N.Z. collapses after dismal play

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 28

N.Z. collapses after dismal play

From

R. T. BRITTENDEN

Only three hours play took place in the second test at Trent Bridge on Saturday but it was ample time for New Zealand, 35 for three overnight, to be dismissed for 120.

It was a dismal performance on a pitch showing a little more life after rain. It was relieved only by Bevan Congdon setting a new national test record and a courageous innings of 2h 4omin by Geoff Howarth, who was unbeaten with 31. It left New Zealand 309 behind and there was time for one over in the follow-on.

England’s hero was lan Botham, who took six of the wickets at minimal cost. He was lively of bounce, sharp of movement, and at the other end Phil Edmonds was able to spin the ball awkwardly.

The absurdity of the twoball period of play at the start of the morning which led to the pitch being uncovered for the rest of the day was followed by a long delav.

I The game was not resumed until 3.20 p.m. and, 'although the rain had been [light, it had been steady. It did not seem to give the [ pace bowlers much more advantage than they deserved [ but England's spinners seem'ed very interested when

they took over the attack just before tea. The game had been going on for only 15min before Burgess was out, caught behind the wicket, where he has been dismissed often on this tour. The ball, from lan Botham, got up rather more than normal and Burgess’s attempt to cut was fatal. Five minutes later Boock’s faithful vigil ended. Batting far above his station, he had fought it out for 45min and his dismissal was his first of the tour. So he has a batting average of 41 in England, a remarkable achievement by a player who lacks nothing in application. For 11 min Bevan Congdon and Geoff Howarth held England out. They played a few false shots, but they were strictly on the defensive during their 50-run partnership. Howarth, at 16, was nearly caught and bowled by Phil Edmonds with a mis-hit which sent the ball just, wide of the bowler’s out flung left hand.

There was a no-ball from Botham which he square-cut with perfect timing for four, an even better repetition of the stroke next ball.

Howarth, still ■wearing a lump on the back of his head from his mishap of the previous day, was also very

quiet but seemed sure of himself.Their stout resistance ended when Congdon fell to a quite superlative, diving slips catch by Mike Hendrick. Poor Jock Edwards, for whom nothing is going right these days, was out first

ball. It was a good one and he defended but it caught the edge to give Bob Taylor another catch. Lance Cairns did well until he tried to hit Edmonds.

When Richard Hadlee was caught in slips Botham had 50 wickets in only his tenth test appearance. The New Zealand bowlers, notably Richard Hadlee, performed with distinction on the second day. In the 'morning they bowled 33 overs on a batting pitch and took two for 91. In the next hour they had two wickets for 28 from 19 overs; in the fourth, two for 48 from 18.

Hadlee, who had four chances missed from him in all, gave a high class performance. although still in difficulties with his injured side. He wrung remarkable life from a placid pitch and displayed astonishing stamina for a bowler of his pace. As on the first day, he

’ beat the stroke regularly. Geoff Boycott was out for : 131, an addition of 23. He > hooked a short one from ; Hadlee supremely well for four. The next ball, at the • same length, was consid- ; erably quicker and more ; venomous and Boycott, try-

ing a similar shot, was easily caught and bowled. ’David Gower batted 145 min for his 46, being tied down persistently by the accuracy of the New Zealanders, and he finally gave it away, a weak, half-aggres-sive shot which had him caught at mid-on where he had been missed twice at the Oval. The New Zealanders progressed swiftly from there until Mike Brearley and Bob Taylor added 45 for the eighth wicket. Brearley was rarely convincing but he batted his way to 50 in more than 3h, a score he needed badly. Bevan Congdon, although having less to do on the second day, bowled with admirable tenacity and accuracy. Brendon Bracewell tried hard and had the satisfaction of finishing with three wickets. Although suffering 1 from an inflamed tendon

below his right knee, he was devoted in his efforts, both bowling and in the field, where he made a few wonderful diving saves. Stephen Boock had a memorable day. He dropped on to an immaculate length, had the ball turning for him a little, and pinned the batsmen firmly. His figures, 28 overs for 29, were a proper measure of his tight control. But the events of the last 90min undid all the fine work in the field. For almost an hour Robert Anderson and Bruce Edgar survived, not too uncomfortably. But both openers went within a few minutes. Geoff Howarth was hit by a bumper and retired and then John Parker succumbed to a good one from Mike Hendrick. It was a sad collapse after so much had been achieved. ENGLAND First innings (overnight 252/2) G. Boycott c and b Hadlee 131 G. A. Gooch c Burgess b Bracewell . 55 C. T. Radley lbw b Hadlee 5» D. I. Gower e Cairns b Boock 46 J. M. Brearley c Parker b Bracewell 50 I. T. Botham e Hadlee b Boock 8 G. Miller c Howarth b Hadlee 4 P. H. Edmonds b Cairns 6 R. W, Taylor b Hadlee .. 22 I M. Hendrick c Edwards b Bracewell .. 7 J R. G. D. Willis not out .. 1

Sundries (bit, Ibl2, wl, nbll) . 40 Total 429 Fall: 111, 240, 301, 342, 350, 364, 376, 419, 427.

NEW ZEALAND First innings B. A. Edgar c Taylor b Botham 6 R. W. Anderson lbw b Botham T 9 G. P. Howarth not out 31 S. L. Boock c Taylor b Willis 8 J. M. Parker c Taylor b Hendrick 0 M. G. Burgess c Taylor b .. Botham 5 B. E. Congdon c Hendrick b Botham 27 G. N. Edwards c Taylor b Botham 0 B. L. Cairns b Edmonds . 9 R. J. Hadlee c Gooch b Botham 4 P. B. Bracewell b Edmonds 0 Sundries (Ibl, wl, nb9) 11 Total . 120 Fall: 22, 27, 35, 47, 49 99, 110. 115.

mnici o I 14 U Second innings B. A. Edgar not out . . 0 R. W. Anderson not out 0 Sundries . c

Bowling Hadlee O . . 42 M 11 R 94 W Bracewell .. 33.5 2 110 3 Cairns 38 7 85 1 Congdon 39 15 71 0 Boock 28 18 29 2

Bowling O M R W Willis „ .. 12 5 22 1 Hendrick . . 15 9 18 1 Botham . . 21 9 34 6 Edmonds . 15.4 5 21 2 Miller 6 1 14 0

Total for no wicket 0 Bowling O M R W Botham .. 1 1 0 0