Thrilling finish Promised

Press, 18 February 1980, Page 28

Thrilling finish Promised

fjf/PA Wellington ip A finish reminiscent of k ' the first test win over the p West Indies looks almost a certainty today with g, Wellington needing only 39 r uns for victory. g The captain, John Morrison, was guarded about s his team’s chances of giv- ; ing the tourists their third ; loss, but admitted the !. match had become a ■/thriller.

“It’s not over yet and even though 39 runs sounds easy enough, we still have to get them, even though we stil'. have seven wickets standing. Morrison and his clubmate, Jeremy Coney, were both unbeaten as the Wellington side reached 114 for 3 at stumps last evening. Coney reached 50 in the last over of the day and in hindsight his knock was priceless. Before he scored, the 6ft Sin “Big Bird” Garner appealed for a catch behind, which was turne down by third test umpire Ralph Gardiner. “Big Bird’ promptly threw the biggest tantrum seen., at the Hutt recreation ground. He looked stupefied as his urgent please was refused. The crowd of 10,000 Just as promptly gave the big boy the big bird, and with a classic performance Garner appeared to indicate to Captain Alvin Karricharran he was no longer interested in bowling. It is a critical move, for Garner troubled the Wellington batsman as much as any bowler and his break from the bowling crease might have much to do with the outcome. The West Indies appeared bothered by the fortunes and in fact what seemed a desperation move, Kallicharran brought on the spinner, Derek Parry the first time a slow ' bowler has been used in the match. His period with the ball was brief, as Coney slammed him to the boundary twice and he was swiftly removed