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Hick rolls back the years

Tuesday, May 11 2004

New Zealand vs Worcestershire
Day 4 - 10th May 2004

Worcestershire 270 for 9 dec and 318 for 6 dec
New Zealand 379 for 7 dec and 77 for 1


Just when the new generation of Black Caps scented their first blood of the tour, along came a golden oldie to deny them. Graeme Hick won't be playing for England this summer, but today he gave an impressive reminder of what he is capable of, and the highly rated New Zealand bowlers were unable to do a thing about it.


This was a real blast from the past - 204 runs from as many deliveries, with 27 fours and 8 sixes to keep the umpires warm. Bearing in mind the quality of the attack, the degree of dominance was quite extraordinary. As only Moore (29) and Hall (32) passed 20, this was match saving of a quite spectacular nature. Without Hick, the tourists would have won the game by tea. Instead, it was comfortably drawn.


None of Bond, Tuffey & Martin managed a wicket today, which wasn't in the script, and Bond & Martin both disappeared to all parts for about six an over. Presumably they will improve by the first test. Instead, what damage was done was primarily down to Daniel Vettori, who finished with highly creditable figures of 3 for 47. Styris and Oram also each claimed a wicket.


Once Hick passed 200, Smith declared and set a notional target of 210 in a couple of hours. Mark Richardson thought better of it and instead demonstrated his subtle variations of the defensive arts in mustering 20 runs from 75 deliveries. Scott Styris made a rather more adventurous 44 from 50 balls to provide some late-in-the-day entertainment for the crowd. However, Michael Papps failed again, making only six before falling LBW to Harrity.


Posted by David