S.A. humbles England

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 34

S.A. humbles England

NZPA Adelaide England suffered a moraleshattering 32-run defeat bySouth Australia on the final day of their match at Adelaide Oval yesterday. Chasing the modest target i of 229 runs in 473 min on a ; good wicket in its second ininings, England was bundled lout for 196. i It was the first time that I South Australia had beaten an English touring team since 1925, and yesterday’s defeat was even more humiliating because of the lowly position which South Australia has occupied in Australian first-class cricket during the past three seasons. England’s defeat in its opening first-class match would have been even more devastating had not its two pace bowlers, John Lever and Chris Old, put on 68 and 67 for the ninth wicket.

When they came together! England’s total was a lowly 124 for eight, but they lifted it to 192 and had a fighting chance when Lever was yorked by the fast bowler, Rodney Hogg. The England fast bowler, Bob Willis, who had been unable to bat in England’s first innings or bowl in South Australia’s second innings because of blistered feet and an infected big toe, came out to partner the hard-hit-ting Old. But the courageous Old was out for 40 — the second-highest score of the innings — when he lay back and pulled a short, ball from the leg-spinner, Peter Sleep, to wide mid-on, where he was splendidly caught ankle-; high by lan McLean. Scores.— South Australia 311 (J. Nash 124) and 149 beat England 322 and 196 (D. Gower 50, C. Old 40; Sincock 3/28. Hogg 2/39).