FINAL TEST IN ABSORBING POSITION England 149 runs ahead; spinners on top

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32531, 15 February 1971, Page 24

FINAL TEST IN ABSORBING POSITION England 149 runs ahead; spinners on top

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY.

England made light work of eliminating its deficit of 80 runs on the first innings before being tied down by Australia’s accurate spin attack in the seventh, and final, test yesterday.

At the close of play on the third day, England was 229 for four in its second innings—a lead of 149—and was struggling to hold its one-match lead' over Australia.

When play continued yesterday morning, Australia, replying to England’s first innings total of 184, was 235 for seven.

The overnight batsmen, G. S. Chappell and D. Lillee, lasted only briefly, and Australia was all out for 264, having added 29 in 40 minutes. The openers, B. W. Luckhurst and J. H. Edrich, gave England’s second innings a solid start, putting on 94 in ■ 119 minutes. But when Luckhurst was out for 59, the Australian spin attack took control. Three to O’Keeffe The leg-spinner, K. J. O’Keeffe, dismissed Luck- : hurst, and shortly after tea (sent back Edrich and J H. I Hampshire. Both were caught

in the slips by the Australian captain, I. M. Chappell. At Hampshire’s dismissal, England was 165 fdr four, but Australia was denied a further break-through as B. L. D’Oliveira and R. Illingworth batted through until the close.

The pair put on 64 in 94 minutes for the fifth wicket, and will resume their stand tomorrow after a rest day.

Walters lucky

England’s hopes of bowling Australia out for under 200 on Saturday were dashed by a fifth-wicket stand of 81 in 108 minutes by K. D. Walters and I. R. Redpath, and a defiant innings by G. S. Chappell. Walters and Redpath came together with Australia struggling at 66 for four. Their partnership thrived on good fortune as Walters was dropped twice, at 16 and 27, and survived a confident appeal for a stumping off D. L. Underwood.

Walters appeared well out of his ground when the wicket-keeper, A. P. Knott, flicked the ball on to the stumps after it had bounced off Walters’s pad. The England players looked on in amazement when the umpire (Mr L. Rowan) gave Walters not out, but the Australian batsman added only one more run before offering another stumping chance off Underwood. This time there was no question he was out. Soon after Walters’s dismissal, Redpath also fell to Underwood after making 59 in 198 minutes. But England ■ gained only one more success, Illingworth having O’Keeffe caught at the wicket with the score 178.

G. S. Chappell was-62 not out at the close, but added only three more runs yesterday before falling to R. G. D. Willis.