ENGLAND v. NEW ZEALAND

Toss: New Zealand.

New Zealand have never been closer to beating England than they were on the final afternoon of this match in which Illingworth's side were outplayed almost throughout. Only a mature, dedicated second innings of 178 by Fletcher enabled England to escape. Fletcher, after a long series of disappointments in home Tests, except against the Rest of the World in 1970 when he scored 340 runs, average 48.57, rose to the occasion and denied New Zealand what would have been a well-deserved triumph.

It was a close-run thing for when the number ten, Arnold, came to join Fletcher two hours remained for play and England were no more than 70 runs ahead. Arnold snicked the third ball he received from Pollard, but Wadsworth could not grasp the ankle high chance. Had that catch been accepted England would almost certainly have gone down. Congdon had every reason to be disappointed for he had played another fine innings of 175 and was superbly supported by two other century makers, Burgess and Pollard, as New Zealand ran up their biggest total against England.

England were put in on a humid first morning, a move foiled to some extent by Boycott who batted in skilled fashion until trying for his third six he hit a catch to square leg. England had reached 148 for two just before tea and then five wickets went for 47 runs to the bowling of Dayle Hadlee and Howarth. Only some lusty hitting by Greig, who was missed early on, carried the innings into the second day.

The final wicket soon went down on the second morning of a day of slow scoring and slow over rate as New Zealand consolidated their advantage. Turner and Parker were both dismissed by the time the score had reached double figures, but Congdon and Hastings defied the bowlers in a partnership not broken until five minutes from the close. Congdon became the first New Zealander to make three centuries against England and Hastings, badly missed by Fletcher off Illingworth when 21, supported him admirably in a stand of 190, a new third wicket record for New Zealand against England, surpassing their own effort at Nottingham in 1969.

England could take only three wickets on the Saturday when a crowd of 25,000 saw the New Zealand batsmen gain complete command. In the morning 70 runs were scored for the loss of the nightwatchman Howarth. In the afternoon, when Congdon finally fell after a stay of eight hours thirty-five minutes, 92 runs were made while a further 130 came in the closing session of under two hours. Burgess's second century against England included many fine drives and cuts. Old missed him off a difficult caught and bowled chance before he had scored but thereafter he was rarely in difficulty. His partnership of 117 with Pollard was a sixth wicket record. Pollard, after a slow start, played some amazing strokes against the new ball, running up the pitch to Arnold and Snow.

On Monday, New Zealand batted for a further eighty minutes, Pollard becoming the third century maker in three hours fifty minutes. Old, who had replaced the unfit Lewis in the England side, took five for 113 on his first Test appearance at Lord's. Illingworth alone of the main bowlers did not concede over 100 runs.

To their credit England did not overdo their caution in trying to avoid defeat and this was unnecessary because the pitch played well until the end. Boycott and Amiss gave them a fine start with a sprightly partnership of 112 in two hours. Boycott again played stylishly and effectively until, like Amiss before him, he hit a full toss from Howarth back to the bowler.

So England began the final day, 224 for two, still 74 behind. Roope stayed to make his second patient 50 of the match, but thereafter Fletcher carried the main burden and he responded coolly and with authority, realising that runs were as important as time. Howarth purveyed his left-arm slows steadily and when he dismissed Illingworth, after a sixth wicket partnership had lasted nearly two hours, there was a batting breakdown which left England perilously placed. Following Arnold's escape Fletcher hit out, taking 16 off an over from Pollard. The new ball failed to effect a breach and finally, as at Trent Bridge, New Zealand took the honours but no victory. By the time the gallant Fletcher was caught on the boundary five minutes from the close he had gained new status as a Test player while batting for six hours and a quarter and hitting two 6's and twenty-one fours. Attendance 75,000. Receipts £59,495.