West Indies in strong position in cricket test

Press, 3 December 1979, Page 6

West Indies in strong position in cricket test

NZPA Brisbane. Tlie West Indies batsmen had blazed their way to a commanding position by stumps on the second day of the first test against Australia at the Gabba Oval at Brisbane yesterday. Replying to Australia’s first innings total of 268, the West Indies were 233 for three with Viv Richards not out 80 and Laurence Rowe not out 14. Richards, in pain with a severe groin injury, led the onslaught with a series of blistering boundaries that had the Australian fast attack wincing as the tourists’ total raced past 200. Australia’s hopes of an early breakthrough dimmed when the openers; Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge. quickly overcame the pace of Denis Lillee, Rodney Hogg and Jeff Thomson to oost 63 before being separated. Another near capacity crowd crammed into the "Gabba” in sweltering conditions at the start of pla v to see Australia’s last five wickets crumble in the first 80 minutes. Australia. 199 for five overnight, was bundled out for 268, the last five wickets adding only 39 before the hostile West Indies fast attack. Australia’s big disappointment

was David Hookes, S 3 not out overnight, and looking a real threat. But the left-hander could only add another 10 before being caught from a mis-hit pull shot. Joel Garner was the West Indies’ most successful howler with four for 55 from 22 hostile overs, while Colin Croft (three for 80) and Andy Roberts (two for 50), helped in the mopping up operation. The West Indian batsmen set about their task with relish, putting on 133 between lunch and tea from only 25 overs, losing Haynes 42, and Greenidge 34, In the process. Richards and Alvin Kalllcharran kept up the run rate until Australia’s skipper. Greg Chappell, introduced Ray Bright into the attack. Richards, restricted in his movements, was unable to get down to the Australian spinner, but he and Kallicharran still managed to put on a whilrlwind 100 in 110 minutes before Kallicharran went 50 minutes before stump s for 38. AUSTRALIA First innings B. Laird e Murray b Garner 92 R. McCosker c Kallicharran b Croft .14 A. Border c Murray b Garner 1

G. Chappell c King b Roberts 74 K. Hughes b Croft .. 3 D. Hookes c Holding b Croft 43 R. Marsh c Murray b Gamer 3 R. Bright b Holding . 13 D. Lillee lbw b Gamer .. 0 R. Hobb b Roberts .. .. 8 J. Thomson not out o Extras (bl. Ib4, nbl2) . 17 Total ~ .. .. 268 Fall: 19. 26, 156. 174, 228, 242, 246. 252, 268 268 Bowling.—A. Roberts. 18.1. 5, 50. 2; M. Holding, 16, 3. 33 I; C. Croft, 25, 6. 80, 3; .1. Game:, 22. 5, 55, 4; C. King, 5,1, 13, 0. WEST INDIES First innings D. Haynes c Marsh b Thomsen 42 G. Greenidge e Marsh b ~ J- 111 ** 34 V, Richards not out . . . 80 A. Kallicharran c Marsh b Thomson .. 38 L. Rowe not out 14 Extras <b4. Ib2. nbl») . 25 Total for three wickets 283 Fall: 68, 93 198. Bowling.—D. Lillee, 14, J, 74, 1; R. Hogg, 12. 5, 18, 0; J. Thomson. 11, 0. 56 2; R Bright. 18, 6, 45, 0; G. Chappell, 2,0, 8 0; A. Border, 2,0, 7. 0.