Victory assured in test for W. Indies

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 18

Victory assured in test for W. Indies

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PORT OF SPAIN. Fifteen balls from the West Indian maestro, Gary Sobers, changed the course of the first test against England at Queen’s Park Oval.

After M. H. Denness was run out for 44, Sobers in 2.3 overs dismissed D. L. Amiss for a test-best of 174, K. R. Fletcher for a duck, and F. C. Hayes for eight, and England, from the safety of 328 for one, were 342 for five.

L. R. Gi’ hen stepped in with the ts of A. W. Greig, C. M. Old, and P. I. Pocock, and after tea A. P. Knott and D. L. Underwood. Thus the M.C.C. was all out for 392, and the West Indies needed only 132 runs to win. At stumps, the West

Indies were 77 for one, requiring only 55 runs for victory. An almost incessant calyso rhythm beat out by jubilant spectators, accompanied the M.C.C. collapse. Nine wickets fell for 64 runs. The trouble for the M.C.C. started needlessly when Denness, the captain, was run out attempting an ill-advised third run to A. Kallicharran at cover. WORN PITCH WVKIN ruui The batting then fell apart as Sobers, bowling orthodox left-arm spinners, and Gibbs made splendid use of the worn pitch. Gibbs took the last five wickets at a personal cost Of nine runs. It was superb bowling, but undoubtedly England con- . , • 4. 0 spired in its own downfall with some faint-hearted batt j ng _ G. Boycott and Amiss, the England openers who shared a record unbroken stand ot 201, were parted after adding a further eight runs. Boycott was caught off Gibbs. After that Amiss who soon completed his fourth test hundred, and Denness shared a century stand, and it seemed that England was edging out

of danger. But from calm waters it suddenly found itself battling against a hurricane, scoresEngland First innings ..131 „ ? n , nin ss &bbS 1?4 Denness run out .. 44 Hayes b Sobers .. 8 a t^ ve b Sobers • • Knott c Rowe b Gibbs .. 21 Old c and 15 Gibbs 3 Pocoek c Fredericks b Gibbs 0 Underwood c Kanhai b Gibbs 9 R - v )Y‘ l . l 7 h , l ot , h o ? t nh ; Extras ,b s’lb 5 ’ Ib 5 > nb 10) “ Total 392 Fail O f wickets: 209. 328. 338, 338, 349, 366, 378, 378,391.392. Bowling.—Boyce, 10, 1, 36, 0; Julien, 15. 2, 48, 0: Sobers, 34, I s '. 54 - 3 i r Gi K’% S an- 1 5, p 08 a 6: Inshan Ah, 37. a. 99, 0; FrederickSj 10j 2 , 24, b- Lloyd, 3,1, 30. „ WEST INDIES First innings .. .. 392 R Frederi^ bn^1 t nn o m gs .. 49 l. Rowe c Hayes b Pocock .. 5 a', i. Kallicharran not out .. 21 Extras (ib 1, nb 1) ..J! Tota] for one wkt .. 77 of ; 15 , , . n 3 Pocock. 'io, 6, is? ?j underwood, 6, 1. 32, 0; Greig, 1, o, 4, o.