KNOTT RECOVERS FOR ENGLAND

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32626, 7 June 1971, Page 20

KNOTT RECOVERS FOR ENGLAND

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright!

BIRMINGHAM (England).

The wicket-keeper, A. Knott, slammed a magnificent century as England staged a great rear-guard recovery on the third day of the first cricket test against Pakistan at Edgbaston.

Coming in at 127 for five wickets, Knott lifted England off the floor by racing to Hs first test hundred in this country in only 123 minutes, with 21 fours.

The pace bowler, P. Lever, gave Knott valuable support and the pair put on 159 for the seventh wicket to steer England to a score of seven for 320 at the close—still 288 behind Pakistan’s first innings total of 608 for seven declared.

The Pakistani captain, Intikhab Alam, declared his side’s innings after only one over on Saturday—allowing Asif Iqbal to score the two runs required for his century. Pakistan then pressed home the advantage its batsmen had gained as the paceman, Asif Masood sent back J. H. Edrich, M. C. Cowdrey and D. Amiss before lunch. B. L. d’Oliveira (73) and B. W. Luckhurst (35) halted the slide with a fourth wicket stand of 66, but after they had gone, England’s fight looked finished. But Knott and Lever then took charge, posting their 100 partnership in 62 minutes to haul England back from the brink of disaster. Lever was eventually out for 47 when he skied a catch to Pervez Sajjad off Asif Masood. Masood, tall and lithe, achieved more swing and got greater movement off the pitch than any of the England bowlers.

PADDED UP Cowdrey padded up to the ball that bowled him while Amiss’s middle stump was uprooted when he drove over a full length ball. After lunch it was the spinners Intikhab and Pervez who caused the damage. Pervez struck first when he had Luckhurst caught by Sadeq Mahammad and then Intikhab bowled R- Illingworth with his googly. The unflappable d’Oliveira continued to play his strokes

until a great catch by Mushtaq Mohammad at short extra sent him back after an innings lasting two and a quarter hours including 14 fours.

This left Knott to fight what seemed a hopeless cause. He stroked fours to all parts of the ground, reviving memories of his last innings against Pakistan when he hit 96 in Pakistan.

At the close he was unbeaten with 114 and is the man England will look to on Monday to steer them past the follow on mark of 409. PAKISTAN First innings Aftzb Gul b D’OUveira .. 28 Sadiq Mohammad c and b Lever 17 Zahir Abbas c Luckhunt b Illingworth 274 Mushtaq Mohammad e Cowdrey b Illingworth .. 100 Majid Khan c Lever b: Illingworth ... 35 Asif Iqbal not out .. 104 Intikhab Alam e Underwood b D'OUvelra .. 9 Imran Khan run oat .. 5 Wasim Bari not out .. 4 Extras (byes 6, leg-byes 14, no-balls 12) . 32

Total (7 wickets dee.) 608 Fall of wickets; one for 68, two for 359, three for 441, four for 456, five for 469, six for 567, seven for 581. Bowling.—Ward, 29, 3, 115, 0; Lever, 37, 7, 126, 1; Shuttleworth, 23, 2, 83, 0; D'Ollveira, 38, 17, 78, 2; Underwood, 41, 13, 102, 0; Illingworth. 26, 5, 72, 3. ENGLAND First Innings J. Edrich c Zahir b Asif

Masood 0 B. Luekhurst c Sadiq b Pervez . .33 C. Cowdrey b Asif Masood 16 D. Amiss b Asif Masood . 4 B. D’Oliveira c Mushtaq b Intikhab i. 73 R. Illingworth b Intikhab .. 1 A. Knott not out ■■ 114 P. Lever c Pervez b Asif Masood < • ■47 K. Shuttleworth not out 7 Extras (byes 12, leg-byes 4, wides 3, no-balls 4) 23

Total (for 7 wickets) 320 Fall of wickets: one for none, two for 29, three for 46, four for 112, five for 127, six for 148, seven for 307. Bowling —Arif Masood, 26, 4, 98, 4; Imran, 15, 5, 27, 9; Intikhab, 27, 10, 80, 2; Pervez, 12, 3, 45, 1; Majid. 4,1, 8,0; Mushtaq, IS, 3, 39, 0.