Blain, Crowe provide solace for N.Z. cricketers

Press, 8 July 1986, Page 25

Blain, Crowe provide solace for N.Z. cricketers

NZPA staff correspondent Hove

Innings of substance and character by Jeff Crowe and Tony Blain provided a measure of solace for New Zealand’s cricketers on the second day of play against Sussex at Hove yesterday. Crowe (41) and Blain (34) turned in their best performances of the tour to date as the New Zealanders toiled on a pitch which provided sharp lift for Sussex’s seamers, the Pakistani, Imran Khan, and Tony Pigott. ... The opener, Bruce Edgar, was a victim of that lift, retiring hurt after being struck on the finger as New Zealand struggled to 201. The Sussex captain, lan Gould, then ensured a result remained possible by declaring his side’s first innings closed at 75 for one after 25 overs.

During 40 minutes of batting in its second innings, New Zealand lost Ken Rutherford for two, and finished at 12 for one, with Trevor Franklin three and Jeff Crowe seven.

It will start again with an over-all lead of 138.

Edgar’s retirement came during a first 15 minutes of some torment for the New Zealanders after they had resumed at 37 for one after a severely rain-curtailed first day. Just four runs had been added when Franklin, on his overnight score of 20, played back to Imran and was bowled.

The very next ball, delivered by Pigott in the third over of the day, rose sharply from a length and rapped Edgar’s left hand.

He had been hit on the same finger the day before and it immediately became swollen. An X-ray revealed nothing was broken but Edgar was uncertain whether he would be fit to bat again if required. The New Zealand captain, Jeremy Coney, was extremely positive, lofting over the top to effect until he fell in that manner at long-on off the spinner, Chris Mays, for 30, one of many batsmen to get to about that mark before falling. Crowe was the exception, reaching 41 in an innings of considerably greater assurance than at any point earlier in the tour.

Relishing the pace in the wicket, he batted for 102 minutes before a pull to square leg off the medium-pacer, Colin Wells, was excellently taken low down by Allan Green.

Blain, his confidence growing after a cautious start, dominated the rest of the innings. His stay at the crease, 141 minutes, was the longest of the day, and he was eventually last out for 36, shepherding the tailenders. NEW ZEALAND First innings (Overnight 37 for one) K. R. Rutherford lbw b Pigott 6 B. A. Edgar retired hurt. 14 T. J. Franklin b Imran. . ' 20 J. J. Crowe c Green b Wells - (C.M.) 41 J. V. Coney c Parker b Mays 30 T. E. Blain c Wells (A.P.) b Imran 34 I. D. S. Smith c Reeve b Mays 4 J. D. Bracewell lbw b Mays 36 B. J. Barrett b Reeve. . . 0 W. Watson b Imran .... 10 E. J. Chatfield not out . . 0 Extras (lb 4 nb2) 6 Total 201 Fall 6, 41, 99, 122, 127, 177, 179, 196, 201. Bowling: Pigott 11, 1, 36, 1; Imran 18.5, 8, 37, 3; C. M. Wells 9,3, 15, 1; Reeve 9,0, 32, 1; Mays 22, 3, 77, 3. SUSSEX First innings D. K. Standing not out . . 29 A. M. Green c Franklin b Chatfield 34 P. W. G. Parker not out. 7 Extras (wl nb4) 5 Total (for one declared). 75 Fall 63. Bowling: Barrett 9,0, 43, 0; Chatfield 8,2, 9,1; Watson 8,1, 23, 0. NEW ZEALAND Second innings T. J. Franklin not out. . . 3 K. R. Rutherford lbw b Imran 2 J. J. Crowe not out ... . 7 Extras . 0 Total (for 1 wicket).... 12 Fall: 3.