West Indies recover at Lord’s

Press, 21 June 1980, Page 60

West Indies recover at Lord’s

NZPA-Reuter London The West Indies fought back to take charge after an inspired start by England on the opening day of the second cricket test at Lord’s in London. Fast bowlers Michael Holding and Joel Garner reduced England from 165 for one to 232 for seven at stumps. That represented a splendid recovery by the touring team, which suffered earlier in the day at the hands of England opener, Graham Gooch’s 123 — his first test century. e , Gooch’s polished, powerful performance on a slowish pitch, that offered the prospect of plenty of runs, made the West Indies’ fourpronged fast-bowling attack struggle for the first half of the day. \ Gooch and Chris Tavare

put on 145 for the second wicket, but the stand was broken just before tea, and the West Indians tilted the balance in the final session.

They took five wickets while England added 65. Holding finished the day with four for 44, while Garner took three for 33. After skipper, lan Botham won the toss for the second time in the series, England experienced mixed fortunes before its period of dominance. Geoff Boycott and Gooch had scored only seven when play was interrupted for 15 minutes by bad light, and on the resumption the West Indies made a-vital breakthrough. Holding produced a goodlength delivery just outside the off stump, and Boycott, not quite getting into line, ledged a catch to wicketkee-

per, Deryck-Murray. Boycott made eight, and the score was -20 for one, but Gooch gradually improved the position with Tavare, who proved a capable, if passive partner. They took England to 77 for one at lunch, and Gooch really got into his stride afterwards. He drove the fast bowlers with authority and punished Viv Richards’s off-spin, once hooking him for six.

Gooch, whose previous best test score was 99 against Australia last February, reached his century out of a total of 139. When he fell leg before to . Holding, his 123 had included a six and 17 fours. While Gooch played a commanding role, Tavare was restricted to 12 runs between lunch and tea, when England was 167 for two.

The West Indies’ fast bowlers relentless assault finally paid.'off in the last session, with Holding and Gamer destroying ■ , ;the middle order batting. Garner started the decline, in which England lost five wickets for 42, when he had Woolmer, on 15, edge a catch to Alvin Kallicharran in the slips. Holding then snapped up two wickets in eight deliveries. He produced a ball of extra pace to bowl Mike Gatting, making; his - first test appearance in England, for 18. , Tavare was Holding s next victim, playing outside the off stump / and edging a catch to Gordon Greenidge at second slip after making a painstaking 42. Garner jsealed the West Indies’ .fight-back by .dismissing Botham <nd night-

watchman Derek Underwood with leg-before ; decisions in the last 20 minutes.. : /

The touring team, which leads 1-0 in the five-match series, left off-spinner iDerek Parry out of its 12 while England omitted young fast bowler Graham Dilley. ENGLAND r . First inning* . G. A.-Gooch lbw b Holding 123 G. Boycott e Murray b Holding .. ■ • 8 C. J. Tavara c Greenidge b Holding . • • • ■ 42 R. A. 'Woolmer c Kalil-charran-b Garner •• Jg M. W. Gatting b Holding 18 I. T. Botham lbw b Garner 8 D. L. Underwood lbw b Garner , P. Willey not out ■ • 1 ■ Extras (b 4 Ibl, w4, nba) 14 Total (for 7 wickets) 232 Fall of wickets: 20. 165, 190, 219, 220, 231, 232. Bowling.—A. M. E. Roberts 18, 3. 50, 0; M. A. Holding. 21, «. 44, 4; J. Garner, 19.1. 6. 33. C. E. H. Croft, 13, 3 67. 0; I, V. A. XichardbA 1. 24 > »•