Border just short of double century

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 21

Border just short of double century

NZPA-Reuter London

The Australian captain, Allan Border, and the irrepressible lan Botham shared centre stage on the third day of the second cricket test at Lord’s on Saturday. Border hit a masterly 196, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 216 with Greg Ritchie, to help the touring team to a first-innings lead of 135. But Botham brought an end to his 450-minute innings with Border in sight of becoming only the third Australian in history to score a double century at Lord’s. That success earned the England all-rounder the distinction of becoming the first bowler in history to take five wickets in a test innings on 25 occasions. The Australians, who recovered from 101 for four to reach 425 all out, completed

a fine day’s work by dismissing the openers, Graham Gooch, and Tim Robinson, with only 34 of the arrears wiped out.

Gooch continued his dismal run in tests against Australia by flicking a legside delivery from Craig McDermott to the wicketkeeper, Wayne Phillips. Two runs later, Robinson was bowled by the leg spinner Bob Holland.

England ended the day on 37 for two.

Border, dropped by Mike Gatting when he had made 87 on Friday, and Ritchie wrested control of the match in the morning and early afternoon. They rode their luck as Border progressed from 92 overnight and Ritchie from 46. England’s pace attack, with Botham out of the firing line with an ankle strain, looked pedestrian at times.

Ritchie took nearly an hour to complete his half century but blossomed after lunch with a wide variety of strokes. The Australian charge was interrupted when Botham, finally called upon to bowl midway through the afternoon session, trapped Ritchie leg before for 94 at 317. Botham went on to dismiss Phillips and Border to take his tally of test wickets to 324, one behind the English record holder, Bob Willis. ENGLAND First innings 290 Second innings G. Gooch c Phillips b McDermott 17 T. Robinson b Holland . . 12 J. Emburey not out ... . 4 P. Allott not out 0 Extras (lb, 31b) 4

Total (for 2 wkts) 37

Fall: 32, 34. Bowling.— C. McDermott 7, 1, 20, 1; G. Lawson 4,0, 13, 0; R. Holland, 2,2, 0, 1. AUSTRALIA First innings A. Hilditch b Foster. ... 14 G. Wood c Emburey b Allott 8 K. Wessels lbw Botham. . 11 A. Border c Gooch b Botham 196 D. Boon c Downton b Botham 4 G. Ritchie lbw Botham. . 94 W. Phillips c Edmonds b Botham 21 S. O’Donnell c Lamb b Edmonds 48 G. Lawson not out 5 C. McDermott run out . . 9 R. Holland b Edmonds . . 0 Extras (101 b Iw, 4nb). . 15 Total 425 Fall: 11, 24, 80, 101, 317, 347, 398, 414, 425. Bowling.— N. Foster 23, 1, 83, 1 (Iw); P. Allott 30, 4, 70, 1; I. Botham 24, 2, 109, 5 (4nb); P. Edmonds 25.4, 5, 85, 2; G. Gooch 3,1, 11, 0; J. Emburey 19, 3, 57, 0.