was 86 for five with R. J. Inverarity on 31 not out and B. N. Jarman on 16.

Rain set in during the luncheon interval, however, to the dismay of the crowd of 8000.

A thunderstorm flooded the Oval today during the luncheon adjournment and within minutes the ground was a miniature lake. Under test match regulations the pitch itself was left exposed to the weather, and within minutes it was covered with water. Rain had previously rescued the Australians from critical positions in the second test at Lord’s and the third test at Edgbaston. It seemed that once again in the series rain would rescue Australia when the cause seemed lost.

In a 21-hour session of relentless English pressure bowling, Australia lost the wickets of I. Chappell (2), D. Walters (1) and P. Sheahan (24). Inverarity, who batted throughout , the session and enjoyed a “life” at 26, had batted 180 minutes for his 31 at lunch.

He was playing a staunch sheet-anchor innings.

Vital Break

D. L. Underwood secured a vital break-through for England in his second over when he moved a ball back to Chappell, appealed loudly for 1.b.w., and the umpire,

Mr A. Fagg, raised his finger. Chappell was out for two.

Walters was out for one in Underwood's sixth over of the day. The Kent left-hander bowled a brute of a ball which lifted chest-high and took the shoulder of Walters’ defensive bat to give Knott a sharp catch behind the wicket.

Underwood had captured two wickets for four runs, and Australia, four for 29 with only 40 minutes play gone looked to be plunging to defeat.

Sheahan pulled Underwood to the mid-wicket fence, then on drove him for a third boundary. Australia’s first 50 came in 103 minutes.

Sheahan’s partnership with Inverarity was worth 36 runs in 66 minutes. Illingworth, in his twelfth over of the day, broke this troublesome stand for England.

Sheahan tried to turn a spinner to the on-side but the ball lifted sufficiently to provide Snow, running in from short square leg, with a low catch.

Half Out With Sheahan’s departure, half the Australian side was out for 65, at 45 minutes before the luncheon adjournment.

Inverarity reached 30 with a pull for four against Underwood who had taken over from B. d’Oliveira.

Cowdrey called Snow back for the last over before lunch, and Jarman cut his opening delivery through the slips for four. Before Snow could bowl another ball the rain began and Jarman successfully appealed to the umpires. The rain became heavier soon after the players left

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON Australia lost three key wickets before lunch in its lastday uphill bid to save the fifth cricket test at the Oval.

the field and the ground staff spread canvas sheeting across the pitch, bowling approaches and surrounds. The weather looked distinctly gloomy and England’s worst fears of rain interrupting play in the afternoon seemed justified. ENGLAND First Innings >. 494 AUSTRALIA First Innings (319/9 . overnight) A. A. Mallett not out 43 A. N. Connolly b Underwood 3 Extras (byes 4, leg-byes 7, no-balls 4) 15 Total 324 Fall of wickets: one for 7, two for 136, three for 151, four for 161, five for 185, six for 188, seven for 237, eight for 269, nine for 302.

ENGLAND Second Innings C. Milburn c Lawry b Connolly .18 J. H. Edrlch c Lawry b Mallett 17 E. R. Dexter b Connolly .. 28 M. C. Cowdrey b Mallett ... 35 T. W. Graveney run out .. 12 B. L. D'Oliveira c Gleeson b Connolly 9 A. P. E. Knott run out .. 34 R. Illingworth b Gleeson . 10 J. A. Snow c Sheahan b Gleeson .. 13 D. L. Underwood not out .. 1 D. J. Brown b Connolly .. 1 Extras (leg-byes 3) 3 Total 181 Fall of wickets: one for 23, two for 53, three for 67, four for 90, five for 114, six for 126, seven for 149, eight for 179, nine for 179.

AUSTRALIA Second Innings R. J. Inverarity not out . 31 W. M. Lawry c Milburn b Brown 4 I. R. Redpath lbw b Underwood 8 I. M. Chappell blw b Underwood 2 K. D. Walters c Knott b Underwood 1 A. P. Sheahan c Snow b Illingworth .. 24 B. N. Jarman not out .. 16 Total (for 5 wkts at lunch) 86

Bowlin; M R W J. A. Snow 35 12 67 3 D. J. Brown 22 5 63 3 R. Illingworth D. L. Under* 48 15 87 2 wood 54.3 21 89 2 B. L. D'Oliveira 4 2 3 0

Bowling McKenzie [.. 4 0 14 0 Connolly 22. 2 65 4 Mallett p-. 25 4 77 2 Gleeson .7 2 22 2

Snow BOWLING 0 M R W 9.1 5 21 0 Brown 7 3 13 1 Underwood 21 11 36 3 Illingworth D'Oliveira 19 13 15 1 3 2 10