N.Z. UNABLE TO GATHER THE HARVEST

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 19

N.Z. UNABLE TO GATHER THE HARVEST

Three Dropped Catches And England Recovers

( By R. T. Brittenden)

DUNEDIN.

New Zealand lost a golden opportunity of achieving something much more than respectability on a rain-ruined third day of the second test with England yesterday.

In a catastrophic 20 minutes three catches were dropped , and England, which had lost its fifth wicket at 119, was able to ’ recover to 181 for five. | On a morning full of interest New Zealand took a wicket with the first ball of the day and took it in a strangely lethargic wav.

G. A. Bartlett bowled what would, in any but a test bowler, be described as a slow long hop.

The England capain. M. J. K. Smith mistimed a hook and gave V. Pollard an agonising few seconds’ waiting for the ball to descend just forward of square leg. After that there was a genuine air of conflict as M. C. Cowdrey and J. T. Murray held on rather frailly against N. Puna and R. C. Motz. both of whom bowled particularly well. But when the chances went to ground so did the bowlers. Before lunch New’ Zealand was on the defensive against Cowdrey, batting in his most accomplished style, and Mur-

ray who, playing his first innings for a month, also gave an attractive display. In the first sunlit half-hour England scored no more than 13 runs and then lost the left-handed Parfitt almost as soon as Puna had begun to bowl. Puna was able to turn the ball away from the bat quite perceptibly and Parfitt, playing an off-drive without a great deal of conviction, was easily taken by Pollard at i cover. That was at 119. i For the next hour New Zealand was firmly on top but I unable to gather in the hardest. i Murray was badly beaten ;by Puna, and then, in a somejwhat desperate effort to hit I him. Murray snicked one past ‘the wicket-keeper, Petrie. Only

three runs later Cowdrey made a firm pulled drive off Puna and Shrimpton, at midwicket, dropped a straightforward catch. Cowdrey edged Motz almost to Petrie and Puna, moving to his left, failed to hold a difficult caught and bowled off Murray when the batsman had made 28.

Cowdrey edged Motz almost to Petrie and Puna, moving to his left, failed to hold a difficult caught and bowled off Murray when the batsman had made 28.

difficult caught and howled on Murray when the batsman had made 28. During the period of New Zealand’s ascendancy. Motz was all determination and vigour. New Zealand very badly needed to contain Cowdrey and to attack Murray, and Motz denied the batsmen runs most successfully, nine overs costing only eight runs. It was a bad first hour for

i England—24 added, two wickI ets lost, two chances given. ! But the second hour brought 53 without further loss and there were some splendid attacking strokes. Bowling Attacked Murray on-drove Puna gracefully for six and hooked ’ another well backward of ■ square off Bartlett, with su- ■ perb timing and daring. Cowdrey turned the ball off his pads with his old, easy t assurance and drove firmly ! on the off side. ‘ It was a disappointing morning for the New Zealand team. Had Cowdrey been , caught there was a distinct , possibility that New Zealand I would have enjoyed the luxury of a first-innings lead , again, and such a distinction r in successive matches against I England would have been s something quite new. s Bartlett was suffering from a groin injury yesterday and • never looked as swift and hostile as he had done on Saturday afternoon, but Motz dei nied the batsmen much comfort and Puna, until his line i wavered a little under punishment, looked a very useful bowler, ! There was another set-back when Shrimptian, suffering from influenza, left the field . before lunch. . Rain Sets In

Just before afternoon play was to begin rain set in and a start was not made until a little before 4 p.m. Then after 11 balls had been bowled there was a successful appeal against the light; and no sooner had the players left the field than the rain set in again. It will now need al] England's skill and an appalling ling display by New Zealand for this match to be brought to finish.