Australia wins test with less than hour to spare

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33448, 1 February 1974, Page 28

Australia wins test with less than hour to spare

P 4 StajJ Correspondent)

ADELAIDE.

Not even a painstaking, unbeaten 71 by the captain. B. E. Congdon, i and periodic assistance from the unseasonal South Australian summer could prevent Australia from gaining an innings win over New Zealand in the third cricket test at the Adelaide Oval yesterday.

Congdon, with his highest score of the test series, battled his way to 71 in 260 minutes as he remained in the middle all day.

But it was of no avail ■ in the end, as the Australians gathered in the six wickets needed to give them victory.

The New Zealanders. Congdon in particular, fought dutifully to the end, but 'soon

after 5 p.m. local time, with only the 15 overs in the remaining hour to be bowled, the New Zealand rear-guard action ground to a halt. B. L. Cairns, like the other New Zealanders, tried to give Congdon support yesterday and was finally snared after 27 runless minutes in the middle. and it was all over for New Zealand. A total of 95 minutes was lost because of the rain yesterday in several breaks, sending the players scuttling to and from the field at regular intervals after lunch. Narrow squeak As things turned out it was a narrow squeak home for the Australians, for the rain set in again permanently 20 minutes after they had gained their match-winning wicket. Congdon said after the match that Australia had

i played particularly well in I tire third test, and deserved i its win as much as New Zealand had deserved to win I the washed-out second test. “I think it would be a little bit shallow if rain had saved us today to claim that justice ■ had been done for our not j having won the second test.” i he said. ‘■'Geoff Dymock. Kerry O’Keeffe and Ashley Mallett (bowled particularly well, and i O’Keeffe and Mallett were Sable to put spin pressure on ius which we weren’t able to [match.” Bowler* favoured Congdon said The Adelaide pitch had not provided east’ batting, and O’Keeffe and Mallett had exploited the variation in bounce and turn well. Dymock had also performed well, although the New Zealanders had been looking to get him away with O’Keeffe and Mallett at the other end, and they had consequently been dismissed. Morning play New Zealand continued on its downward slide after only 21 minutes yesterday morning when the overnight bats-

man, J. V Coney, edged Dymock on to the stumps before he had added to his total of 17. New Zealand, 98 for four; overnight, was 105 for five, and the fight was on in earnest, New Zealand taking only 16 runs off the first 10 overs. Dymock was rested after seven overs for 14 runs and Coney’s wicket, and K. J. Wadsworth did not last long against the O’Keeffe spin before he edged an attempted cut to the wicket-keeper, R. W. Marsh, ■ New Zealand was 130 for six and 143 for seven when D. R. Hadlee turned Mallett into the sure hands of G. S. Chappell at short forward leg. Congdon resolute Congdon, batting resolutely, was prepared to treat the low score with the disdain it deserved, and he several times lofted O’Keeffe and Mallett on the drive. R. J. Hadlee knew what to do also when Mallett dropped one short to him and the ball was sent sailing high over the mid-wicket fence for six. But they were only odd signs of aggression, and it was a day of largely solid defence and watchfulness for Congdon and his partners. Three lost The full 120 minutes of play was possible in the first session. But New Zealand was able to adyance its total by only 63 runs, off 32 overs, in that period for the loss of Coney, Wadsworth and D. R. Hadlee. R. J. Hadlee lasted only two overs from O’Keeffe after lunch before he tried a vicious cut outside the offstump but succeeded only in top-edging the ball to Marsh. I. M. Chappell persevered with his spinners, but when Congdon reached 50 after a 191-minute battle Chappell brought the fast-bowler back into the attack. New ball The new ball was taken with New Zealand 190 for eight. D. R. O’Sullivan, after battling his way to four off 47 deliveries became Dymock’s fifth victim of the innings when he was caught by I. M. Chappell.

When New Zealand was ninewickets down a running

battle began with the rain. An hour after lunch, 15 minutes was lost, then the players came back, Congdon played one ball from Dymock and they went off again. Tea was taken during one of the breaks, and when play was finally able to get under way again, New Zealand had slightly more than the final hour to last out. Congdon and Cairns posted the New Zealand 200 after six hours. Congdon’s contribution had been one of his typically determined innings of 69 runs.

Cairns caught The umpire signalled at 5 p.m. that there would be 15 overs after the one from Mallett, but it became a formality when Cairns, bamboozled by Mallett’s spin, prodded forward and the captain, I. M. Chappell, had won the test with the catch at second slip. Congdon was left 71 not out, and there were rousing cheers from those hardy souls who had spent an uncomfortable day watching the fight. Congdon’s unbeaten 71 was his highest score of the test series.