Australia struggles to stay in test against W. Indies

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 32

Australia struggles to stay in test against W. Indies

NZPA Brisbane Australia struggled to stay in the first test at Brisbane yesterday as the West Indies piled on a 173-run lead on the first innings at the Gabba Oval. The West Indies were dismissed for 441 — 20 minutes after tea — in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 268. At stumps Australia’s openers, Rick McCosker and Bruce Laird had survived an uncomfortable period posting 30 runs without loss. The giant West Indies fast bowler, “Big Bird” Joel Garner. gave the Australian attack a hiding smashing 60 runs in an unexpected late stand which kept Australia’s back to the wall. Garner hit four sixes and three fours in his booming innings which saw Colin Croft set a new last-wicket record stand for the West Indies against Australia. - Earlier, Viv Richards continued to overcome his crippling groin injury to take his score from 80 overnight to 140. Richards and Lawrence Rowe made the Australian bowlers sweat, in the heatwave conditions as they quickly added 119 runs far the fourth wicket. Rowe finally went, clean bowled by Greg Chappell for 50, but Richards continued his tempestuous driving and pulling to nonplus the Australian fast battery.

' Richards's great innings finally ended when the Australian wicketkeeper. Rod (Marsh, threw himself foriward td pick up a faint ■snick from the bowling of >'Denis Lillee. i The ever-threatening LilIce finished with Australia’s [best figures of four for 104 [in a sustained display of I fast bowling in very adv'erse [conditions. I He and Jeff Thomson j (3/90) gave Australia some 1 hope with quick wickets ■ after Richards had been dismissed. But Garner put a damper on Australia’s refreshed enthusiasm with his carefree display that put Australia’s j chances of getting back into! the match almost out of reach. [ Marsh figured in five dis-[ I missals and at one stage appeared to have equalled the; [record for an Australian keeper of six. I That happened when he[ istumped Holding off the; [bowling of the spinner, Rayj (Bright, but the umpires' I ruled Holding had been! [bowled before the ball! [reached Marsh. Marsh later admitted his stumping of Holding was a “reflex action.” “I saw the ball had hit the wicket and one bail had been knocked off. But the batsman was out of his ground and I automatically stumped him,” Marsh grinned. It was a grim McCosker

i and Laird who came cntt to • | open Australia’s second ini nings with heavy cloud building up rapidly around lithe ground. The West Indian fast men sought to gain an early ■ breakthrough but the Australian pair battled on and I were uncctnquered when an appeal against the light was ■ upheld. With two days remaining, Australia is fighting to stave off defeat and it goes into the fourth day tomorrow still facing a deficit of 143 runs. AUSTRALIA i First innings •. 263 Second innings R. McCosker not out .. 25 B. Laird not out 5 Extras 0 Total <for no wicket) 30 Bowling.—M. Holding, 3, 0. 18, 0; C. Croft, 1. 0. 6. 0. WEST INDIES First innings D. Ilavnes c Marsh b Thom son 42 G. Greenidge c Marsh b Lillee 34 IV. Richards c Marsh b Lillee 140 ;A. Kallicharran c Marsh b Thomson . 38 IL. Rowe b Chappell 50 C. King c Marsh b Lillee 0 ID. Murray c McCosker b Thomson 2! |A. Roberts run out 7 iJ. Gardner lbw b Lille© 60 M. Holding b Bright 11 C. Croft not out 2 Extras tnb2B, b 5. Ib3) .. 38 Total 441 Fall: 68. 93. 198. 317. 317, 341, 365 366. 385. Bowling.—D. Lillee. 29.1, 8. 104, 4; R. Hogg. 25, 6. 55, 0; J. Thomson. 24 4. 90. 3; R. Bright, 32, 9. 97, 1: G. Chappell, 12, 2, 25, 1; A. Border, 5,1, 19, 0; D. Hookes. 5,2. 15, 0.