Aiderman puts . in strong position

Press, 28 June 1989, Page 31

Aiderman puts . in strong position

NZPA-Reuter ' London Terry Alderman took his haul of wickets in the Ashes campaign against England to 19 yesterday as Australia moved within sight of a 2-0 lead in the six-match series. Aiderman put the Australians firmly in the driving seat in the second test at Lord's with a late burst of three wickets with the second new ball after the beleagured England captain, David Gower, had gone some way towards answering his critics with his fifteenth test century.

. At the close of the fourth day England was 322 for nine, only 80 runs ahead. Alderman’s impeccable line and length brought him the early wicket of Mike Gatting after England had resumed at 58 for three, and then the scalps of Robin Smith for a battling 96, Neil Foster and Paul Jarvis as England’s

hopes of saving the game dwindled. He ended the day with figures of six for 111 from 34 overs.

England’s hopes of a facesaving draw had been raised earlier by a spirited fifthwicket stand of 139 between Gower and Smith. Gower’s 106 — his first test century since the second match of the 1986-87 Ashes series in Australia — could not have been better timed. He was rebuked by the chairman of selectors, Ted Dexter, on Sunday after a hasty exit from a news conference the previous day when his game tactics had been called into question. Gower showed no signs of the pressure as he and Smith dug England out of a hole. As usual, he gave full value for money, spicing his 198-ball innings with 16 fours. Gower, dropped by Geoff Marsh in the gully when he had made 26, eventually fell

to a catch at backward short leg by Allan Border off a rearing delivery from Merv Hughes. ENGLAND First innings 286 Second innings G. Gooch lbw b Aiderman 0 C. Broad b Lawson .... 20 K. Barnett c Jones b Aiderman 3 M. Gatting lbw b Aiderman 22 D. Gower c Border b Hughes 106 R. Smith b Aiderman ... 96 J. Russell c Boon b Lawson 29 J. Emburey not out ... . 21 N. Foster lbw b Aiderman 4 P. Jarvis lbw b Aiderman 5 G. Dilley not out 4 Extras (b 5 lbs, nb2) ... 12 Total (for 9 wkts) 322 Fall: 0, 18, 28, 84, 223, 274. 300, 304, 314. Bowling.— Aiderman 34, 6, 111, 6; Lawson 32, 9, 89, 2; Hughes 22, 7, 40, 1; Border 9, 3. 23. 0; Hohns 12, 5, 33, 0; Waugh 4,1, 16, 0. AUSTRALIA First innings 528