Reid defies Pakistan

Press, 25 January 1979, Page 6

Reid defies Pakistan

PA Rotorua An innings of 85 by the Auckland batsman, .John Reid, lifted the Young New Zealand XI to a first innings score of 234 for nine wickets declared against the Pakistani cricketers at Rotorua yesterday.

Reid was at the wicket while 206 of the runs were scored after Asif Iqbal sent the New Zealanders in.

He batted for 270 minutes, coining in with the score at eight for two wickets.

His innings was notable more for its application rather than the attacking shots played. Bruce Blair and lan Smith both reached the forties in valuable stands with Reid.

Blair, the Otago youngster, required only 58 balls to score 41, using his feet well and hitting strongly both along the ground and in the air.

He had his share of luck, being dropped at 21 at square leg when sweeping the spin bowler, Wasim Raja, and then having the decision in his favour when

the Pakistanis appealed strongly for a bat-pad catch. He finally lofted a sweep shot straight to the waiting Miandad.

Smith cut and drove strongly and was a speedster between the wickets. He was given a chance with his score at 19 when Mohsin Khan was unable to hold a “screamer” at short cover. Of the other specialist batsmen, the opener. Bruce Edgar, iiad little chance to show his ability before edging a catch to the wicket-keeper. lan Ruther ford had the embarrassmen to be bowled round his leg from the first ball of the innings. There was little in the wicket lor the Pakistani bowlers, Sik ander Bakht was used in short spells and Anwar Khan, given more work, was tidy- without being menacing and had to work hard for his four wickets. Scores were;

Young New Zealand 234 for nine wickets declared (J. Reid 85, B. Blair 41, I. Smith 45; Anwar Khan 4/35. Iqbal Qasim 2/73) met Pakistan 24 without loss.