40 MINUTES TO COMPLETE VICTORY India Loses By 167 Runs; N.Z.’s Sixth Test Win

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 19

40 MINUTES TO COMPLETE VICTORY India Loses By 167 Runs; N.Z.’s Sixth Test Win

(From R. T. BRITTENDEN, N.Z.F.A. special correspondent)

NAGPUR.

It took New Zealand only 40 minutes yesterday morning to capture India’s last three wickets and win its first test overseas in seven years, its sixth in the 91 it has played, but its third in the last four series. India, resuming at 86 for seven and still needing 191 runs to win, added only a further 23 and was all out for 109, leaving New Zealand victorious by 167 runs.

It was a proud group iof players who saw their {captain, G, T. Dowling, {garlanded by admirers las he led his team from the field, after New Zealand’s first win in India in 11 tests.

F. M. Engineer, despite his injured leg, made some good strokes, but the Indian captain, the Nawab of Pataudi, had difficulty with H. J. Howarth and had added only one when he was out leg before to the New Zealand lefthander.

Two runs later Engineer, with the total 104, was beautifully stumped by K. J. Wadsworth off V. Pollard, and after B. S. Bedi had swung Pollard bravely for four, E. A. S. Prasanna tried the same shot, but a quicker delivery went straight through and took his off stump

It was New Zealand’s most convincing test cricket victory since the first one against the West Indies at Auckland in 1956. Howarth bowled six overs yesterday morning for two runs and another wicket, to finish with five for 34 and a match analysis of nine for 98.

His figures might have been better but Dowling missed quite an easy catch off him from Engineer’s bat yesterday.

Justified Faith “It was a great thing for this side to have won so convincingly,” said Dowling after the match. “I have felt thrbughout the tour that the team was capable of better things, particularly at test level, but till now we have not quite accomplished what I had hoped for. “Winning the toss here was a decisive factor, as the losing of it was at Bombay, particularly as the wicket after the first day was unpredictable in turn and bounce. But it was a very satisfactory all-round performance from the team. “Our batsmen got runs against the Indian spinners although at times the ball was turning quite a bit. In the field, and particularly in close catching, the spin bowlers are given tremendous support and some wonderful catches were held," said Dowling.

“1 would say the last-wicket partnership between Hadlee and Howarth was of great psychological value because it put the Indian target from one which was probably attainable to one I think they felt they could not reach. “Their batting showed lack of determination and applies-

tion, as I suppose ours did in the fourth innings at Bombay. “1 imagine there will be some changes in the Indian side because of our victory and I think it will improve our chances of winning toe series, although much will depend on the Hyderabad pitch and the luck of the toss.” Pataudi said that in both matches the toss had been decisive. He paid tribute to toe New Zealand fielding, and said that if India was to do better in this series, and the one to follow with Australia, its fielding would have to improve.

The final test in the threematch series will start next Wednesday.