The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 14

14 SPORTS NEWS THE GUARDIAN Wednesday July 20 1988 Cricket England make drama out of a crisis 1 1111 1 As" Matthew Engel weighs up Chris Cowdrey 's Headingley prospects and finds an ominous parallel in the Tennyson Test of 1921 A captain who is not worth his place in the team has to be a figure of exceptional leadership qualities. Cowdrey may have them. But Kent, though they have had a decent streak in the Championship this season, had until last month been conspicuous under-achievers in his four years in charge. There is obviously an element of, urn, optimism in appointing him. There must also be a touch of favouritism, conscious or not.

Does anyone really believe Cowdrey would have been made captain if he had been Fred Scroggins from Barnsley or indeed Kim Barnett from Leek? Cowdrey's great advantage is that England can only improve; and that the selectors are now committed to him like shipwrecked mariners clutching frantically at a log. It seems probable that Cowdrey will take a very young (but no doubt optimistic) England team to India. Cowdrey is a superb fielder himself and if he could find a couple more players of similar ability (Parker? Prichard?) then England might just be able to recreate something of the bustle England had under Brear-ley, with the young Gower and Randall catching everything, a decade ago. But optimism is in the end no substitute for quality. And a very talented though ultimately wasted generation is in retreat Botham in a corset, Gooch wrapped up in himself, Gatting in disgust, Gower on the verge of being dropped its skills having been wasted by the abject management of the team over the years.

There is a country that pays good money for disgruntled Test cricketers willing to play there; perhaps that business is about to start again. One should hardly use the word "tragedy" in sports journalism. This whole appalling mess may well qualify. Richards might not have stopped laughing. Opinions on the choice of captain seem to have polarised sharply.

David Graveney, one of the most respected county captains, is a Cowdrey fan: "He's like Tony Greig in some ways. He's not frightened by any challenge and he gets runs and wickets at the right time. His figures don't justify the damage he does in a game. He's a very positive cricketer." Another county captain, who had better remain anonymous to preserve his chances of selection, makes a similar point the other way round: "Cowdrey's just an optimist. All he does is encourage people to play their shots and so he gets wickets.

He's like Botham with about 20 per cent of the ability." Positiveness, optimism, call it what you like, there is something to be said for it after the defeatism of Old Trafford. "When Tennyson entered a room," wrote Ian Peebles, "everyone smiled." If Cowdrey can persuade some of England's most, experienced players that there is pleasure to be gained from facing West Indian bowling then he will have achieved something. But it does seem just a little far-fetched. Cowdrey comes to the job in the role of Fortinbras; the stage is strewn with the prostrate bodies of his rivals. In his previous Test-match incarnation in India four years ago, Cowdrey five games: batting average 19, bowling average 72 played Rosencrantz.

(The Hamlet of English cricket, Gower, is actually playing in this Test, but you cannot expect total exactitude in these literary analogies). Fading away Maynard is bowled for 64 by Needham at Lord's yesterday after a stand of 79 with Shastri, and Glamorgan's hopes of beating Middlesex die with him. Set to score 314, they held on for a draw at 265 for eight. Needham finished with five for 125 photograph: frank baron Essex Lancashire Fairbrofher digs in for victory their interest in Viv Richards Lancashire have the reverse problem. This success makes it even harder for them to drop a batsman to bring in the fluent Cambridge undergraduate, Mike Atherton; Fowler and Jesty, who had been struggling, both made good runs on Monday.

The members of county clubs are always great ones for demanding the inclusion of youngsters. Lancashire's hopes now hinge heavily on Jack Simmons, whose season's total has just overhauled his age: 47 years, 52 wickets. He might yet end ud with a hundred, and Hughes, who combines a baseball stance with perpetual motion, made 45. If he had tried to bat like that when he started in 1967, the Lancashire committee would probably have sent for the police. Essex worked quite hard at dissipating a strong position.

Gooch declared before lunch, according to plan but, rather shame-faced, at 169 for nine, instead of from strength as expected. Only Stephenson, who almost carried his bat, batted at all respectably; and Essex now face a couple of tricky away games, at Portsmouth and Leicester, with four players away on England duty. now but the remark has passed into press box lore. Someone repeated it just after lunch at Southend yesterday when Lancashire were 32 for three and appeared to be folding rapidly. No one left, for their garden or anywhere else, until well gone six o'clock, when Lancashire beat Essex by four wickets off the first ball of the last over.

The transformation had been effected long before the end by Neil Fairbrother, who made 111 and shared two substantial stands, first with Mike Watkin-son then with his captain, David Hughes. The ball was turning a bit, and you could say that Quids Matthew Engel PAT MARSHALL was a splendid gent of military bearing who used to dictate staccato reports to the Daily Express in quite improbably fruity tones. Whenever a cricket match looked like finishing early he would announce: "I shall be in my garden." Pat has been dead 14 years Gloucestershire Somerset Festival blues Surrey Kent Clinton makes Surrey's day THE NEXT item on the sporting agenda is the fourth Test, starting at Headingley tomorrow. The people who run English cricket would love it to distil the essence of the golf: that sense of excitement and achievement; the record crowds; the Brits contending with the greatest until almost the last moment. Oh, well.

It might rain on the Saturday again so play can go on after the weekend. If the England selectors stick to their intended final XI, the team will include two Test bowlers (Dilley and Foster), a half of one (Pringle) and two quarters (Cowdrey and Gooch). One newspaper described the selection as It is certainly different. One is tempted to say that English cricket is now going through an unprecedented crisis. But we have lived through a lot in the past few years.

And there is, it so happens, a remarkable parallel. In 1921 the selectors also made seven changes for the Headingley Test, packed the batting and brought in a captain who was the most famous member of his family: on that occasion the Hon. Lionel Tennyson, whose grandfather wrote a bit. Tennyson was injured while fielding and had to bat almost one-handed. He made a gallant 63 and was acknowledged as the hero of the hour.

Australia won by 219 runs. It is quite possible to imagine a similar situation this week. I have this picture of Richards getting caught at cover off Cowdrey's opening over. They say Bradman got out in his last Test innings because he had a tear in his eye; Sussex confirm SUSSEX have confirmed an approach to Viv Richards. "We want to establish whether or not he's interested in returning to county cricket and if so what terms he would be looking for," said Nigel Bett, the secretary of Sussex, who finished bot- Yl-C Scoreboard Britannic Assurance County Championship mhhh HEX i MAwnmnn LorrVai Mlddx (Sots) drew wild Glam (4).

MIDDLESEX-First innings 420-3 dec (M Gatting 1BU, siacx ifcjno). OlMMMMb-First innings 298-4 dec (H Morris Br. ah eutcneraa, Maynard nj MIDD1ESEX Second bmlnaa (overnight: 58-0) 0 Carr st Metson Derrick S3 Slack not out 10S Ramprakash not out 24 Extras (b3, Ib5. nb!) 8 Total (lor 1 dec) 191 FaH of wfcfcati 98. Bowling! Walkin 14-2-53-0; Oerrick 1-3-49-1; noimes n-u-40-u; uniong ii.a-0-iso-u; snastri -i-n-u.

QLAMOROAN A Butcher Carr Cowans. IB 84 34' SO A Hopkins Cowans. Morris Slack Needham. Maynard Needham. Shastri Emburey Needham.

Holmes Fraser Neeonam Ontong Slack Needham Derrick and Emburey tC Metson not out Walkin not out Extras (Ib15. nb2) st 13 IB IV Total ((or B). 288 Met wlekotat20.23,59. 138. 145.213.237.

265. Bonllnoi Cowans 7-3-11-2: Frasar 13-2-32-0; Emburey 29-8-78-1; Hughes Z-0-4-O; Needham ZB-i-iza-a. Holder ana raimer. SURREY KENT OwSdfordi Surrey (Bpts) drew with Kent (7). KENT First innings 324-9 dec (R Pienaar 88, Ft Ward 72; Medlycott 4-80).

SURREY. First innings 303-7 dec (D Ward 70no, A Stewart 56). KENT Second Inning (overnight: 63-0) Benson Richards Peters OS Taylor Lynch Medlycott 114 Ward sub Medlycott SS TavarecMedleycottb Peters Pienaar Greig Medlycott Cowdrey Richards Medlycott. 0 Cowdrey and Medlycott SS tS A Marsh Peters Medlycott 11 Ellison not Penn not Extras (b16. Ib3.

wl. nblO) SO Total (lor 8 dec) 388 191.206.208.258. 276. 280. Bowllngi Bicknell 14-5-44-0: Patera 19-3-98-2; Greig 3-1-8-0; Medlycott 27-2-112-6; Stewart 3-O-9-0.

SURRSV A Feltham Marsh Penn. Clinton not out. 71 A Stewart and Davis. A Lynch run out IV io wara renn. 'C Richards Marsh Penn.

tl A Greig Ward Davis Medlycott Penn Smith not out Extras (IM, w3. nb4) ii Total (far 7) 188 a of wfekotai 78. 110. 114. 118.

120. 133. 130. aairihii Pienaar 10.4-2-41-0: ElllSOn '10-3-37-0; Cowdrey 2-0-0-0; Oavis 19-6-36-2; Penn 11-0-41-4. Umpire) A Whitehead and A A Jones.

County table Bt 61 Ma (141 12 7 3 30 37 ITS liaj 13 (St 13 5 3 i (SI 12 5 2 36 38 184 27 37 144 25 39 144 23 39 14S 13 44 13 27 38 1SS 30 33 1ST 27 35 188 22 38 Itl Warin(IB) 12 5 4 Netted) 13 5 6 Llos(3) 12 4 2 QJeue(IO) 13 4 4 tMdx(IS) 14 4 3 Nanta(7) 12 4 3 Sea (111 12 3 3 Surrey (4 11 3. 3 DeffevaM) 12 3 2 HeMa(n 12 2 4 Vorka(8) 11 2 Straaa(in 11 1 7 OJam(IS) 11 0 4 8 25 35 118 5 28 36 110 7 31 26 108 6 15 35 SS 4 If 35 TS 3 18 36 TO 7 20 24 44 Nolls Mai includes 12pta for win in. om-Innlnga match. Somerset total Includes 8pta for a drawn match In which scorn finished level. 1987 positions In brackets.

David Foot at Bristol THIS was Somerset's first championship win since the end of May. Gloucestershire, by contrast, have now gone five matches without victory and talk of the championship pennant returning to Bristol is sounding increasingly unrealistic. How do you start evaluating the profit-and-loss account of a cricket festival The marquees were full yesterday, but for home supporters too many departing Gloucestershire batsmen could be spied through the gaps in the billowing canvas. And there were too many malevolent things said about the bizarre-looking Bristol wicket. The home county's ambitions perished in 17 overs after lunch.

These produced a meagre 47 runs at a cost of eight wickets. Marks (four for 25) was treated with inordinate respect, though he bowled very well and got some turn. Rose again showed his unquestionable value as a first-change bowler, while Mal-lender had some belated and Miller, England spinners both, failed to make the most of it. But perhaps it is truer to say that Fairbrother seized the ini-tative. His innings blended excellent strokeplay, classical footwork and calculated risks.

Despite spending a winter on tour with England, cricket's anti-finishing school, he remains one of the nation's brighter batting hopes. Several times Childs passed Watkinson's outside edge in the early stages. And had the ball made contact then, the story might have been different. Instead, Watkinson survived and starting hitting the ball very hard. arm spinner operating at the other end, was smitten for six over extra cover by Stewart.

By holding one back, he promptly induced a return catch. When Lynch, ordered back to the non-striker's end by Clinton, was run out by Marsh's direct hit, two cavaliers had come and gone. Ward, bowled, and Richards, caught behind, both for ducks, followed in Penn's next over. The game had been transformed. Penn could now bowl at three slips; for Davis the leg-side boundary patrollers had become close-catchers.

Greig, pushing forward, found one of them, Ward, at short leg. Med-lycott, defeated by a soon Penn's fourth victim. Defiance was now properly in order from Smith and that worthy pro Clinton, who resembles one of those shifty Michael Pa-lin characters, the difference' being that Palin probably has more shots. Cowdrey withdrew Penn for Ellison's final burst, but apart from a short ball which Smith avoided in some discomfort, Kent were now firing blanks. Sport in brief Sailing British champion David Bedford took the lead in the J24 European Championship at Cowes yesterday, writes Bob Fisher.

Sailing Take 'em to the Cleaners, he won the third race arid came fourth in the next. Ice Hockey News that Cardiff Devils' coach John Lawless has signed Durham's Stephen and Ian Cooper on 300-a-week deals has enraged Tom Smith. "Lawless should clear off back to Canada and ruin ice hockey there," the Durham owner said, warning that "cheque-book hockey" would send all but two or three teams "to the Basketball Manchester Eagles have signed the Great Britain and Portsmouth forward, Colin Irish. 7.BO (Tf)i 1, SPANISH HEART, Cook (3-1 Fav): 8, Inspired Love (5-1); S. Engitajh Mint (7-2).

14 ran. (N Vigors) Tote: 3.00; 1.70, 2.40, 1.30. Dual 4.10. CSF: 18.94.' Trlcaat: 62.89. 8.SO (1m 3t 1, QOPAK.

W'R Swlnburn (11-2); 2, Aldorwy (5-1); 3, Bslnieradoaii (11-4). Buddy 2-1 Fav. 15 ran. 2'a. 1'a- (M Sloute) Tote: 870; 2.10, 1.90, 1.70, Oual 16.90.

CSF: 34.68. 8. SO (am 400 yda)i 1, EXORBITANT, Reld (3-1); 9, PraiM (2-1 Fav); 3, JaaJaU (11-1). 13 ran. Nk, a.

(R Houghton) Tote: 5.10; 2.00, 1.70. 2.70. Dual 3.70. CSF: E9.6C. Trlcaot: 55.88.

NR: Cassia Traveller (Rule 4 6p). joined Derbyshire, and will fill the overseas vacancy caused when John Wright retires in September. The 21-year-old rejected more lucrative offers from at least four other counties to gain experience as deputy to Michael Holding. ESSEX LANCASHIRE Lancashire (zupts) beat Essex (7) by six wickets. ESSEX.

First Innings 346-7 dec (G A Gooch 96. Hussain 80no. Miller 77. Stephenson 55; Simmons 4-83). First innings 227 (G Fowler 104.

Jesty 73; Childs 4-63). ESSEX Second fnnkrga (overnight: 74-1) Stephenson not out 84 Prichard Ibw Allott. A Border Hegg Simmons. A Lilley st Hegg Simmons-M Hussain and Allott 10 3 14 3 1 3 tD East Allott. A Foster Heoo Simmons.

Miller Allott Pringle Allott Extras (IM) Total (for 9 dec). 18S FaBof wrkets2. 74, 113. 115. 150, 150, 153, 159, 169.

Bowllngi Allott 20-4-59-6: Watkinson 6-1-28-0: Folley 5-1-11-0; Simmons 16-2-69-3. LANCASHIRE Second Innings Fowler Border Miller. Mendis run out IT 13 Jesty Childs. Fairbrother Steohenson Childs 111 Watkinson Childs TO 'D Hughes Border Pringle 45 A HsyhUrst not out 14 PWJ Allott not out 8 Extras (Ibll) 11 Total (for 6) 388 Fall of wfcketai 32. 32.

32, 176, 261. 281. Bowllngi Foster 12-1-54-0; Childs 28.1-8-79-3; Pringle 10-0-38-1; Miller 23-3-91-1: Border 8-3-16-0. constant ana r. paimer.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOMERSET Brfetob Somerset (21pts) beat Gloucestershire (5) by eight wickets. OLOUCESTtRSHIRBy-Flrst Innings 168 (C Alhey 56; A Mallender 4-47). SOMERSET First Imdnga (overnight: 166-8) Pringle Curran Lawrence 43 A Jones Russell Lawrence 38 Foster not out 8 Extras (bl. Ib7, nb5) IS Total (68.1 overs). 188 Mi of wtokets conti 185.

BowEngi Lawrence 11.1-3-30-2; Alderman 23-4-75-4; Curran 17-2-64-3; Bainbridge 11-3-16-1; Graveney 6-4-2-0. OLOUCESTERSHIRE Second innings A Stovold Burns Rose. A Wright Hardy Jones Romalnes Rose 38 IS 18 13 11 8 4 3 8 118 cWJAthevb Marks, Bainbridge Hardy Rose- Curran Hardy Marks. Alleyne Hardy Marks 1R Russell Burns Marks 'D A Graveney Ibw Mallender. 0 Lawrence not out Alderman Mallender Extras (Ib5.

nt3) Total- Faff Of WtaftCtSI 1. 42, 72, 76, 93, 101. 103. 117. 119.

Bowllngi Jones 8-1-26-1: Mallender 9.3-2-20-2; Roso 12-2-31-3; Marks 10-3-25-4; Foster 2-0-12-0. SOMERSET Hardy not out. 82 Roebuck Alderman Curran 28 Pringlo si Russell Graveney Waugh not out 1 Extras (b4. Ib2, nb8) 14 Total (for 2) 88 Fa of vrioketsi 69, 90. Bowtlnai Lawrence 6-1-38-0; Alderman 9-1-19-0; Graveney 7-2-18-1; Curran 3.1-1-12-1.

Kitchen and Leaooeater. Minor CountiM Chsunpkmship OM HBn Norfolk 242-6 dec (R Hugglns 71no. Handley 55) and 4-0. Staffordshire 234-6 dec (P Oliver 138no, 0 Cartledge 50; Thomas 4-63). Warrfngtom Berkshire 162-6 dec.

Cheshire 128-7 (N O'Blisn 52). Oifordi Cornwall 168-4 dec end 209-8 dec IP Stephens 77; I Curtis 6-89). Oxfordshire 171-5 dec and 207-9 (Q Ford 51, Lester 51; Toseland 5-90). Match drawn. St AEwnai Suffolk 188 and 196-9 dec (S Halliday 85no, Edrlch 50).

Hertfordshire 161 end 204-8 (N Wright 86; Groen 6-58). Hertfordshire won by 2 wkts. Stockton Cambridgeshire 137 (N Adams 52, 1 Conn 6-37) and 265-3 (I Lawrence 144, Gadsby 62). Durham 221-8 dec (N fllddell S3; Turner 5-63. Match drawn.

torn of the 1987 county championship. Richards, 36, who was sacked by Somerset in 1986, spent last season playing for Rishton in the Lancashire League, scoring 899 runs. Ian Bishop, West Indies' highly rated pace bowler, has NOTTS WOnCSSTERSiURE Trent Bridget Nottinghamshire (20pts) beat Worcestershire (5) by six wickets. WOHCESI EKSHIRaL First innings 159 (N Radford 65. lllingworth 58; 0 Stephenson 5-52.

Cooper 4-40). First innings 135 (G Dilley 5-46. Radford 5-67). WOIKSSTIMHffit-Seccmd innings 199 A Hick 76). muiajrofiifw Broad lllingworth Radford.

4 10T 24 3 S3 84 21 I nooinson not oui Newell Weston lllingworth. Johnson Ibw Dilley 0 Randall Hick Radford Birch not out- Extras (b3, Ib12, nbS). Total (for 4) 328 FaU of eafcketei 13. 78, 83. 140.

Bowllngi Dilley 15-7-25-1; Radford 15-5-46-2; Newport 13-2-37-0: Weston 8-1-33-0; lllingworth 21-9-41-1; Hick 6-0-18-0: O'Shaughnessy 1-0-7-0; Curtis 0.3-0-4-0. WARWICKSHIRE HAMPSHIRE debaatew Warwickshire (24pts) beat Hampshire (1) by an innings and 21 runs. KAMPSHIXSv-First Innings 122 (A Merrick 6-40). WARWWKSHIRS-Firat innings 300-3 dec (T A Lloyd 160no. A Moles 60).

HAMPSHIRE Second Innings (overnight: 9-3) Smith Munton Reeve 48 A Smith Small S3 0 Turner Humpage Merrick 22 Ayllng Humpage Munton 28 Jefferles Lloyd Munton 14 tfl Parks Ibw Munton 2 Tremlett not out 4 A Connor Merrick Small Extras (Ib2, wl, nb3) 8 Total. 1ST FaS of mrfofcets contl 75, ill, 111, 133. 145. 156. Bowllngi Small 22.2-6-55-2; Merrick 16-6-29-4; Munton 19-10-34-3; Reeve 11-2-34-1; Plerson 1-0-3-0.

Bain Cfafcrkson Trophy Taunton: Worcester 227-8 (P Bent 69). Somerset 229-7 (J Atkinson 123no). Somerset won by three wkts. Stratford upon' Avow Glamorgan 227-6 (P A Cottey 100). Warwickshire 223-7 (S craen si, a Hoogson o4).

Glamorgan won by four runs. South HanmOaitl Middlesex 125 (M Frost 4-19). Surrey 126-7. Surrey won by 3 wkts. Old Traffordi Lancashire 276-6 (N Speak 85.

0 Lloyd 62). Yorks 277-7 (R Blakey 56, Robinson 52). Yorks won by 3 wkts. PeterborouoCu Northamptonshire 211-5 (N Stanley 81no, A.Fordham 73). Nottinghamshire 137-9 (S Brown 5-22).

Northants won by 74 runs. flxturs TOUR MATCH (11.0-6.0).-Oxfon. Cheshire League Cricket Conference Sri Lanka. BRITANNIC ASSURANCE COUNTY CHAMMONSHIP (11.O-6.30).-Caiaeffi Glamorgan Warwlcks. Portamouthi Hants Essex.

Seuthpetti Lanes Surrey. Laieaa-fen Lelcs Derbys. NortliamptoM Northants Kent. Hovei Sussex Glouca. Woteeaasn Worca Yorks.

SECOND ELEVEN CHAMPIONSHIP. Cbataisfordi Essex Surrey. Lydneyi Gloucs Hants. Canterbury Kent Middx. OM Traffordi Lanes Yorks.

MncMeyi Lelcs Sussex. OM NorthametonUnsi Northants Nona. Weston a Mam Somerset Worca. kVaanin Warwlcks Glam. MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPION SH IP- Wilts nire Cornwall.

rffiST-CfJtss aviraoss BATTINO I NO Runs HS Avo 93.88 74.34 7228 68.42 61.46 60.87 60.45 5888 57.66 57.33 53.68 62.73 SRWaugh A Hick CWJAthay A Gooch AR Border MD Crowe MA Atherton PD Bowler GC Holmes Richards MA Lynch Slack BOWUNQ 14 5 845 137 1 1487 405' 1012 168' 1300 275 922 169' 487 136' 685 151' 1060 150 692 117 516 102' 644 103' 791 163' OvrsMdn 1192 41 -198 68 4155 118 457 120 313.2 82 1783 33 235.3 65 233.2 62 502.6 146 115.3 10 182.5 33 236.2 48 2593 59 RunsWckts Avg Mortensen 224 24 9.33 A Munton 435 878 1238 748 511 548 651 1255 359 541 778 710 33 13.18 55 15.96 75 18.50 44 17.00 30 17.03 32 17.08 37 17.59 71 17.67 20 17.96 30,1803 42 '1847 38 1868 ARC Fraser Stephenson NG Cowans NF Williams ST Clarke PWJarvIs KE Cooper PA Smith SO Fletcher KM Curran A Foster seems to have no thoughts of retiring to the garden. reward for all the times earlier on he had batsmen missing outside the off stump. Hardy, too, once considered as a suspect fielder, took four catches. In the process, Athey reached his 1,000 runs for the season and not so many more before he was unlucky to play on. Sto-vold hooked a six off Jones with one hand and was briefly entertaining.

But Jones had launched the final Somerset initiative with a wicket in his first over, to garnish a career-best 38 earlier in the day. Gloucestershire were all out for 119, leaving themselves only with wry backward glances at the surly wicket, and leaving Somerset to score a leisurely 93. Lawrence began with a particularly aggressive, over at Hardy, and Curran summoned up a splendid one near the end, during which he had Roebuck caught at third slip. It might have been a ten-wicket win, but the limping Pringle was stumped as he tried to hurry the return journey to Taunton with a mighty off drive. Hardy, with two sixes and plenty of composure, was 52 not out at the end.

the tour of India at least. England's other discarded opener, Broad, soon departed, caught off Radford by the second of two gullies, and Worcestershire's anticipated victory seemed to be materialising. But the foundations of a home win were then laid by Robinson and Newell, both of whom were determined to show that survival, though difficult, was possible. The morning session realised only 62 runs, and when Newell and Johnson departed within five runs of each other soon after lunch it appeared that all Nottinghamshire's graft and concentration would count for little. The arrival of Randall saw the innings released from its shackles.

The security of Robinson at one end allowed Randall to indulge his strokeplay at the other, which he did to splendid effect, announcing his intentions by taking three fours in an over off Weston. A nasty delivery from Radford finally accounted for Randall for 33, but Birch capably-filled the role. It was fitting that there was time for Robinson to reach a classic hundred. He cannot have scored many better. Nottinghamshire Worcestershire Robinson's unbeatable tonic out at the close.

At the outset of Surrey's reply, however, he must have glimpsed a more alluring horizon; a victory target of 310 in 53 overs, on this pitch and given the small boundaries, was definitely on. Kent, who had declared at 288 for eight, a total built around Neil Taylor's second championship century of the season, were for once betrayed by careless hands. Perhaps that observation needs qualification. The chances offered by Feltham and Clinton, to Davis at mid-wicket and to Benson at the gully, were tough. Penn, however, should certainly have taken Feltham at mid-on when the deputy opener was 22.

Feltham and Clinton had put on 77 in the 16 overs before tea. When Penn was given the ball in the second over of the final session, he quickly made amends, Marsh diving to catch-Feltham behind the wicket. That brought in Stewart, and with Lynch and Richards to come, Surrey were not short of optimism. It evaporated within four overs. Davis, the slow left- Cycling TOUR DB FRANCE.

Sixteenth stag (Tabes to Pail, 36km): 1, A Van der Poel (Neth) 46mln 38sec; 2, de Wilde (Bel): 3. Phinney (US); 4, Bontempl (It); 5, Elliott (GB); 6, Planckaert (Bel) all same time. Savantaanth stag (Pau to Bordeaux, 210km): 1, J-P van Poppel (Nelh) 4hr S8min 3sec; 2, Hermans (Neth); 3, Planckaert (Bel); 4, A van der Poel (Nelh): 5, Hosle (Bel); 6, Elliott (GB) all same lime. OvenB atandfcigM 1, Oelgado (Sp) 64hr 56mln 19sec; 2, Rooks (Neth) at 4:06: 3, Parra (Col) 4. Bauer (Can) 7:25: 5.

G-J Theunlsse (Nelh) 6, Herrera (Col) 8:18. AJsol 56. Kelly (Ire); 81, Millar (GB); 138, Yates (GB) all same time as van Pop-pel. Earley (Ire) retired. WOMEN'S TOUR DB FRAN CaL Eighth tags (Pau (o Mont de Marsan, 57km): 1, Simonnel (Fr) Ihr 48mln ISsec: 2, Brenne-man (US); 3, Larsen (Nor); 4.

Odin (Fr); 5, Vikstedt-Nyman (Fin) all same time. Overall standings! 1. Longo (Fr) 2, Canins (II) at 3, Hepple (Aus) 4, Vikstedt-Nyman 5. 1 Chiappa (II) 13:37. Sailing CRUOHTONW J24 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (Cowes).

Race 3s 1, Take 'em to the Cleaners (O Bedford, UK); 2, Cool Escape (P Heerema, Holland); 3, Marina (T O'ali. It); 4. Italian Job (I Pinnell, UK): 5, Just For Fun (J Brady, USAWG); 6, Plastic Bag (I South-worth, UK). Raea 4t 1, Just For Fun; 2, S'louche (S UK); 3. Parkview (S Mount, UK); 4, Take 'em to the Cleaners; 5.

Jalebreak (A Evans, UK); 6, Never Let a Dago By (NWhipp.UK). Evening racing FOLKESTONE 8.30 (f)i 1, IHTITHAR, Roberts (134 Jt lav): 2, Slater Ctiabrlaa (8-1); 3, AMaho (13-8 Jt Fav). 6 ran. 3. (A Stewart) Tole: 2.10; 1.20, 2.60.

Dual 6.50. CSF: 12.84. NR: Blue Danzig. 8.S8 (5l)i 1, WASIMAH, Pat Eddery (2-1 Fav); 2, KaU tearMI (11-4); 9, Lovefy Ban (9-2). 6 rati.

4, 2. (B Hanbury) Tole: 2.50; 1.60. 2.30. Dual 3.70. CSF: 7.37.

T.20 (81)1 1, BUTTER FINOERt, Whitworth (4-7 Fav); Moor Froiioklmi 3, Prim taint (8-1). 7 ran. 2iB, 1'a. (P Cundell) Tole: 1.60; 1.40, 1.80. Dual 3.20.

CSF: 4.45. Michael Henderson at Guildford CHRIS COWDREY arranged a declaration which balanced bat nicely against ball. He then watched his bowlers adjust the equilibrium with seven wickets after tea, but he could not quite deliver Kent's eighth championship victory in nine games before he goes off to captain his country. Two left-handers of differing styles stood between Kent and the win that would have stretched their 25-point lead at the top to one of chasmic proportions. Grahame Clinton, who once plodded for Kent, capably defended the last 17 overs in alliance with David Smith, who was batting at No.9 and using Jack Richards as a runner, due to the back strain which led him to withdraw from Surrey's first innings on Monday.

Cowdrey, alert to the last, switched his bowlers around but there was no more alchemy, and Clinton was 71 not Results Rugby League INTERNATIONAL (Auckland). Auckland (14) 30, Graat Britain (4) 14. Auckland! Tries Shelford 2, Tuimavava, Brown, Leolo. Ooalai Brown (pen, 2 con), Bancroft (2 con). Graat Britain! Tries: Gill 2, Ooalai Laughlin (2 pen, 1 con).

Tennis FRINCH INTERNATIONAL GOLDEN RA-QUET WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (Aix-en-Provence). First round: A Dechaume (Fr) bl Corsato (Br) 6-2, 6-3: Guam (Fr) bt Schilder (Nelh) 6-4, 6-1: Jagerman (Neth) bl O'Neill (Aus) 6-1, 6-1: Toms (US) bt Ter Rlet (Nelh) 6-3, 6-2: Meeker (Neth) bt Phan Thanh (Fr) 7-6, 6-1: Prebat (WG) bt Loosemoro (GB) 6-2. 6-3: Mam. (Sp) bt Cohen (Switz) 6-3, 6-1: Bonnet (Fr) bt Auer (WG) 6-1. 6-0: Oat (Yug) bt A Jonsson (Nor) 6-2, 6-2; Tara-Mnl (Arg) bt Quentrec (Fr) 6-4, 2-6.

6-3; Halard (Fr) bt Cavoizaslo (It) 3-6, 6-1. 6-4; M-C Calleja (Fr) bl Paquet (Fr) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5: DIM (Br) bt Galphin (Fr) 6-1, 6-1; Laval (Fr) bt A Vleira (Br) 6-4. 3-6. 6-3. Second round! Hanlka (WG) bt A Dechaume (Fr) 6-2, 6-1; Tarabinl (Arg) bt Mesker (Nelh) 6-3, 6-4; Fulco (Arg) bt Jagerman (Nelh) 7-5, 6-4; Bonrwt (Fr) bt Halard (Fr) 6-4.

5-7, 7-6; Darty (Fr) bt Grass (US) 6-2, 6-2. mm 0898 400 Paul FHzpatrick at Trent Bridge LAST YEAR'S champions and this season's prospective wooden spoonists are recovering very nicely. Nottinghamshire's six-wicket victory over Worcestershire yesterday, which carries them to the fringes of the championship battle, was a remarkable win by any standards. Against bowlers of the quality of Dilley and Radford you would not have risked your life savings on them scoring the 224 runs they needed. Why, then, did they succeed in comparative comfort? The pitch might have eased slightly, Worcestershire's bowling was not always as tight as it might have been, but the question can be answered in two words: Tim Robinson.

He has not been short of problems or critics in his first year of captaincy, but both are decreasing. Yesterday he was an inspiration, batting for just under five hours with barely a blemish. This unbeaten 107 must rank among his most impressive achievements and should certainly help to keep him in the selectors' minds for.