N.Z. cricketers seek elusive win

Press, 13 July 1983, Page 27

N.Z. cricketers seek elusive win

New Zealand has beaten every other test playing cricket country at least once, and this year a cherished dream — winning a test in England for the first time — could become fact. New Zealand’s record in England makes sorry reading when only the results are examined. Yet New Zealand touring teams have come desperately close to success, or have won much glory in defeat, on at least a dozen occasions. At Old Trafford in 1937, England led on the first innings by 77, but then lost seven wickets for 75. It was a great chance for the touring side, but the fielding fell away, four catches being dropped. The 1965 team at Edgbaston played the test in arctic cold It had to follow on 319 behind, but fought back with such spirit that it made 413. Vic Pollard top scored with 81 not out, and six others scored 40 or more. The match was lost, but the side won much admiration for its resolve. New Zealand s performance the

Oval was probably that of 1949.

New Zealand led off with 345 (Bert Sutcliffe 88, Verdun Scott 60, Merv Wallace 55). At one stage England had 365 for one, but there was some fine bowling from Fen Cresswell (six for 168) and England was out for 482 (Len Hutton 206, Reg Simpson 88, Bill Edrich 100). New Zealand again batted well, reaching 308 for nine. John Reid scored 93 and Sutcliffe and Wallace again made half centuries.

England has won three times in the four matches played at Headingley (Leeds). In 1949, New Zealand’s powerful batting easily saved the game. England made 372 (Hutton 100, Denis Compton 114, Jack Cowie five for 127) and New Zealand 341 (Martin Donnelly 64, Brun Smith 96, Trevor Bailey six for 118). England declared at 267 for four (Cyril Washbrook 103, Edrich 70) but New Zealand was never in trouble, making 195 for two (Sutcliffe 82). New Zealand’s first * test

in England was at Lord’s in 1931. The touring team was out for 224, Stewie Dempster being responsible for 53 of them. At one stage England had lost seven wickets for 190. Then Les Ames (137) and Gubby Allen (122) scored 246 for the eighth wicket in 165 minutes and the total reached 454. New Zealand battled magnificently at the second attempt, Dempster making 120, Roger Blunt 96 and “Curly” Page 104, in a total of 469 for nine declared. Before the close, England had lost five top batsmen for 146.

The Lord’s test in 1949 was drawn, as were all the others in that series, but it was memorable for the display of Martin Donnelly, who scored 206 in a total of 484, which gave New Zealand a lead of 171. The 1969 test at Lord's was lost by a large margin, but Glenn Turner batted right through the second innings for 43 not out.

New Zealand has never been nearer to a victory in a test in England than in

1973. England was dismissed for 253, and New Zealand went on to score 551 for nine declared. Bevan Congdon made 175, Brian Hastings 86; these two scored 190 together after the first two wickets had fallen for 10. Later there was some superb and entertaining batting from Mark Burgess (105) and Vic Pollard (105 not out). England was thus 298 in arrears, and with two hours to go, the home side was only 70 ahead with two tailenders to support Keith Fletcher. Poor Ken Wadsworth dropped a difficult chance off Geoff Arnold’s third ball and Fletcher, hitting magnificently, went to 178 and the match was saved.

New Zealand also had a first-innings lead in 1978. Geoff Howarth scored 123, Burgess 68 in a total of 339. There was a fiery spell of bowling from Richard Hadlee (five for 84) and England was dismissed for 289. New Zealand’s batting was consumed, however, in a fiery blast of bowling ,A

from Bob Willis (four for 16) and Botham (five for 39) and England won by seven wickets. Another highlight of New Zealand’s test performances in England was in 1973 at Trent Bridge. On this handsome and ancient ground, England made 250 and New Zealand, with the ball swinging about madly, was tumbled out for 97, of which 20 were extras, top score by one from the best batsman. England also had its troubles, the first four wickets falling for 24. Then Tony Greig (139) and Dennis Amiss (138 not out) put on 210 together and England declared at 325 for eight. New Zealand seemed to have been set an impossible target of scoring 479, a matter of 75 runs more than had ever been made to win a test. Its chances receded even further when both the openers fell at 16. From that point, New Zealand fought heroically. Congdon had not been batting long when he was hit on the face by a ball from the fast bowler, John Snow, but he A

carried on to the close of play on the third day. Hastings helped him add 52, Burgess 62. On the fourth day Congdon, his face bruised and swollen, batted until 17 minutes before the close of play. He was in for 410 minutes and made 176. Pollard also scored a century, and with Congdon added 177 for the fifth wicket. At the end of the day, the total was 317 for five wickets.

On the fourth morning, Pollard and Wadsworth defied the bowling, and scored slowly but steadily. Their stand was worth 95 when just before lunch the total passed 400. Then Wadsworth fell at an athletic diving catch at slip by Graham Roope and,as “Wisden” said: “when these sporting New Zealanders were in sight of their first victory in 43 tests against England, the spoils were snatched away.” It was a superb performance, however, and it did much to enhance New Zealand’s cricket image, further embellished by events at Lord’s a fortnight later.