England looks to the weather for salvation

Press, 6 July 1988, Page 45

England looks to the weather for salvation

NZPA-Reuter Manchester England was in the all too familiar situation of looking to the heavens for salvation after yet another disastrous batting performance on the rain-shortened fourth day of the third test against the West Indies on Monday. Its last recognised batsmen, David Gower and Allan Lamb, were at the crease at the close of play with England, 249 behind on first innings, perilously placed on 60 for three.

Rain permitted only nine overs before any early tea was taken as West Indies took its overnight 357 for six to 384 for seven before declaring in response to England’s first innings 135. Its only wicket to fall was that of Roger Harper, who made 74, his highest score in test cricket. He was yorked by Graham Dilley, who ended with four wickets, but at a costly 99 runs.

Once again, it was the fast bowler, Malcolm Marshall, who began England’s second innings’ agony. With only six on the board, he trapped the opener, Graham Gooch, leg before for a single and then had Mike Gatting, returning to the side after being sacked as captain, caught by Richie Richardson at third slip for four. He failed to score in the first ihnings. England's position might have been even worse but for the intervention of umpire and former police fraud squad officer Nigel Plews, standing in his first test, who laid down the law to Marshall and caused him to retire from the attack.

He officially warned the fast bowler twice for running on to the pitch in his follow through and one more transgression would have prevented Marshall from bowling during the remainder of the innings.

Captain Viv Richards decided to remove him from the attack, but with figures of two for 10 in nine overs, Marshall had probably done enough to set West Indies on the path to its second victory of the series.

At that stage, Marshall had taken 21 of the 46 England wickets to fall thus far in the series and in the process worsened Gatting’s poor run to 88 runs in his last 12 innings against the Caribbean attack.

But even with Marshall removed, England’s misery continued with the pace bowler, Winston Benjamin, removing the opener, Martyn Moxon, with his first ball, caught by Richards in the slips for 15. Gower progressed to 24 not out at the close and Lamb was on 10, but the weather forecast for more rain could well be England’s best hope of escaping its second defeat in the five-match series.

ENGLAND First innings 135 Second innings G. Gooch lbw b Marshall. 1 M. Moxon c Richards b

Benjamin 15 M. Gatting c Richardson b Marshall 4 D. Gower not out 24 A. Lamb not out 6 Extras (lb 9, nb 1) 10 Total (for 3 wkts) 60 Fall: 6, 22, 36. Bowling: M. Marshall 9,3, 10, 2; C. Ambrose 9,2, 17, 0; C. Walsh 4,1, 10, 0; W. Benjamin 4,1, 6,1; R. Harper 2,1, 4,0; C. Hooper 1,0, 4, 0. WEST INDIES

(First innings 242/5) J. Dujon c Capel b Dilley. 67 R. Harper b Dilley . . . 74 M. Marshall not out ... . 43 C. Ambrose not out 7 Extras (lb 21, nb 3) . .. . 24 Total (for 7 wks dec.)... 384 Fall: 35, 77, 101, 175, 187, 281, 373.

Bowling: G. Dilley 281, 4, 99, 4; J. Emburey 25, 7, 54, 0; P. De Freitas 35, 5, 81, 1; D. Capel 12, 2, 38, 1; J. Childs 40, 12, 91, 1.