M.C.C., Tasmania draw

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33741, 14 January 1975, Page 14

M.C.C., Tasmania draw

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) HOBART (Tasmania). M.C.C. and Tasmania inevitably drew their three-day match in Hobart. M.C.C.’s rare bowlers, Brian Luckhurst and David Lloyd, saved the embarrassment of Tasmania overtaking the M.C.C.’s first-innings total of 204 for four declared when they claimed three wickets in the final two overs. Tasmania was 189 for five at the end of the match after an aggressive 154-run, thirdwicket partnership between Stephen Howard, an accountant, and Jim Wilkinson, a law student. The match was certain to end in a draw after the first day’s play and yesterday’s pre-lunch session had' been washed out by rain. With two overs left Tasmania was 186 for two, with Howard and Wilkinson in complete control of the bowling. They began to lash out in an attempt to be the first Tasmanian side to ever lead M.C.C. on the first innings.

Liickhurst, bowling leftarm spin, had Howard caught by Dennis Amiss in the covers for 69, and in the next over Lloyd tempted Wilkinson to hit & high catch

to Geoff Arnold at long-on to be out for 79 off the last ball of the match. The last three Tasmanian wickets fell for only three runs. Howard and Wilkinson came together after lunch with Tasmania 32 for two, after losing the opening batsmen—Bruce Doolan and the Pakistani test player, Sadiq Mohammad—without addition to the score. M.C.C. had resumed its innings at 178 for two, and immediately lost its captain, Mike Denness, in the first

over, before he could add to his overnight score of 42. Colin Cowdrey followed four overs later for the addition of only two runs. Both wickets went to the Tasmanian fast .bowler, Gary Whitney. Keith Fletcher and David Lloyd batted out the remainder of M.C.C.’s innings when only 26 runs were added in the 65 minutes before Denness declared. Scores:—

M.C.C. 204/4 dec. <D. Amiss 32, Luckhurst 59, Cowdrey 38. Denness 42; Whitney 2/22), Tasmania 189/5 (Wilkinson 79, Howard 69).