Cricket: Lathwell halts England's slide

England A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

New South Wales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-1

MARK LATHWELL scored the third first-class century of his career to steer England A out of trouble on the opening day of their match against New South Wales at Sydney yesterday.

He hit 103 out of England's total of 238 and dedicated it to Sir Donald Bradman as he defied the New South Wales spinning duo of Greg Matthews and David Freedman.

'Something of Bradman has rubbed off on me. This innings was for him,' he said. Four days after shaking hands with The Don in Adelaide, Lathwell confessed: 'I haven't washed since.' The great Australian batsman was not present to see the innings.

Only the 21-year-old Somerset batsman and Lancashire's Graham Lloyd looked comfortable against Freedman, a left-arm spinner, who finished with a career- best 6 for 89.

Lathwell, a major discovery on the tour, punched 15 boundaries in an innings lasting a fraction more than three hours. The acting captain, Jack Russell, said: 'Lathwell's innings was near genius, a brilliant performance with so many of our more experienced batsmen struggling.'

The England team manager, Norman Gifford, added: 'This boy's got so much class. His timing is superb. He reminds me so much of Derek Randall.'

He showed great maturity for a player on his first tour and put on 106 in 26 overs with Lloyd, who scored 60, to steal the initiative from the Australians after Tony Middleton, Mike Roseberry and Paul Prichard had departed with England struggling at 68 for 3.

Lathwell was bowled by the wily Matthews before the tail collapsed as dramatically as the early order batsmen had before lunch.

Somerset's Andy Caddick removed Mike Slater with his second ball as NSW replied with 32 for 1 in the final hour.

(First day of four: England won toss)

ENGLAND A - First Innings

T C Middleton c Chee Quee b Freedman . . . . . . . . . . 21

M A Roseberry c and b Freedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

M N Lathwell b Matthews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

P J Prichard b Matthews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

G D Lloyd c Gilchrist b Freedman . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

D J Capel c Emery b Freedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

* R C Russell lbw b Matthews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

A R Caddick c Emery b Freedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

D J Millns b Matthews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

J Boiling c Bayliss b Freedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

P M Such not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Extras (lb 8, nb 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

Fall: 1-44, 2-50, 3-68, 4-174, 5-182, 6-220, 7-221, 8- 221, 9-226.

Bowling: Holdsworth 14-4-44-0; McGrath 16-4- 47-0; Freedman 28.2-6-89-6; McNamara 6-3-10-0; Matthews 17-5-40-4; Bevan 1-1-0-0.

NEW SOUTH WALES - First Innings

M Slater c Russell b Caddick . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

R Chee Quee not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

A Gilchrist not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Extras (w 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Total (for 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Fall: 1-5.

To bat: M Bevan, T Bayliss, B McNamara, G Matthews, D Freedman W Holdsworth, G McGrath.

Bowling: Millns 4-0-14-0; Caddick 4-1-7-1; Capel 2-0-8-0; Such 3-2-3-0; Boiling 1-1-0-0.