RAJKOT, INDIA, Reuter: Richard Hadlee followed a devastating spell of pace bowling with an impressive display of batting at Rajkot on Thursday as New Zealand drew the opening match of their Indian tour
After his nine-wicket haul in West Zone’s first innings of 253, Hadlee hit three sixes off one over from Atul Pandya to match up 27 quick runs and help New Zealand end the three-day match on 338 for seven in their first innings.
New Zealand skipper John Wright also opened the tour on top form, hitting a fine 104 which contained 13 fours and one six.
Wright who resumed the New Zealand innings on 118 with fellow opener Trevor Franklin, encountered little difficulty from West Zone’s modest pace and spin attack,
Franklin fell for 72 in the first over of the day without addition to the score. He was caught by wicketkeeper Sulakshan Kulkarni off the spin bowling of Bhavin Radia the most successful of the Indian Bowlers who finished with four for 74
With no chance of a result, New Zealand’s batsmen were contest to use the placid pitch for batting practice. Apart from John Bracewell, who made nine, all the batsmen reached double figures and Tony Blain slammed one huge six and four fours in an entertaining 45.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 11, 1988
