Bowlers make hard work of mediocre opposition

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 24

Bowlers make hard work of mediocre opposition

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

Although the Edgbaston pitch looked full of runs, Warwickshire’s 306 for nine declared on the first day of its match with New Zealand on Saturday was rather more than the home side should have been allowed to score.

There were very good innings from J. Jameson (43), N. Abberley (56) and the former England captain, M. J. K. Smith (95). But the New Zealanders were unable to get quickly through the remainder of a side which did not look to be of average county class. Four of its best players are with the West Indies team just j about to start a tour of EngHand. In three overs, G. M. Turner and J. M. Parker made 14 without loss in reply.

Mistaken tactics Dayle Hadlee, strangely neglected for a very long time, took five wickets in the Warwickshire innings, and

his younger brother, Richard, claimed three. But the bowling of test certainties, B. R. Taylor and H. J. Howarth, was disappointing, and so was B. E. Congdon’s handling of the bowling.

i Warwickshire’s was not a big score considering that the third wicket fell at 185, but | against a mediocre opposition too many runs were ; given away by Taylor, Howiarth and Congdon himself, when the pressure should have been maintained.

Jameson, who has a considerable reputation for massacring untidy bowling, began as if he proposed to score the quickest century of this or any season. He took 14 from R. Hadlee’s first two overs and 10 off Taylor’s second over. And after that, Taylor was reduced to a single slip and a hopefully i defensive field. Howarth punished The New Zealanders’ ec-i centricities in length and! direction were remedied to| some extent, with R. Hadlee! bowling very well, but Warwickshire reached 50 in the twelfth over. When Howarth came on, Jameson dispatched the first two balls, both i short pitched, to the mid-j wicket boundary, j Finally, when he had made |42 out of 58 in 45 minutes, 'Jameson mistimed an on- ! drive off Hadlee and was very well caught by M. G. Burgess. At 70, D. L. Amiss also fell to Hadlee, caught by K. J. Wadsworth from the inside ledge.

Long partnership At 70 for two, New Zealand had done remarkably well, but it was the last success for a long time. Abberley and Smith, both in good touch, were not entirely at home facing R. Hadlee, who! responded to the challenge! of the situation by bowling faster and more accurately,! but elsew’here there were! some fairly easy pickings. Taylor was far from hisi best and Howarth over-;

pitched rather often, as well as losing his line now and again.

Smith, who is almost 40 years of age, is still a very good hitter of the loose ball, and Abberley batted well enough to remind that a few years ago he was one of England’s batting hopes.

Smith was rather more aggressive, and although giving Abberley a start in time and runs, was first to the half century (98 minutes). Abberley took 11 minutes longer. Splendid catch They scored 115 together in about even time before Abberley was very well caught by J. M. Parker at mid-wicket. The ball was hit hard and low but Parker was with it all the way. Smith was quite untroubled, although D. Hadlee, not used until the score was 166, commanded considerable respect with his ,accuracy and cut from the' joff. Smith was 94 at tea, and I Warwickshire comfortably 'placed at 22.3 for three, but D. Hadlee took his second wicket when he induced Smith to drive one a little wide and Wadsworth took another catch. But New Zealand lost further ground when the taking of the new ball was delayed and N. McVicker plundered rapid runs. However, the Hadlee brothers came back for further successes.