David Gower wraps up test series for England

Press, 30 August 1978, Page 46

David Gower wraps up test series for England

London New Zealand’s last dreams of success against England were whisked away at Lord’s yesterday, England winning the final test by seven wickets and the series, 3-0.

It was really no contest, after the New Zealand collapse on Sunday morning (N.Z. time), but there were some stem efforts by the tourists before it was all

The last hope of making it a close finish went when David Gower, coming in after Richard Hadlee had taken two wickets with consecutive balls, and the score but 14, played an innings of charm and fluency. England had a target of only 118 runs, but when Hadlee bowled Geoff Boycott with a beauty, then produced another’of startling speed and movement to defeat Clive Radley next ball, there were murmurs in the New Zealand stand of “another Wellington.” It was not to be. Hadlee continued to bowl with great spirit and skill but by lunch England was 48 for two, and a burst of scoring straight after the interval sealed the tourists’ fate. Hadlee today is a magnificent bowier, and although it was a hopeless cause when he came back for his final spell, he was all fire and purpose and gave Mike Brearley a final reminder of his stature with some very awkward overs. Brearley will have the bruises to testify to them.

New Zealand still had a slim chance, at the start of the fourth day, of setting England a reasonably

difficult chance. But lan Botham’s away swing defeated Mark Burgess when the New Zealand captain had added only six.

Geoffrey Howarth, choked with a cold, batted bravely for the 53min the innings lasted. He had to withstand a fearful blast of shortpitched deliveries from Bob Willis. There were so many that the bowler’s umpire, Mr Harold Bird, intervened Mr Bird said at the lunch interval that the shortpitched balls had been too regular and he had asked Brearley to see that they were less frequent. There was the waste of a wicket when Hadlee was run out, but Richard Collinge held on grimly for 20min before be was defeated by Botham, leaving Howarth not out. Howarth won the 5450 “man of the match” award, a tribute to his fighting qualities in both innings. It was another triumph for Botham, whose ability to get bounce and movement in almost any conditions is astounding. He is a superbly skilled and strong performer. When England batted 55min before lunch, Hadlee started at modest speed and

there was no hint of his brief sensational spell. But he bowled both Boycott and Radley with beautiful balls. Both were of lightning pace, both cut back enough from the off to confound capable and experienced batsmen. '•

David Gower removed the prospect of a struggle for the runs with a beautiful innings. He was absolutely calm and confident. He is a model to young players, in the way he is poised, his ability to keep his head still until he has picked up the line and length of the ball. In this he is extremely quick and he is a beautiful timer of the ball.

After lunch he and Graham Gooch — a very sound batsman today — hustled the scoring along, adding 36 in 33min before Gower was out. In this period of plenty his batting had become a little loose, and one from Brendon Bracewell at which he swished was only just wide of Burgess at second slip. When Gower flashed again wide of him, Bevan Congdon ended his long test career with a sharp catch. Brearley came in next, but he was not a happy man as Hadlee hammered the ball in at him. He was hit two or three times by balls getting up from not much short of a length, but at the other end Bracewell was somewhat expensive. Hadlee kept trying desperately hard until the end, but Gooch by then was middling

the ball very comfortably, 1 and the match ended with as day, two hours and 40min to ; spare. New Zealand had lost : all three tests, each one; within four days. This one ended on a note of pathos. The scores were !: level when Hadlee was no-:: balled. But it pointed to the regularity with which he and Bracewell were called: for going over the line, one; of the worries which must,: to some extent, have i affected both their perform-: ances. NEW ZEALAND First Innings 339 Second Innings ” J. Wright b Botham .. 12 B. Edgar b Botham 4 R. Anderson c Taylor b Willis 1 J. Parket c Taylor b Botham 3 M. Burgess e Hendrick b Botham 14 B. Congdon c Taylor b Willis 3 S. Boock c Radley b Willis 0 B. Bracewell c Hendrick b Willis 0 G. Howarth not out ..la R. Hadlee run out ..5 R. Collinge b Botham .. 0 Extras (Ib3, nbB) .. 11 Total 67 Fall: 10, 14, 20, 29, 33, 37, 37, 43,

ENGLAND First innings 289 Second Innings G. Boycott b Hadlee .. 4 G. Cooch not out .. 42 C. Radley b Hadlee .. 0 D. Gower e Congdon b Bracewell -.46 J. M. Brearley not out .. 8 Extras (Ib3, w4, nbll) .. 18 Total tor 3 wkts ..118

From R.T Brittenden on tour for the NZPA.

57. Bowling OMR w Willis . 16 8 16 4 Botham . . 18.1 4 39 5 Emburey 3 2 1 0

Fall: 14, 14, 84. Bowling W OMR Hadlee .. .. 13.5 2 31 2 Colling® .. .. 6 1 26 0 Boock .. .. 5 1 11 0 Bracewell .. .. 0 32 1