Test poised for thrilling finish

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 30

Test poised for thrilling finish

NZPACorrespondent Birmingham If the extraordinary events of the third Test at Headingley had not occurred, Australia could be confidently taken, to win the fourth test sometime today. As it is, the match is poised on a knife-edge, with Australia requiring 142 runs to win with nine second innings wickets standing. In more normal circumstances, the task should not be beyond Kim Hughes’s team. But this Ashes series has turned over so many predictions that nothing can now be taken for granted.

Indeed, there was an uncomfortable feeling of deja vu as the Australian openers, John Dyson and Graeme Wood, walked out to face what promised to be a hairraising 40 minutes before stumps. With the crowd baying at his heels, and the adrenalin pumping through his 32-year-old limbs, Bob ’ Willis launched England’s counterattack in much the same way he did at Headingley, where his eight wickets sent Australia to defeat by 18 runs when they were set an even more modest target of 130.

However, it was Chris Old who sank the first dagger when he had wood lbw for two with the innings less than 10 minutes old.

Dyson somehow survived a searing "second over from Willis. But only just.

Twice he squirted the ball up on the leg side from desperate defensive shots, and each time it fell tantalisingly close to Mike Gatting, lurking at his hip.

ENGLAND First innings 189. Second innings

G. Boycott c Marsh b Bright 29 M. Brearley lbw Lillee ... 13 D. Gower c Border b Bright. 23 G. Gooch b Bright ...... 21 M. Gatting b Bright 39 P. Willey b Bright . 5 I. Botham c March b Lillee . 3 C. Old c Marsh b Alderman . 23

J. Emburey not out . . 37 R. Taylor lbw Aiderman . . 8 R. Willis c Marsh b Alderman 2 Extras (lb6, wl, nb9). . 16 Total 219 Fall: 18, 52, 89, 98, 110, 115, 154, 167, 217. Bowling: 0 M R W D. Lillee 26 9 51 9 Aiderman 22 5 65 3 R. Hogg 10 3 19 0 R. Bright 34 17 68 5 AUSTRALIA First innings 38 J. Dyson b Old 1 A. Border c Taylor b Old . 2 R. Bright lbw Botham. 27 K. Hughes lbw Old. . . 47 G. Yallop b Emburey . 30 M. Kent c Willis b Emburey. 46 R. Marsh b Emburey . 2 D. Lillee b Emburey. . 18 R. Hogg run out 0 T Aldnrman nnt nut . . 3 Extras (4b, 191b, 21nb). 44 Total 258 Fall: 5, 14, 62, 115, 166, 203, 220, 253, 253. Bowling O R W R. Willis 19 3 63 0 C. Old 21 8 44 3 Emburey 26.5 12 43 4 I. Botham 20 1 64 1 Second innings J. Dyson not out .... 5 G. Wood lbw Old ... . 2 A. Border not out. . . . 2 Extras 0 Total for 1 wicket . . . 9 Fall: 2. Bowling: O M R W R. Willis 5 1 6 0 C. Old 3 2 9 1 Emburey 1 0 1 0