Congdon focus of memorable day

Press, 24 February 1977, Page 32

Congdon focus of memorable day

Turner and Geoffrey Howarth had an immense task before them when they began on a cool, clear morning. But they batted easily and attractively, Howarth driving with a pure grace. Turner looked h ; s most accomplished self, and they went steadily ahead to 50 in 80 minutes—after having scored only 12 in the halfhour of the previous evening. But about that time, Howarth began to flounder a little. His front foot showed wayward tendencies and soon after Turner fell, at 70, Howarth was gone, caught behind when trying to drive Gary Gilmour. ‘ But Congdon and Parker began pleasantly and New [Zealand was 90 at lunch, by no means a bad start. Parker, composed and correct, picked [up runs quietly, but seemed

to be on the threshold of an important innings as he off-drove and hooked Walker for fours, both splendid shots. In the same over, he cut, but this was one of the balls which Walker got up sharply. With Congdon, Parker had added 58 in 65 minutes.

Burgess, whose innings always seemed to consist of a chrysalis stage, when he is sagging of knee, came out in hL full and brilliant colours when he attacked O’Keeffe. There was, too, a fine backfoot hit through the covers off Walker, to make the partnership worth 50 in just over an hour.

When Gilmour replaced Walker, Congdon, lithe as a snake, pulled him for 4, then flicked him off the hip for another boundary. Burgess then pounded him again from the back foot, past mid-off: the over cost 15.

This violence took place some 20 minutes before tea, and there was a hint of concern in Chappell’s decision to take Gilmour off after that one over.

It all marked the end of New Zealand’s advance. Walker, faithful servant, was brought back and he steadied the scoring. Chappell himself was very accurate, thought-’ ful, scheming. Even so, a tea score of 203, with seven wickets standing, gave New Zealand a chance and seemed to leave Australia little.

With the ball coming on to the bat fairly gently, fast scoring was not easy, but after tea the batsmen’s intentions were obvious. Burgess and Congdon tried very hard to get on top again, but the bowling of Walker and Chappell was good enough to deny them any easy runs. And at 218, Burgess tried to drive one from Walker which was wide of him and he was taken in the slips. The partnership was worth 90 in 103 minutes, and some cherished memories of fine stroke-making. But the wicket fell only 20 minutes after tea, when only 19 had come from five overs. It was not the situation one would have liked for Edwards, and although he played some brave shots, and hit three fours, he was forced on to defence regularly by the very tight bowling and at 238 he was magnificently caught by Marsh, diving to his right. Chappell did not take the new ball until the sixty-ninth over, the first of the 15 in the last hour. Lillee used it; and so did the indefatigable Walker.

Warren Lees, playing a wretched shot, became

Marsh’s eighth victom of the match in Lillee’s first over and Hedley Howarth, promoted, was out first ball, beaten by pace. Richard Hadlee, by no means disturbed by the prospect of being the tail-end of a hat-trick, tucked his first ball away nicely for 4, and there were some fine flourishes in his 16-minute innings. But he chased one from Walker and was caught, in the fourth over. So Congdon and Hadlee were paired for the last act. Congdon had his second life, but thereafter batted with the utmost diligence, notwithstanding the sapping hours he had spent at the crease. On the stroke of six, he reached his century, in 273 minutes, and it was a distinction very well earned. Dayle Hadlee, on one, was missed by Alan Turner at short leg

off Gilmour but he too was! staunch on defence. O'Keeffe and Lillee bowled the final overs, O'Keeffe at last going round the wicket, but for only three balls. When the last over began, Chappell set the most extraordinary of fields for Lillee. There was Lillee, back at his mark; there was Marsh, some 60 metres away. And strung out on Marsh’s right, almost elbow ot elbow all the way round to point, were the other nine Australians. This parliament of players was left in recess. The first two balls Congdon was able to leave alone. The fourth went down the off side too, after he tucked away a couple of runs backward of square leg. There was a concerted intake of breath when Congdon played at but missed the fifth ball. He played the next

[two safely, to save the match. [Lillee signed off with a nasty, [short, lifting one. [ So the players left this [crowded stage, the Australians generously applauding Congdon for his stoic effort. A draw — but a memorable match.