Cricket: Taylor kept waiting

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140-3

South Africa

THE Australian opener Mark Taylor was left needing to add one more run to his undefeated 63 to reach 1,000 runs in Test cricket during 1993 when rain and bad light brought the third day of the first Test against South Africa to a premature close in Melbourne yesterday.

Only 58 overs have been bowled so far, with Australia 140 for 3 in their first innings. The first Test meeting between the two countries since 1970 seemed set for a certain draw.

The left-handed Taylor was delighted with his form during a four- hour innings spread over three days because of poor weather. 'I have been moving my feet better and striking the ball well in this innings,' Taylor said.

Craig Matthews grabbed the day's only wicket when David Boon was bowled off the inside edge for 25 in the final over before lunch.

(Third day; Australia won toss)

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

(Resumed at 71 for 2)

M A Taylor not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 M J Slater c Kirsten b Donald. . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 S K Warne lbw b de Villiers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 D C Boon b Matthews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 M E Waugh not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Extras (b2 lb5 nb2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Total (for 3, 58.5 overs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Fall: 1-57 2-58 3-127.

To bat: M E Waugh, * A R Border, D R Martyn, I A Healy, P R Reiffel, T B A May, C J McDermott.

Bowling: Donald 17.5-2-54-1; de Villiers 20-4-46-1; Matthews 12-4-19-1; Cronje 5-3-11-0; Symcox 4-2-3-0.

SOUTH AFRICA: *K C Wessels, A C Hudson, W J Cronje, D J Cullinan, J N Rhodes, G Kirsten, D J Richardson, P L Symcox, C R Matthews, P S de Villiers, A A Donald.