McKechnie’s superb debut

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33858, 2 June 1975, Page 20

McKechnie’s superb debut

(From

ROBERT HORROCKS,

N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

EASTBOURNE. A rollicking 52 not out by Ken Wadsworth carried New Zealand to a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a one-day restricted-over match on Saturday. Wadsworth hit two sixes and five fours during his stay of 59 minutes and we; involved in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 80 runs with Brian McKechnie (33 not out). New Zealand, after bowling Sri Lanka out for 183 in 573 of the allowable 60 overs, scored 187 for four of 50.1 overs. If there had been a “man of th’e match” award — as will be the case when the Prudential Cup series starts next week-end — McKechnie would have deserved the honour. The 21-year-old Otago all-

rounder, in his debut for New Zealand, also captured wickets with the second and third balls of his first over. But a close contender would have been the Sri Lanka wicket-keeper, Ranjit Fernando, who opened and batted through his team’s innings for an unbeaten 98. No other batsman in the Sri Lanka side scored more than 16. Fernando began a little unsteadily but he soon settled down to give a competent performance worthy of a n entury. He was particularly severe on the slow left-arm bowling of Hedley Howarth, taking a six and three fours, off the New Zealander’s first two overs.

McKechnie was given two short bowling spells, and finished with the excellent figures of four for 22 off 9.3 overs.

The New Zealand captain, Glenn Turner, was perhaps a little kind to Sri Lanka, which was 57 for five at one stage. No effort was made to

maintain a sustained pressure on the batsmen.

“I wanted to give everyone a bowl,” Turner said afterwards. “That is why I brought Hedley Howarth on and also rested Brian McKechnie when he was beating the bat four or five times an over.” The Sri Lanka batsmen seldom looked like getting on top', but . apart from McKechnie, there was not much satisfaction to be gained from the New Zealand bowling. Richard Hadlee tended to bowl rhort and Howarth’s first five overs cost 35 runs before he settled down to finish with three for 51 off 12. Richard Collinge had one for 26 (nine overs), Dayle Hadlee one for 27 (11), and Lance Cairns one for 14 (8). The target of 184 set by New Zealand was a modest one, but the batsmen were still scratching to get their timing right. The early dis-

missal of Barry Hadlee (2), Turner (13), and Brian Hastings (14), gave Sri Lanka some hope. Then, a 56-run partnership between Red Fulton and McKechnie salvaged the situation. But the scoring rate was unspectacular — almost painful — and it was a relief to have Wadsworth come to the crease and immediately hoist the useful right-arm leg-spinner, Somachandra de Silva, over the square-leg boundary for six. Fulton, of Northern Districts, has been playing some cricket with the Middlesex second XI and was brought to Eastbourne to act as twelfth man in the absence of Geoff Howarth, John Parker, and David O’Sullivan. But John Morrison developed a heavy cold and was ordered to spend a day in . bed. So Fulton took his opportunity with two excellent catches mid, hatting No. 3, a solid 48, I