Test to Aust.

Press, 7 April 1978, Page 24

Test to Aust.

NZPA Georgetown (Guyana)

A cricket series which had shaped up like a walkover became a contest yesterday as Australia beat the revamped West Indies team by three wickets in 75 minutes on the final morning. And today the Australians set out for Grenada, one of the most delightful islands in the Caribbean, convinced that they can win the series, 3-2, to retain the Sir Frank Worrell trophy. Bob Simpson, the 42-year-old hard-bitten veteran of 60 tests, could not bring himself to watch the final 75 minutes yesterday. While Steve Rixon and Trevor Laughlin were building a match-winning partnership of 48 in tire first hour, Simpson stayed inside the dressing room, stomach churning, and relied on scores relayed from the players’ balcony. He emerged just in time to see Bruce Yardley hit the winning shot, a lusty swing

forward of square leg for four to seal a gripping threewicket victory and rescue the series. “I’ve never known a test match to be so desperate,” he said. “It’s most unusual for me to be so nervous . . . it was so utterly vital I just couldn’t watch.” WEST INDIES First innings 205 Second innings .. .. 439 AUSTRALIA First innings .. 288 Second innings R. Darling c Williams b Clarke 0 G. Wood run out .. 126 D. Ogilvie lbw b Clarke 0 R. Simpson c Murray b Clarke 4 C. Serjeant c tub (Bacchus) b Phillip 124 G. Cosier b Phillip .. .. 0 S. Rixon not out .39 T. Laughlin c and b Parry • • 24 B, Yardey not out .. IS Extras (b 8 lb 4, w2, nb!6) 39 Total for 7 wickets 362 Fall: IL 13. 22 , 273, 279, 299, 338. Bowling.—S. Clarke 27, 5, 83. 3; N. Phillip 19. 2, 65, 2; V. Holder 20. 3, 55 0; D. Parry 17 1, 61, 1; S. Shivnarine 18, 2. 68, 0.