Boycott falls to Collinge again in dull test day

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 32

Boycott falls to Collinge again in dull test day

From

R. T. BRITTENDEN

in Auckland

A Boycott blockade, frequent interruptions to play through showers and poor light, and some thoughtful defensive bowling by New Zealand had the third cricket test in low gear at Eden Park yesterday. But there was the satisfaction for the small crowd of seeing Richard Collinge take Geoffrey Boycott’s wicket yet again, bringing his test tally to 111 to equal Bruce Tavlor’s national record.

When the game went into I the rest-day recess England had made 172 for two wick-| ets in reply to New Zea-1 land’s 315. During the day--142 had been added in 2931 minutes from 59 overs.

It was a mechanical,! almost a ritual performance, enlivened only occasionally! by attacking strokes of qual-|

England had made a very brisk start on the second evening, and some quick runs early vesterdav took it to 50 in the twelfth over. But it took 23 more overs for the second 50, and 24 for the third half-century.

On a pitch still giving the batsmen every encouragement, New Zealand’s hopes were pinned on England trying to win a commanding position by scoring heavily, yet at a reasonable rate.

But England, with Boycott setting the pattern firmly

batted with spinsterish caution. His way was certainly made the more difficult by the breaks in play. He had seven starts to his innings of 54. And the compulsory’ rests helped Collinge and Richard Hadlee. Although New Zealand’s policy was clearly going to be one of containment, these bowlers attacked vigorously

at every fresh start. Between them they had the first 25 overs of the innings. Boycott put up his barricades and could rarely be drawn from them. He stifled the good ones, but he often stroked half-volleys in prim defence. There was an occasional firm cut, a couple of fine cover drives which found the gaps perfectly. But it was a dull and painstaking performance, which lasted 233 minutes and 177 deliveries. For a while Derek Randall played a much more cheerful tune but after him Clive Radley became a less cultured carbon copy of Boy-i cott. He scratched about un-l

happily for a long time, worried by Hadlee, later by Stephen Boock and looked very vulnerable, although he will not often have a better i chance of making runs. i Radley scored even more slowly than Boycott, without his captain’s air of per|manance. He did go into the thirties with two well-hit (straight-driven boundaries off Hadlee but in general it was a most undistinguished innings. Collinge’s dismissal of Boycott was the fourth time in the series that he had defeated the England captain: in his only other test innings Boycott was run out. It was a great moment for Collinge, and a just reward for years of devoted service to New Zealand cricket.

Graham Roope had a typical start - — an edge off Hadlee which fled for four between the wicket-keeper and first slip — but on this pitch he w’as much less troubled by the ball pitched about his off stump and he played one glorious stroke, a cover-driven four off Collinge, which was all ease, elegance and power. Under the playing Conditions for this series, it was possible to make up half an hour of the time lost during the day, but only 20 minutes were made up before there was another failure of light. But Radley and Roope had made a significant advance, with their stand of 57 and so far Radley, one short of his half-century, has been in for 262 minutes.

Collinge gave a very wholehearted and purposeful performance and although he

was one who suffered from occasional New Zealand errors in ground fielding, he was the most accurate and demanding of the bowlers.

Richard Hadlee was occasionally expensive but might well have had a better return. He beat the bat more than occasionally and that was a triumph on this easypaced pitch. Boock and Bevan Congdon contributed strongly to the defensive plan. So, for some time, did Lance Cairns, but in the late evening he suffered somewhat as Roope disturbed a close-set field of seagulls with a couple of hammered shots off the back foot.

Jock Edwards gave a tidy wicket-keeping display. New Zealand’s next 'and perhaps final chance of getting into the game will come at the start of play on Wednesday when the second new bail will be available.