ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND 1978

At Manchester, July 17. England won by 126 runs. England ran up the highest total since the Prudential Trophy series was introduced in 1972, to which New Zealand made a half-hearted response until it was too late. They lost five good wickets in the space of eighteen deliveries. The final defiance came from the broad-shouldered Cairns as he pulled Edmonds for four 6s in making 60 of the last 67 runs.

England understandably made a cautious start after losing Gooch run out before the board started rolling. Soon Radley was thumping the ball in his own inimitable style, using his energy to make sure that every blow counted. First Gower, in a stand of 105 runs in seventy-five minutes, and then Randall, while helping to put on 89 in fifty-three, bustled along with him. Finally Botham had his go at the wilting Kiwis.

Over-enthusiasm brought Radley a warning about running down the pitch, and a suggestion - to which he agreed - that he should change from spikes to crepe soles, but the bowlers could not stop him. He remained unbeaten with the highest score by an English batsman in this competition, having hit eleven 4s and batted three and a half hours. Cairns, who took five for 28 in the first match, was hit for 84 runs in eleven overs but overall did enough to warrant selection as New Zealand's £250 Man of the Series. Radley took that for England, along with the Man of the Match award.