Cricket: Wiles of Warne change shape of game
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Australians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .414-4 dec and 235-7 dec
Glamorgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .363-8 dec and 169-6
Match drawn
ALTHOUGH rain claimed 16 overs at the start of the day and 14 towards the end, there was still enough time for some more highly entertaining cricket and a good declaration by Allan Border. Australia were 235 for 7 when he called them in, leaving Glamorgan to score 287 in a minimum of 64 overs.
They lost a couple of early wickets, then saw Matthew Maynard and Adrian Dale blossom in a stand which began to suggest a Glamorgan victory. But once again Shane Warne changed the shape of the match and, when rain finally intervened, Glamorgan were 169 for 6 and glad of a draw.
Before all that we had the most hilarious cricket of the day when Merv Hughes took his score to 71 in the morning. The night before, various bets and incentives had been offered and Hughes stood to win pounds 30 from an Australian photographer for every six he hit yesterday. He was pounds 90 richer by the time he was out. He also stood to pick up pounds 100 from Border if he had reached a 100.
Paul Reiffel also completed a good 52 and the lunch interval was a convenient time to call a halt, leaving Glamorgan to score 4.5 per over if they were to win. But, in the fourth over, Hugh Morris mishit a square flash and was caught in the gully, in the next over David Boon took his second catch low to his right when James Williams failed to get over a lifter from Hughes.
Maynard came in to a great reception to mark his Test selection and sensibly did not try and bat as he had done in the first innings. It was a while before he off-drove Hughes for four and there was a further period of watchfulness before Reiffel was whipped off his body to the square-leg boundary.
Warne was now spinning and flighting the ball and he mesmerised and beat Maynard in a manner which will make the Australians less apprehensive of him at Edgbaston.
At 92, Maynard was yorked driving across Wayne Holdsworth and Warne then spun a beauty across Dale which found the edge. David Hemp again batted well before another prodigious leg break bowled him when he played no stroke. Soon after the rain began.
Tim May, the Australian off- spinner who suffered a slight hamstring injury at Neath, will have a fitness test in Birmingham before Thursday's Test match against England at Edgbaston. If he fails Mike Whitney or Jo Angel, both seam bowlers, could be called up.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments