Cricket lost by 19 runs

Press, 17 July 1978, Page 24

Cricket lost by 19 runs

From

R.T. Brittenden

NZPA Scarborough New Zealand ran second twice over the week-end and the touring cricketers at Scarborough came almost as close to glory as Simon Owen did at St Andrews. Although staging an astonishing recovery in the field, with the capture of eight England wickets in 35mm, New Zealand lost the first of the Prudential limitedover internationals. England scored 206 for eight in its 55 overs and the New Zealanders made 187 for eight. At one stage New Zealand’s cause looked hopeless but a great stand between Bevan Congdon and Lance Cairns won the admiration of the cheerful holiday crowd of 10,000.

England’s success was worth SNZ36OO. The “man of the match” award of SNZ36O went to England’s Graham Gooch, who was in commanding form in an innings of 94 and who chipped in effectively with his mediumpace bowling. New Zealand’s best contributions before lunch came from Richard Hadlee and Congdon. Hadlee had six overs for only eight runs. Moreover, he had Mike Brearley missed at six, Congdon at third slip making a magnificent attempt to cling to a ball low and far to his left travelling very fast.

Brearley and Gooch shared an opening stand of 67. Brearley was not always convincing but Gooch is a fine timer of the ball and he struck some superb strong drives. He twice hit sixes off Boock, a surprise selection, and the running of the England batsmen was sharp and sure.

The return of Cairns for his second spell heralded the most remarkable collapse. At a comfortable 178 for one Gooch drove Cairns straight to John Parker at short midwicket and Clive Radley went precisely the same way in the same over. In Cairns’ next over lan Botham swung one high and Robert Anderson, deep at square leg, ran in to make a well-judged catch. But what really set the New Zealanders alight was the dismissal of David Gower. A lefthander, he square-drove Cairns with tremendous power but Burgess, at backward point, flung himself to his right for what must rank as one of the finest catches in a career notable for brilliant fielding. Hadlee took Geoff Miller and Bob Taylor with successive balls and Graham Roope swung and missed at Cairns.

New Zealand’s batting problems really began with the unfortunate loss of John Wright. At that stage the score was 43 for one, made at a useful pace. Howarth drove John Lever magnificently and Wright ran on the quality of the stroke. But Botham made a miraculous diving stop of a fiercely-hit ball and Wright was stranded.

Burgess, driving, was bowled by a lovely Botham outswinger and John Parker

chopped one on to make it 62 for four in the twentyfirst over. Howarth, again in good form, and Jock Edwards made a brave effort but Edwards fell to a spectacular diving catch by Gower. Hadlee went to a splendid piece of leg-side stumping by Taylor and although Howarth looked very good only 21 overs were left to score 106 when play was halted by bad light. Soon after it continued Howarth’s display of polished proficiency ended in a mis-timed hook. But there was spirited resistance from Congdon and Cairns, who in poor light played the pace attack with courage and skill. They added 68 in 15 overs and even brought visions of a remarkable victory as they reduced their task to 34 with four overs left. Cairns, however, was out in dramatic fashion. He pushed a ball from Botham a yard or two, looked for a run but turned back. Botham was there in his followthrough and they both went to ground in a collision. Botham somehow managed to flick the ball into the stumps. ENGLAND J. M. Brierley c Burgess b Boock .31 G. A. Good) c Parker b Cairns .94 C. T. Radley e Parker b Cairns .. .. 41 D. I. Gower e Burgess b Calms 4 I. T. Botham e Anderson b Cairns 3 G. R. Roope b Cairns .. 11 G. Miller c Edwards b Hadlee 0 R. W. Taylor lbw b Hadlee 0 J. K. Lever not out .. .. 5 M. J. Hendrick not out .. 2 Extras (b2. IblO. wl) .. 13 Total (for 8 wickets, innings closed) 206 Fall: 70. 178, 181, 185, 185, 198, 198, 198. Bowling.—Hadlee, 11. 3. 22, 2; Collinge, 11, 0, 46, 0; Cairns. 11, 3, 28, 5; Congdon, 11, 2, 25, 0; Boock, 9 1, 57. 1; Howarth 2 0, 15, 0. NEW ZEALAND R. W. Anderson c Taylor b Hendrick . .. 12 J. G. Wright run out 18 G. P. Howarth c Taylor b Hendrick .. 42 M. G. Burgess b Botham .. 1 J. M. Parker b Willis . 7 G. N. Edwards g Gower b Gooch 12 R. J.' Hadlee std Taylor b Gooch - - 1 B. E. Congdon not out . 52 B. L. Cairns run out 23 R. O. Collinge not out . 5 Extras (lbl3. wl) . .. 14 Total (for 8 wickets, innings closed) 187 Fall: 28. 43. 51. 62, 91. 97, 105, 173. Bowling.—Willis, 11, 1, 35. 1; Hendrick. 11, 1, 35. 2: Lever, 11, 2, 25, 0; Botham, 11, 1, 43, 1; Miller, 1, 0. 6. 0; Gooch, 10,