Martin Crowe hits N.Z. to easy victory

Press, 9 December 1982, Page 40

Martin Crowe hits N.Z. to easy victory

NZPA Melbourne A hard hit 77 by the young opening batsman, Martin Crowe, guided New Zealand to a comfortable win over a Victorian Country XI at Horsham, Victoria yesterday.

New Zealand passed the Victorian Country Xi’s 146 for 8, with seven wickets in hand. The tourists then gained valuable batting practice and finished their 50 overs on 186 for 5. Crowe was most impressive in a chanceless 102 minutes at the crease. He played a variety of shots but was particularly strong off his front foot. His innings included 10 fours and a six. He finally lost, his wicket trying to hit Victorian Country Xi’s opening bowler. Rodney Davis, out of the ground. Crowe and Bruce Edgar had an opening partnership of 126. The New Zealand captain. Geoff Howarth, was out for one when he spooned up a catch to mid-wicket. Edgar, who made 44. then retired to give his team mates batting practice. Davis was the best of the Victorian Country XI bowlers. He extracted life out of the placid wicket and had both Crowe and Edgar in trouble early. Davis finished the match with one for 58 off 17 overs. New Zealand made a slow start to its innings and after 16 overs had only 35 runs.

Crowe and Edgar then increased the run rate and brought up 100 at the halfway mark of the innings, with New Zealand passing the home side in the thirtyseventh over. The New Zealand fast bowler, Gary Robertson, had torn through the Victorian Country side after lunch. Robertson finished with three for 43, while Bruce Blair. Mark Carrington, and Martin Snedden each took one wicket.

Barry Ballantine topscored for Victorian Country

with 35 and Peter Brady hit an impressive 23. Martin Crowe was voted best of the match. VICTORIAN COUNTRY B. Ballantine b Blair 35 S. Harvey lbw Carrington . 10 P. Brady c Blair b Snedden . 23 D. Fritsch c Howarth b Robertson 14 B. Hopper run out 15 J. Scott b Robertson 0 I. Morgan c Howarth b Robertson 15 W. Anson run out 16 P. Homden not out 9 Extras (bl. 1b,3. wl. nb4). 9 Total for eight wickets 146 Fall: 33. 73. 79. 91. 93. 121. 121. 146. Bowling.-G. Troup 8. 1: 30. 0: M. Snedden 10. 1. 21. 1; J. Coney 4. 2.2. 0; G. Robertson 10. 0. 43. 3; M. Crowe 6. 0. 11. 0: M. Carrington 8. 2. 19. 1: B. Blair 4. 0,11. 1. . NEW ZEALAND B. Edgar retired 44 M. Crowe b Davis 77 G. Howarth c Harvey b Burton 1 B. Blair not out 38 J. Coney c Brady b Homden. 8 J. Reid c Ballantine b W. Morgan 0 W. Lees not out 7 Extras (lb 7. wl. nb3) ... 11 Total for five wickets 186 Fall: 126. 127. 134. 171. 174. Bowling —R. Davis 17. 3. 58. 1; P. Homden 14. 7. 39. 1: L. Burton 9. 2. 40. 1: D. Fritsch 4. 0. 23. 0; W. Morgan 4. 1. 9. 1: I. Morgan 2. 0. 6. 0.