BOWLERS PUNISHED ON FIRST DAY Compensations For New Zealanders

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 17

BOWLERS PUNISHED ON FIRST DAY Compensations For New Zealanders

(From R. T. BRITTENDEN, N.Z.P.A. special correspondent) EASTBOURNE. As a shake-down exercise, the New Zealand cricket team’s first day against D. H. Robins’s XI at Eastbourne was not without its compensations, notwithstanding the ease with which the home team ran up 277 for five declared in 231 minutes.

Although he had a bad spell in the middle of his bowling, R. 0. Coliinge made a reasonably good start and it was encouraging to see him bowling with genuine pace near the end of the day.

D. A. Hadlee bowled within himself, but impressed spectators with his fine action and his useful speed. He might have had a wicket or two without being flattered. R. S. Cunis, perhaps the most thoughtful and soulsearching of the New Zealand bowlers, was pleased with the way he could move the ball, but he, too, failed to maintain an accurate line. As a reminder that on good

pitches wickets will have to be won with persistence and pugnacity, the day’s play can have done nothing but good. The fielding was not of the class expected of this New Zealand team, although a couple of fine slips catches were accepted. Field Placing The use of B. E. Congdon at slip throughout the innings —he was left in sole command when H. J. Howarth and M. G. Burgess bowled—suggests he may spend a lot

of time there on this tour, More often a gully in New Zealand, Congdon has the swift reaction to .make him a success in the slips. There seems no reason why New Zealand should nol score heavily on the second day, for if the conditions are not changed everything will be in the batsmen’s favour. Sadiq Mohammed, the youngest of four talented Pakistani batting brothers, took a splendid century from bowlers who all began well, but who lost their line after a few overs. They were hit vigorously by Sadiq, by the promising Cambridge University player, R. Knight, and by the former England captain, M. J. K. Smith. Sadiq, a little left-hander, drove, pulled and swept with skill and style after the first 20 minutes had yielded only two runs. Smith drove powerfully on the off side and for a while the New Zealand bowling was in tatters. Fast Scoring Sadiq made his 100 in 155 minutes and his partnership of 116 with Smith took only 77 minutes. He hooked Coliinge for a six after passing his century, and ran a five after -B. R. Taylor had run into some deck chairs and fallen. Twenty fours came in his smashing display.