Race For Runs

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30794, 5 July 1965, Page 3

Race For Runs

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ’.A.)

EDGBASTON, July 3. The enduring memory of New Zealand’s match with Warwickshire was the magnificence of the attacking batting on the last day on Friday—first from Reid and then from Barber, Ibadulla and Smith. All four of these players were in tremendous form but they had a stage on which to perform which was well nigh perfect for their art. On each morning of the match the Edgbaston pitch had just a little life and on it New Zealand rather struggled before lunch on the first and last days while Warwickshire was in tolls on the second day. Disappointing Failure

But each afternoon It played beautifully and this was all the more reason to regard New Zealand's failure on Friday after the departure of Reid with considerable disappointment. It was obvious after Smith's declaration the previous afternoon that he was inviting a New Zealand declaration and an exciting finish. But New Zealand should have been able to make Warwickshire's task just a little more difficult. When Reid was caught five were down for 185. Forty minutes later the innings was over. Yet these wickets were lost on a pitch which was perfection and against bowling which at one end was distinctly innocuous There was no excuse for the disastrous batting. The players did not seem to know whether they should try to hit every ball out of the ground or not, and there was a succession of dismal dismissals.

Pollard Sot Example All that was required of them was sensible batting such as Pollard showed. He picked up his runs easily and quite quickly by keeping the ball down and not playing extravagant strokes. It needed only 10 minutes batting and perhaps 15 more runs to make Warwickshire’s task a reasonably difficult one—and that must have put pressure on the county to throw their bats at the ball and perhaps lose wickets in the process. But as it was,

there was only one team In It at the finish. Scoring 198 for one wicket in 145 minutes, Warwickshire won with 10 minutes to spare. It was the first time in six tours that there has been a decision in New Zealand's matches with this county and there was no mistaking the quality of Warwickshire’s win. There were many strong and audacious strokes and astonishingly swift running for singles before New Zealand’s pace trio wilted under the pressure. After tea, Warwickshire scored 132 in 75 minutes from 18 overs. NEW ZEALAND First Innings, for 7 dec. 297 Second Innings G. T. Dowling, b Bridge .. 58 T. W. Jarvis, c A. C. Smith, b Brown .11 R. W. Morgan, lbw, b Brown 1 B. E. Congdon, c Bridge, b Cartwright .. 14 J. R. Reid, c and b Bridge 84 B. W. Yuile, c M. Smith, b Millar .16 V. Follard, not °“* ..22 R. C. Motz, c Jameson, b Bridge .. 5 C. E. Vivian, b Miller . 2 R. O. Collinge, c Cartwright, b Miller 1 F. J. Cameron, c A. C. Smith, b Bridge .. 0 Extras (leg-byes 5) 5 Total ..219

Fall of wickets; one for 29, two for 35, three for 64, four for 136, five for 185, six for 193, seven for 200, eight for 216, nine for 218.

First Innings, for 4 dec. 319 Second Innings R. W. Barbor, lbw, b Motz 37 K. Ibadulla, not out ..93 M. J. K. Smith, not out .. U Extras (byes 2, leg-byes 2. no-balls 3) ..7

Total (for 1 wicket) 198 Fall of wickets: ono for 6*.

Bowling 0. M. R. w. Brown .. 13 0 30 2 Cartwright 10 5 15 1 Miller .. U 51 3 Ibadulla .. 0 1 48 0 Bridge .. 12 J 1 56 4 WARWICKSHIRE

Bowling O M R W Matz .. M o’ 7* 1’ Cameron .. 13 0 M 0 Collinge • 0 07 0 Morgan .. 1 0 0 o Reid ». 0.1 0 0 0