Date-stamped : 16 Dec94 - 14:27
England (M.C.C.) v North Zone
Jullundur, Dec. 12, 13, 14 1976 - Drawn

Although M.C.C. cquired a bigger total (389 for 6) than they  had
done on any one day of the tour so far, they could not make a bid
for victory. They were given further chance to do  so  by  Bedi`s
declaration  with  a deficit of 179, which entitled M.C.C. to en-
force the follow-on. There were two reason for M.C.C.   desisting
to  make a match of it. The principal one was another outbreak of
illnesses. Also, with the first Test following this  fixture  im-
mediately,  some  batsmen  had  to be given opportunities to find
their form.

This requirement determined the  batting  order.  Greig  went  in
first with Woolmer and both scored fifties; Woolmer, his first of
the tour. Brearley, at number three, continued his run of   size-
able  scored, but Fletcher failed. Knott made 71 in much the same
ebullient manner as his century at Jaipur and Old scored a robust
109,  which  he followed with 54 not out in the scond innings. As
one of the side`s two left-handers, Old was menat to play a  con-
siderable  batting  role in the Test matches and his success here
was most gratifying to M.C.C..

Although the pitch yielded spin, most of the bowling  for  M.C.C.
was  done  by the seamers while North Zone, batting for the whole
of the second day, scored 210 for 8. This was because Greig   and
Miller were both taken ill. North Zone`s innings was sustained by
Sunderam, who batted doggedly for almost four hours for 46.  Lev-
er, M.C.C.`s most successful bowler, took four for 51.

Batting again, M.C.C. occupied the middle until  only  two  hours
remained.  The  three  wickets that North Zone lost in the second
innings were all captured by Lever, whose match figures of  seven
for 59 ensured his place in the side for the first Test. Although
they did not win, M.C.C. derived considerable psychological   ad-
vantage from this game, for Mohinder Amarnath, due to play in the
first Test and expected to bat high up the order,  was  dismissed
for   nought  in  both  innings and  Madan Lal also had an undis-
tinguished match.

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