Crowe in good touch

Press, 9 November 1984, Page 44

Crowe in good touch

NZPA staff correspondent Rawalpindi

New Zealand made a shaky start when it won the toss and elected to bat on the firstdayofitsthree-daymatch against the President’s XI. The opener, and captain for the game, John Wright, edged a lifting ball to Salim Malik at second slip in the sixth over, to be dismissed for three with New Zealand on eight.

But it took Martin Crowe only four overs to settle in

and start picking fours off the young pace attack of Weasim Akram, the wickettaker, and Asif Afridi. He scored four fours, pulling loose deliveries and cutting two outside his off stump. By the fourteenth over Crowe was on 20 and the total 34. Crowe settled down well and quickly overtook the more cautious Edgar. When the Pakistan side brought on its two change bowlers, both right-arm spinners,

Crowe took delight in hitting them to the boundary. He pushed New Zealand’s score past 50 in the twentieth over with a seventh boundary. He scored 34 of the 50, and Edgar was on 12. The half century came up in 80 minutes of play. The second wicket 50-run partnership came up in the twenty-second over, and the pair went on to share in a century stand before Crowe was out on the final ball before lunch with New Zealand’s score 108 for two.

Crowe edged a catch to the wicket-keeper, Anil Dalpat, off Ghaffar Kazmi, but seemed reluctant to walk. The partnership had lasted 23 overs and seen New Zealand into a comfortable position at lunch. Crowe scored 71, including 13 fours. New Zealand’s 100 came up in the twenty-eighth over with a no ball, in only 110 minutes. Edgar was 30 not out at lunch. Crowe had spent only 87 minutes at the crease.