England still struggling to save test

Press, 29 November 1982, Page 42

England still struggling to save test

NZPA . Brisbane England’s batsmen, boosted by three, dropped catches, were still left struggling to save the second test against Australia at the Brisbane Cricket Ground yesterday. When play ended early because of bad light, England’s second innings had reached 71 for one and the tourists still trailed by 51 with two days play remaining. England’s position could have been much worse. Graeme Fowler, not out 31. was dropped at 21 in a juggling attempt by Kim Hughes which a diving David Hookes just failed to save. Then David Gower, not out 5, was put down by Bruce Yardley in the gully from a straight forward chest-high catch when three.

Fowler also escaped when he was caught off a no ball from Lawson, one of the 19 sent down in their 25 overs by the Australian pace trio.

Earlier Australia’s new batting star, Kepler Wessels, carried his overnight 105 to 62 before he was the last an dismissed when bowled y Bob Willis. . Wessels batted for more than 7% hours. in a determined .display that held the Australian innings together after it had threatened to collapse at several stages. . His innings. included .17 ours arid .the former South African left-hander said later it was the hardest century he had ever endured. Australia’s No. 8, Bruce Yardley, shared the second top score with Greg Chappell when he reached 53 and the Australian innings ended at 341 with a lead of 122 over England:

Bob Willis; England’s fast bowling captain, was the tourists’ main strike force and he took the four wickets that fell yesterday to. wrap up the Australian innings. Willis’s figures of five for 66 from 29.4 hostile overs was easily the most impressive, although lan Botham at times swung the ball disconcertingly and he finished with three for 105. Geoff Miller, the off spinner, was England’s other wicket-taker with one for 35 from 19.3 economical overs. ENGLAND First innings 219 Second innings C. Tavare c Marsh b Lawson 13 G. Fowler not out 31 D. Gower not out 5 Extras (nb 19, lb 3)... . 22 Total for one wicket 71 Fall; 54 (Tavare). Bowling 0M R W G. Lawson 9 3 17 1 C. Rackemann 9 2 23 0 J. Thomson 7.4 3 9 0 B. Yardley 22 0 0 AUSTRALIA First Innings K. Wessels, b Willis 162 J. Dyson b Botham 1 A. Border c Randall b Willis 0 G. Chappell run out ..... 53 K. Hughes c Taylor b Botham 0 D. Hookes c Taylor b Miller. 28 R.. Marsh c Taylor b Botham 11 B. Yardley c Tavare b Willis 53 G. Lawson c Hemmings b Willis.... ... 6 C. Rackemann b Willis ... 4 J. Thomson not out 5 Extras (lb 8, nb 8, b 2). . 18 Total 341 Fall: 4, 11, 94, 99, 130, 171, 271, 310, 332, 341. Bowling 0M R W R. Willis 29.4 3. 66 5 I. Botham 22 1 105 3 N. Cowans 6 0 36 0 E. Hemmings 33.3 6 81 0 G. Miller 19.3 4 35 1