Record Partnership But England Wins

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31461, 30 August 1967, Page 17

Record Partnership But England Wins

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. England beat Pakistan by eight wickets on the fourth day of the third and final test at the Oval yesterday to win the series 2-0 with one match drawn.

Asif Iqbal, the 24-year-old Pakistan allrounder, scored a glorious 146 in a world record ninth-wicket stand with Intikhab Alam (51) to delay England’s win.

The match had seemed likely to end before lunch until Asif and Intikhab came together at eight for 65 but even their partnership of 190 in 170 minutes could not save Pakistan from defeat. Asif’s 146 came in three hours 10 minutes and included two sixes and 21 fours. England’s task of making 32 to win was made difficult by the tireless Asif who dismissed the captain, B. Close, and his fellow opener Colin Cowdrey before England scrambled to victory. Test cricket can rarely have seen a maiden century to equal Asif’s. He immediately launched

a counter-attack full of blazing strokes, including a six into the pavilion off F. Titmus and another pulled wide of mid-wicket, to ensure that Pakistan would avoid being dismissed for less than 87— their lowest score against England, at Lord's in 1954. His hitting was clean and powerful and left-arm bowier D. Underwood, was pulled and straight-driven with strokes which left the fielders helpless. Intikhab, also no mean striker, contributed only eight of the 50 runs added in 41 minutes and at 8 for 121 at lunch this defiance still looked merely a final flourish. The previous Pakistan ninth-wicket record was passed soon after lunch and then the introduction of K. Barrington’s leg-spin speeded the scoring again as Asif crashed him through the covers for two unstoppable fours.

Asif reached his century in two hours 20 minutes with his fourteenth four and was immediately overwhelmed by 100 Pakistani supporters who swarmed on to the pitch to congratulate him.

Asif’s driving grew more ambitious and powerful and Intikhab chipped in with a four which ensured that England would have to bat again. When he was dropped by K. Higgs, off Titmus, on 46 it seemed that England might be forced into a fifth day. But Close took a spell with the ball for the first time in the innings and in his first over drew Asif down the pitch and A. Knott took a brisk stumping. Asif was applauded all the way back to the pavilion.

When England began its reply, Asif knocked out Close’s off stump at 17 and had C. Cowdrey caught at mid-on three runs later. He should have had D. Amis caught at slip at the same score before England clinched its win.

After the match Close said of Asif's innings: “You will never see a much better knock than that one. It was glorious. Until he started I thought the match would be

over by lunch. He hit some great strokes.”

The Pakistan captain, Hanif Mohammad said: “It was an extraordinary innings. Few people could have reacted to the situation in the way that Asif did and to think that he has been troubled by knee and thigh injuries for most of the tour!”