Spirited bowling and ferocious fielding take N.Z. to victory

Press, 26 February 1981, Page 28

Spirited bowling and ferocious fielding take N.Z. to victory

From

R. T. BRITTENDEN

in Wellington

Bowling of spirit and skill, backed by fielding of a fervour which was almost ferocity, took New Zealand to a 62-run victory in the first cricket test against India yesterday.

It might seem to be a comfortable margin but on a pitch more bland than at any .earlier stage of the match, the Indians kept putting together partnerships which threatened New Zealand’s grip of the game. Indeed, the last three in the order looked as safe and accomplished as those who had gone before, and it must have been a relieved Geoffrey i Howarth who led his team from the field with 35 minutes and a day’s play to spare.

It was New Zealand’s twelfth test victory, its third in consecutive matches at the Basin Reserve. Richard Hadlee is the only man who has played in all three of them. Hadlee resumed his role as New Zealand’s main striker, taking four wickets and bringing off one of the finest catches one might see in several seasons; but it was very much a team effort. Martin Snedden, Gary Troup and Lance Cairns bowled with tremendous determination and the fielding was superb. This may not be the greatest test team to win a match, but the spirit of the side is utterly admirable. There were some magnificent saves on an outfield which threatened injury.

The fieldsmen were unflinching — it was an echo of Verdun. After the match the Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, said that his side’s target of 253 was not a large one on a pitch playing well. The strip certainly seemed to improve with age. Hardly any deliveries kept low, the batsmen being able to go back or forward on a pitch which was

somewhat slower than before.

A strike among Wellington City Council employees had left the outfield uncut but growth over the last two days had been negligible and the pace of the ball over the turf was still extreme.

India kept worrying the New Zealanders with stands which looked highly promising, and with the pressure put on the fieldsmen by cool, quick running. The batsmen,, however, were winkled out a: regular intervals, and the gravest threat to the New Zealand advance was presented by the ninth pair.

The New Zealanders had hoped for the heavy cloud cover of the previous day but it was bright and clear when the game was resumed.

A resuscitated Hadlee struck the first blow, whipping one back to bowl Chethan Chauhan. The first two balls Dilip Vengsarkar faced must have convinced him that Hadlee was something more than mortal. They were beauties. The first he left alone, but it, snapped back so sharply that it almost bowled him. The second was pitched about middle stump and' cut away to beat a defensive stroke. It was masterly stuff. There was nothing so erudite about Snedden’s dismissal of Gavaskar with the score at 30. A straight ball went through the gate. Vengsarkar, having recovered his poise after his earlier shattering experience, looked ominously good and Gundappa Viswanath promised trouble. But at 50, he went back to cut Troup and

dragged the ball into his stumps..

Vengsarkar and the talented if rather vulnerable Santteep Patil made good progress, but Hadlee came back just before lunch and one which reared venomouslyhad Vengsarkar caught behind.

So at 75 for four, it was a banquet for the New Zealanders.

Patil was the main danger. He in when his side was in trouble but started without ceremony hitting three consecutive balls from Troup for fours, the first two elegant and powerful strokes. Kirti Azad was under pressure, however, and at 111 Hadlee yorked him. The major blow was struck by Cairns, who made one seam away a shade. Patil was brilliantly caught by lan Smith, going away to his ri"ht and the game seemed almost over when Kapildev and the courageous Syed Kirmani were both out at 136.

Kapildev cut Troup savagely but Hadlee dived wide to his right to pick up an incredible catch - the ball could not have been anything but a red blur but the swift instinct of a great player prevailed.

Nearly 25 minutes remained before tea when Roger Binny was joined by Ravi Shastri, the 18=year-old having his first taste of test cricket after his hurried flight from home.

These two looked as if they believed they could win the match for their side. There were few of the flourishes which marked some of the earlier batting. They played sensibly and well, and the longer they were to-

gether, the more confident they looked', Binny has been a test opener and seemed very capable. Shastri was remarkably composed at so critical a time.

They nudged the score upwards .for over after over. The ball was looking old, certainly, and the bowling had lost a little of its edge, but it was a brave passage at arms.

It ended, after 70 minutes when . Snedden, who had bowled with little luck, found a little extra bounce ' and the agile Smith took his third catch of the innings. Then Yograj Singh assumed Shastri’s mantle and for nearly 40 minutes, the eager New Zealanders were denied their final prize. Hadlee did the trick, and it was a jubilant Smith who again took the catch. It was another great day for this New Zealand team, but in defeat India batted with commendable courage. NEW ZEALAND First innings 375 Second innings ..100 INDIA First innings 223 Second innings S. Gavaskar b Snedden 12 C. Chauhan b Hadlee .. 1 D. Vensarka c Smith b Hadlee 26 G. viswanath b Troup .. 9 S. Patil c Smith b Cairns 42 Kirti Azad b Hadlee .. 16 S. Kirmani b Cairns .. 11 Kapildev c Hadlee b Troup 9 R. Binny not out .26 R. Shastri c Smith b Snedden 19 Yograj Singh c Smith b Hadlee .6 Extras (b2, Ibs, nb6) 13 Total 190 Fall: 10, 30, SO. 75, 111, 117, 136, 136, 170, 190. • Bowling

O. M. R. W R. Hadlee . 22.3 7 65 4 G. Troup . 13 4 34 2 M. Sneddon 17 4 39 2 L. Cairns . 19 9 30 2 J. Coney 4 1 9 0