Rain puts paid to M.C.C.

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33493, 26 March 1974, Page 22

Rain puts paid to M.C.C.

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) GEORGETOWN. England’s bad luck in the present test series against the West Indies has continued—the first major intervention by the weather came at the moment the M.C.C. least wanted it.

For the first time it had the West Indies on the run and there was just an outside chance of it taking the match. Now, with only two days remaining, a draw looks inevitable and the West Indies will almost certainly go to Trinidad for the fifth and final test later this week with its 1-0 lead intact. When the rain stopped play on Sunday the West Indies was 110 for two in reply to England’s 448 and the batsmen out were its two most prolific scorers, L. G. Rowe and A. I. Kallicharran. Rowe, who scored 302 in his previous confrontation with England, was out for a ponderous 28 when he chopped a ball from A. Greig on to his off stump and Kallicharran was bowled by the off-spinner, J. Birkenshaw, playing across the line. When play was abandoned for the day, R. Fredericks, who batted soundly for 58

not out, and his captain, R. Kanhai, were cautiously rebuilding the West Indian innings. TIGHT BOWLING England kept a tight hold on the game throughout the restricted day, even though the pitch gave it limited help.

G. Arnold started with an admirable spell of seam bowling in which he conceded only 17 runs off 10 overs and passed Rowe’s bat at least six times and D. Underwood and Greig tied the- batsmen down. There is still some hope for England if it can break through quickly when play resumes today after the rest day, but the odds must be heavily in favour of a draw.

This would mean the fifth test being extended to six days and there can be little doubt that on the unpredictable Queen’s Park Oval pitch this would give ample time for a result.

ENGLAND First innings .. 448 WEST INDIES First Innings R. C. Fredericks not out .. 58 L. G. Rowe b Greig .. 28 A I. GaUicharran b Birkenshaw 6 R B. Kanhai not out .. 11 Extras 7 Total for two wickets 110 Fall of wickets.—73, 90. Bowling.—Arnold, 10, 5, 17, 0; Old, 8,2. 22, 0; Underwood, 8. 2, 18, 0; Greig, 15, 5, 32, 1; Birkenshaw. 8,2. 14 1.