ENGLAND v PAKISTAN 1978

At The Oval, May 26. England won by 94 runs. This was another easy victory, England this time being led by Willis because Boycott withdrew with an injured thumb. The crowd of 17,450 enjoyed a very fine hundred by the 21-year-old Gower after Wasim Bari decided to take the field. David Lloyd was called from the county match at Lord's to replace Boycott and he stayed with Gower until the third wicket fell at 63. Gower settled down immediately and, excelling with the hook and drive, reached 53 out of 78 off 68 balls. Roope gave him sound support during a stand of 105. Gower was not afraid to lift the ball, but only one such stroke went to hand-when he was missed at long-on off the left-arm spinner, Naeem. In a final flourish with Old, 53 runs were plundered from the last seven overs, Gower remaining unbeaten for 114; he received a standing ovation.

Mudassar, who had removed Roope and Botham in the same over, provided the backbone of the Pakistan innings, but until Wasim Raja arrived the stroke-makers failed. Haroon fell to a brilliant leg-side stumping by Taylor. At no time did Pakistan approach the required rate of 4.5 runs an over.