England v New Zealand

The match followed the same pattern as the first Test, New Zealand collapsing, recovering, but still being beaten rather easily.

Except towards the end the weather was a good deal better than at Edgbaston and a total attendance of just on 60,000 must be considered reasonable. There were 23,000 present on Saturday.

The England selectors omitted Barrington because of the negative methods he adopted at Birmingham, a momentous decision for it meant that at last positive action had been taken to make cricket more entertaining.

Parfitt was brought in and Snow gained his first cap, replacing Cartwright. New Zealand included Taylor for Sutcliffe, who was still suffering the effects of the blow on the head in the first Test.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat, but probably regretted it for in just over an hour four wickets went down for 28. All were taken by Rumsey in the space of 46 balls at a cost of seven runs.

He began by getting Congdon leg before to the second ball of the match, bowled Sinclair off stump in his fifth over and followed by having Dowling leg-before and Morgan caught in the gulley.

As at Edgbaston, Pollard showed fighting qualifies and some recovery came when he and Taylor added 92 in just under two hours for the seventh wicket. England scored 72 for two by the close, Motz dismissing both opening batsmen, Barber and Boycott, with the help of catches at the wicket with only 38 scored.

Rain caused the resumption to be delayed by an hour next morning. Then Dexter and Cowdrey took command and their stand realised 93 in an hour and three-quarters. Parfitt failed to find form, but Cowdrey and Smith put England right on top, adding 105 in as many minutes. Although worried by back trouble which restricted his stroke production, Cowdrey produced many fine drives and cuts while scoring 119 (thirteen 4's) in a shade under five hours. Collinge, taking four for 17, caused a late collapse and the last five wickets fell for 36.

New Zealand, 132 behind, cleared the arrears for the loss of one wicket. Dowling and Congdon began with 59 and Congdon and Sinclair added 90 by thoroughly good batting on an easy-paced pitch which became slower as the game progressed.

Reid, Morgan and Pollard, who made 55 for the second time in the match, carried on the good work. At one stage New Zealand were 206 for three, but the later batsmen failed and England needed 216 to win.

They scored 64 for the first wicket and an easy success seemed likely, but the game was made more interesting by a break in the weather. On the fourth day play could not start until 2.15 p.m. and three hours were lost on the last day. This meant that England eventually had to get 152 in just under three hours against the slow over-rate caused by the New Zealand preponderance of fist bowling.

As it happened Dexter and Boycott were in fine form, their stand adding 126 in two and a quarter hours and England won with fifteen minutes to spare. Dexter picked the ball to punish unerringly and hit ten 4's in his not out 80, made in two and a half hours.