Border aims for draw in fourth test

Press, 26 December 1984, Page 26

Border aims for draw in fourth test

NZPA-AAP Melbourne The best Australia could hope for was a draw in the fourth test against the awesome West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, its captain, Allan Border, said yesterday. ’W Australia eot off to a fine

Australia narrowly avoided the follow on with a courageous unbeaten final wicket stand on Monday and at the close of play was nine wickets for 281 in reply to the Windies’ first innings total of 479. The not out batsmen were Murray Bennett with 17 and Rodney Hogg on 12. The test continues today with two days play still scheduled. “We will try to hang on as best we can and when the West Indies bat again try and restrict their scoring,” Border said. “We couldn’t possibly hope to win. But we have lived to fight another day. Our ambition in thjs game is a draw.”

The West Indies yesterday enjoyed a Christmas lunch at a private home in Melbourne and were unavailable for comment. But the team manager, Wes Hall, said on Monday that the wicket-keeper, Jeff Dujon, had injured a ligament in his left leg but would be fit to play. On the third day, Dujon left the field limping in the afternoon session and was replaced behind the stumps by the versatile champion, Viv Richards.

Dujon returned in the final two hours with a heavily strapped leg. Border, like many Australian captains in recent years, was critical of the M.C.G. pitch but defended his reasons for sending the tourists in to bat first. “There are cracks that are starting to open up and you can move the surface of it in parts,” he said. “It’s a wicket that you should be able to stay in on but it is starting to play a few tricks. ■

“Although its a typical M.C.G. wicket, Lloyd would have sent us into bat on the first day. In the first session we hoped to pick up a couple of wickets but we didn’t.

“Against us I think it’s the quality of their bowling. They would pressurise the best of batting line-ups.”

Australia’s catching was once again woeful with four being put down in the first three days bringing the tally of dropped chances to 21 compared to the Windies’ six for the series.

“We should have done better,” Border said. “We’ve dropped far too many catches and in this game it has cost us about 80 runs.” Australia needed 279 runs to avoid the follow on and it looked beyond its reach when the ninth wicket fell at 253.

But Bennett and Hogg defiantly put on an unbeaten partnership of 28 in 45 minutes to temporarily steer Australia out of trouble.

Australia got off to a fine start on Monday morning when it resumed at one for 115 with Andrew Hilditch and Kepler Wessels putting on a partnership of 123 in 174 minutes.

After the pair were dismissed, things began to go sour for the home side with three wickets falling in the space of only two runs. Once again, the out of form former Australian captain, Kim Hughes, still could not get into the match and was dismissed after only two balls for a duck being caught behind by Dujon off the bowling of the speedster, Courtney Walsh. But the man who did the most damage for the visitors was the all-rounder, Malcolm Marshall. He initiated the collapse of the middle order and finished with four wickets for 76 from 29.2 overs. Scoreboard:— WEST INDIES First innings 479 AUSTRALIA First innings G. Wood lbw b Garner. . 12 A. Hilditch b Harper ... 70 K. Wessels c Dujon b Marshall 90 K. Hughes c Dujon b Walsh 0 A. Border c Richards b Walsh 35 G. Matthews b Marshall . 5 5. Rixon c Richardson b Marshall 0 M. Bennett not out 17 G. Lawson c Walsh b Garner 8 C. McDermott b Marshall 0 R. Hogg not out 12 Extras (nb2l, b 3, lb 7, wl) 21 Total (for 9 wkts) 281 Fall: 38, 161,163, 220, 238, 238, 240, 253, 253. Bowling.—M. Marshall, 29.2, 6, 76, 4 (lOnb, Iw); J. Garner, 22, 6, 71, 2 (8nb); C. Walsh, 21, 5, 57, 2 (3nb); R. Harper, 14, 1, 58, 1; V. Richards, 1,0, 9, 0.