Somerset scores well against N.Z.

Press, 3 July 1978, Page 22

Somerset scores well against N.Z.

Taunton An orthodox but strong and attractive innings of 131 not out by the 22-year-old Peter Roebuck led to Somerset enjoying the comfort of 349 for five wickets on the first day of their match with the New Zealanders at Taunton. In the last 35 minutes New Zealand made 25 without loss.

Roebuck, one of the many good young players in England at present, played straight and timed his shots well. Tall and of good physique, he drove with absolute confidence and considerable power. It was only his fourth first-class century, but last season he set in company with the illustrious Viv Richards, a county fourth-wicket record of 251.

It was a fine innings and in it he exposed the limitations of New Zealand’s present bowling. There was a hint of lift at one end of the pitch for a while, a tendency to keep a shade low at the other. But Roebuck was not the only one to find it very much to his liking. The former test player, Brian Rose, played a well-organised innings of 49 and Roebuck was associated with Dennis Breakwell, a vigorous left-

hander, in an entertaining six-wicket stand worth 187 ! in only two hours. Their way was made easy . by some mediocre bowling • and fielding. Brendon Brace- ' well began well enough, maintaining the good line he had bowled at Bristol, but ■ he has become yet another New Zealand infirmity. He bowled after tea with another muscle injury in his right thigh — not a recurrence of his previous one — but after his first spell he was driven from half-volley length regularly. Graeme Thomson, as at Bristol, bowled an occasional very good ball, without positive results. But more regularly his length dropped and he was hit easily. Dayle Hadlee had some fire in the early stages of his first long spell but he too was punished as his length varied. John Mclntyre posed no problems at all to Roebuck and the exuberant Breakwell, and the only stage at which New Zealand looked likely to resume control was when Bevan Congdon was on before lunch. He weaved a familiar spell, ducking the ball this way and that and in the 11 overs he had two for 11. When he was bowled again in mid-afternoon, the ball

was ageing and he waj without his previous punch. But he did have the misfortune of seeing Breakwell when only 10, being put down by Robert Anderson at slip. It was the worst day for the New Zealand team so far. Even taking into account the quality of the pitch and the batting, it was to a large extent the author of its own misfortunes. SOMERSET First innings B. C. Rose b Congdon 49 P. W. Denning c Edwards b Hadlee 24 P. A. Slocombe lbw b Congdon 1 P. M. Roebuck not out .. 131 V. J. Marks run out .23 M. Olive c Congdon b Bracewell 3 D. Breakwell not out . •. 100 Extras <b4, Ibll, nb3) .. 18 Total (for 5 wkts dec.) 349 Fail: 63, 64, 89, 158, 162. Bowling: Bracewell 19, 2, 80, 1; Thomson 17, 3, 63, 0; Hadlee 16, 0. 70, 1; Congdon 22, 5, 50, 2; Mclntyre 18, 3. 68, 0. NEW ZEALAND First innings R. W. Anderson not ou* ,« 8 B. A. Edgar not out .. •• 12 Extras (b 4. Ibl) .. «• 5 Total (for no wicket) .. 25 To bat: G. P. Howarth, M. G» Burgess, B. E. Congdon, J. M, Parker. G. N. Edwards, D. R, Hadlee, J. M. Mclntyre, B. P, Bracewell, G. B. Thomson.

Bowling: Dredge 5,0, 9, Oj Jennings 3,0, 7,0; Marks 3,1, 0. J