The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 24

THE OBSERVER, SUNDAY 26 JULY 1981 SCYD BERRY V1V RICHARDS, in taking Somerset to a crushing vic tory over Surrey, set a remarkable record even by the final two balls to the Tav-his standards in making his ern. It no coincidence that During his resuscitation of Surrey" after a constipated start. Knight missed often outside off -stump when the fast-medium bowlers were on. In Test cricket today stay on. In the one-day game they give way to more modest right to dispose of Howarth at mid-en and Nigel Popplewell took a blinder running in from deep midwicket to catch Sylvester Clarke, when a West Indian hurricane- was building up which would have carried Surrev past 200.

Apart from his outstretched dive, Popplewell's catch was commendable for being made in the face of a dummy run from Marks, who almost crossed his vision and trampled over him. If Viv Richards had also caught Knight when only nine, a catch that he, if no one else, would have expected to make in mid-leap from mid-on, Surrey might welt have disintegrated for under 100. Knight, however, stayed for 46 overs, hitting Somerset batted in sunshine, whereas Surrey's batting was mostly as sombre as the wea- rhrr Richards, who mav have Been born in Antieua but has become an adopted son of Somerset, won tne man ot tne matcn award. He looked so hungry to destroy Surrey's bowling that Somerset might Have won without the contribution of Joel Garner, but without his performance and Roger Knight's it would' have.been a final with little distinction. i- dtWTOSrSS.

3E for hit nl.vor tn hP nirkPd for for that player to be picked for England, in the case ot Knignt, the only Englishman who en-joved a look-in yesterday, those calls will be added to the opinion that he' should take over the Eneland captaincy medium-pace, and it was off "wlln6 that Knight made Ws runs, uprightly, at times even handsomely, in the cover drive. For restricting Surrey to 194 for eight-, wickets, Somerset vere primarily indebted tj Joel Garner, who even at 6 ft 8 in. manages to.grow in stature with every Lord's cup final, for West-Indies, or Somerset. ITS, in i rr hie ouTse'Jere; but he harnever conceded so few as 14 runs, his parsimonious best in the and Cup. Four of Garner's wickets came in his second spell at the end of Surrey's innings.

He bowled the left-handers, smitn ana when Mike. JBrearley three- Thomas, with yorkers that left to make a single, before play-Test trouble-shooting: is over, them standing and their off- ing on to his off-stump; Clinton But well as Knight played, he stUmps on the ground. Rose used 4G balls to make six. be-did not play that well. might have brought him back fore driving to mid-off.

After Knight is one of our best 'around lunch-time for a short an hour Surrey had made 16 county cricketers, no more or burst at Knight, but Garner off IG overs, less. Upricht with the bat, use- himself did everything asked of Nothing was notably trouble- i-- T. 1 1 TI.ii 111111 UJC 1.1 ILACLtl SIIIJIU dUUUl U1C SYI LKCU I lit the world's iost dangerous bowling was tight, and restric-bowler in the phe-day game. tive. Garner' predictably and ful with the ball, he still falls short of international class-, though he' might have attained it had he got to Australia in his Cambridge days, as, a long shot on England's tour 11 years ago.

fcAMONN McCABE Knight errant Surrey' captain loses his balance (and almost his lance) in a galloping joust with Rose. siber as siitaateLn) GiDiflfiilliift pin a Geoff Miller resigned yesterday as Derbyshire captain, admitting the job had affected his form. It is the county's fifth change of captaincy in seven years. MICHAEL CAREY reports rJ.T.lBla.Vb I than before lunch Somerset economv of Bdtham and Garner. When Somerset had scored 22 for two after seven overs, however, it was anybody's Surrey's hopes were largely dependent on the early -dis- missal of Viv Richards but their attack could find no way through SWAPPING county captains in mid -season is a long established tradition in Derbyshire, like well-dressing and Shrovetide football and this year's event, shrewdly timed to avoid a clash with tne Koyai weaaing, tPnrpr! to overshadow some hiah rla.

hatrino hv Kent at Derbv yesterday, Benson, a promising left hander, and Tavare, whose name is aiready known in highest circles, both made centuries and Kent recovered trom me stickiest of starts to make 348-3. With the ball deviating, sometimes at varying heights, Kent's initial progress was erratic. Fortunately for tlicnr a couple of chances, which might, have exposed the middle order to the new ball, failed to stick and ironically the fielder involved was Wood who had taken over the captaincy because it was said to have affected Miller's ability to concentrate on his game. Was this, one wondered, a Catch-22 or, may be even a Drop-22 situation The first. the master.

He is the best for tour which rapped the pavi-sidc player in the game, his foot- lion, rails with considerable work cat-like' and, with all the force. Gimmes Somerset's fielders were, also restrictive, Surrey not pressuring them until after lunch. Peter Roebuck tumbled 'to his "Uniefih the world to find the Sometimes, ambitious, he gets himself out but here he looked as though he had an appointment with a century. Roebuck while Richards continued stio dazzle the Surrey attack. which had remained steady throughout the Somerset inn- Bdtham received a wonderful reception from the crowd.

He opened his account as he left off at Leeds with a straight drive CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH plan; but the next hour was not so. for the tourists ran into a whirlwind. Cumbes, 37 years of age arid only playing in place of the injured Alleyne, was the agent of destruction. He owed ot-hino t-ii fhn hntCmon'c subconsrfolis death-wish, iudu- 1I1K U.T 3UUIC JUICIIIHCIOLC an uw three Australian wickets 1-7 wi at slip reaching off. balance, Dyson yourkefl leg-stump tnree runs later, and Hughes leg before, a thoroughly injudicious pull at that Cumbes had taken three for three in six overs -before Border, hesitant and lucky early, and Kent, a tall upstanding striker and perhaps the very man they are waiting for, took them to 97 at the close with firm businesslike batting.

When Worcestershire batted, Alderman had Weston leg Lord Rice-papering over the cracks TONY PAWS0N at Trent Bridge NOTTINGHAMSHIRE are joint top of the county championship after dismissing Lancashire for 150, with Hadlee's five vicitms making him briefly the season's leading wicket Allott, whom he had just overhauled, promptly retaliated by dismissing Weightman on his championship' debut, and Notts ton found batting a struggle as they slid to 31 for three The lack of balance in. the Notts side is a shortage of class batsmen. ThisHas been masked far by the all-round ability of Had lee and Kice wno were again' the dominant performers. -Lancashire, by contrast; continue to suffer from the long term sickness which keeps them ir an awkward one, was not costly for Woolraer never suggested he would be around for long. But the second, when Benson had made 22, was more straightforward and expensive.

Hen-drick was the unlucky bowler on each occasion. Benson, it seems, is now being given an extended run as an opener and this pitch, which calls for a degree of irasting styles as Dyson and Botham able to score and bowlers always kept hope- lui. Hadlee and French snatched two wickets in the opcnins over. Kennedv's dismissal was self-certified, ihe batsman walking without waiting as the keener took his diving catch. O'Sbauehnessy, by contrast.

recorded vieorous uissciu pointing to his arm and appear- ing reluctant trt leave. He bad to make way however, for Llovd to launch a typically languid attack which soon did grievous harm to bowlers' at Ascot and ti pleasure for all those who came to see this superb racehorse in action. He totally dominated the opposition as he had done in his four previous races this season. What more can you want Shergar will have one more race before his final appearance at Longchamp in the Arc de Triomphe on 4 October. The lucky 34 breeders who allocated a share in him at 250,000 each have more than doubled their money bv vesterdav's success.

If Storm Bird can be sold for S30 million this horse is worth at least double. He is a great boost for English racing, as his sire Great Nephew stands in Newmarket and has already produced the Derby winner Grundy and( the French Oaks winner Mrs Penny. Madam Gay is also a credit to English breeding for-' her sire third successive century in a Lord's final. -His ''undefeated 132 brought Somerset the Benson and Hedges Cup with all. of seven wickets and 10.3 overs' to spare, and sent Surrey home rmpty-handed, the bridesmaids again.

the man from the small island of Antigua who relishes the big occasion, followed his centuries in ihe 1979 World Cup and Gillette Cup Fnials with another of equal regality. Antigua, since Nelson built on it the biggest dockyard in the Caribbean, is renowned for entertaining pretentions to grandeur; but Richards's batting has the grandeur without any pretentions. With Ian Botbam in bis Head-ingley form (with bat if not ball), Richards sealed the match with the only batting that rose above a subdued occasion. Remarkably, it was the first time that the two champions had batted so harmoniously together for so long usually they stage a shoot-out in which both soon perish trying to eclipse the other. Richards and Both am hit off the last 87 'in 14 overs.

By the end the West Indian was toying with the bowlers, driving them liver extra-cover and nearly over the boundary, then pulling None so CRICKET reverted to normal at Lord's yesterday after the Boy's Own Paper' stuff at Hcad-ingley last Monday and Tuesday. The Benson "and Hedges Cup Final made a quiet, refined start. It is amazing what a sobering effect playing at Lord's has on all of us. including Jan Gotham and Viv Richards. The drive through the W.

G. Grace gates, the scrutiny of the pavilion attendants and the walk through the Long Room on to the most famous cricketing turf in the world makes the best of us- nervous and apprehensive. I am sure both captains hoped to win the toss on a grey morning with a slow outfield after the heavy rain of recent days. Somerset, having won the toss and hoping for a tine day, uiu not hesitate to allow Surrey to have first use of the wicket. Somerset have in Botham and Garner the best new-ball bowlers in the country.

Some Indication of their class can be appreciated by the difficulty which Surrey had in coping with the first 18 overs which gave them 18 runs for the loss of two wickets. I could see no way of scoring UltliK nom earner, inc oris in. ivesi Indian. The ball leaves his hand at a height of over 8 ft. Ball after ball.

was just short of a length. I suppose he is strong enough to bowl a half-volley, but they were non-existent on a nice, comfortable Lord's pitch. Botham is the more attacking bowler of Hie two with his varia tion in length, but Garner would be my man every time in a limited-over match. His five wickets for 14 runs was as good a piece of bowling as I have seen for a long time. Left-handers have given bowlers plenty of headaches and yesterday Knight held Surrey together with intelligent' bats-manship.

With sun and perfect light in the afternoon, and an outfield considerably quicker SCOREBOARD BENSON HEDGES CUP FINAL Surrey Somerset AT LORD'S SCJKKEV Clinton KuiMmck Marks 6 Ridiards Garner Kniuhl Taylnr Garner ..92 I Howanh Roebuck Marks ..16 A Lynch Garner Ponnlewcll ..12 DM Smiih Garner Clarke Pnpptewcll Garner ..15 It Koopc noi ntn 14 1 Thumas Garner 0 13 lackman not out Extras lb 2. lb 14. nb 11 Total (H ivkis. 55 overs) Fall or nickels 1-4. Mb.

3-f3. IS-166. "-IS2. S-IS3. H.ivOirtR Garner 11-5-14-5: Botham 11-2 l-l-U: Dridne H-l) Marks 11-5-24-3 Ponnlewcll 1 1 -0-45-1.

SOMERSET Rmc Jackman 5 0 132 i-37 1 Denntns Clarke 1 Richards not oui I' R.irbnek Kniehi I KiMham not out Extras tnb I) Total 3 wkn) ")7 Fall at wickets: 1-5. 2-5. 3-1 10 Howling S-l-24-1: Jackman 1 1-1-53-1: Thomas 5.3-0-52-0: Pocock Knidhi 9-0-41-1. iumcrscl hil Surrey by 7 witheti. SCHWEPPES COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Derbyshire Kent vl DKRBV KENT First Innings A Wnotmcr Taylor Tunniclilfc 1) Benson Hcndrick Tunniclitle IBS Taylor Oldham 156 Crmdrcv not oui 5h Eira.s'(nh 7.

Ib 2) (3 kts) (lllll overs al 3111 for 2) Bnmis points Kent 4. Ocrhyshirc Nottinghamshire Lancashire Vr NOTTINGHAM I.AC-SHIKI'' First InnimK A Kennedv French Hadtec 0 Fowler e- Hacker Hadlee 14 1 0'ShaUHhm-ss French Hadlee 2 lovd 'hw Rice 5V Huithes Kice nacKer ii 1 11 Abrahams French Hadlee It Kriily French Cooper Simmt(ns Hadlee Radford Conner I 1 Scon noi oul 1 Allolt Hacker Elras 'II- 4. II ...7 ...21 Ioi.ii is7.J overs) 150 Vail ol wickets 1-0. s.tUH. T-Hw- K-24.

-I26. Uowlinu Hadlee ltt-4-47-5: Rtce Hacker U.3-h-35-2: Cooper Riiiius puints Noltlnshnmshire 4. I. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: First mninBS p' A Iddd Radford ..19 i Allott ') Randall Kennedy 1 i Rice uoi oui Uexier not out Extras fl-b 2. I) 36 3 Totai 13 wkts of wickeis 1-15 3ft overs) 2-22.

3-31. I Shgair proves he's HGne kestt and middle of Surrey hatting. Knight had to rescue Surrey, having been put in, from that constipated start. Jack Rk hards pushed up the order in place of Alan Butcher, took 23 balls Marks rattier more surprisingly so. "Until Knight was under full steam Surrey seemed to suffer from', an approach not quite methodical or positive enough.

First to challenge Somerset's dominance was not Knight. but Monte Lynch; the immigrant from Georgetown Guyana, rapidly becoming a cult figure at the Oval: Lynch has class, and no mistake. He hit a six off Marks and two fours off his toes that breathed Somerset's 'early stranglehold was completed by ah inner ring of fielders, led by their bene-liciarv, the lowrslung Peter Dennine. and an outer ring of their.supportersi'up at dawn- in villa'ees -of. and three names imagfc.

More than once indeed they rjoeli born is the kins; of Somerset. oesiues mcr.oai uuwims figures 'for a Brand final from Garner, somerset's supporters could also "acclaim the highest score. by that man Richards. uM tive times. bowled him.

Worcestershire o.s red fluently for: a while in a-partnership of -67 for the third wicket between Younis and Neale. in his baptism as captain. Hogg's mpst eventful over finally broke it, three no-balls, three positive strokes, and Neale leg before, on the ninth delivery. V4nrwa t-Vi a i oH i ml in. then duced a thick edee and a sharp -u a V.C1L1.11 J1UII1 I UUJI19.

i auu Birkenshaw strueeled dourlv An -fnr Henderson hung out his bat for a nopeful airing, ana with the hutch door gap- inp whpn Pafpl lift hit nni brave straight six off Bright (and post-war record with Gifford when the two of them at the wicket totalled 82 summers between them). Younis. after his brush with umpire David Evans over what constitutes a wide, has been fined 100 by Worcestershire and -by the Test and man's club. But two runs later going for his fourth six he was spectacularly, caught on the boundary by the elastic Mendis, who somehow, stretched his arms at least three feet above his head. At that, only a late charge by Phillip (33) and Hardie (29 not" out) enabled Essex to top Ranasinghe the indignity of being struck for 15 in one over by Lilley to bowl his tormentor in his next over and finish with four for SO.

but the fairly sparse croyd enjoyed more than somewhat the sight of spinners tying the batsmen down. The Sri Lankan batting made nonsense of the shrewd field placing by Ray East, the stand-in Essex skipper, their running hetiveen the wickers and their exuberant strokes making a win look likely from Phillip's' first over. After sharing an opening stand of 76 with his skipper Warnapura, Wettimunv went ori to hit the day's top score of 64. with seven fours, one nf them a tremendous drive on the up past the bowler, Pringle. Finally to the deliehted cheers cneertui ano elegant tnumpmg by Dtas, Mendis and Ranasinghe saw them home.

DAVID TAYLOR whileBell, 21. used his explosive sprint to beat and Kostadinov at Stirling after 93 tough miles. That day's ride lifted him to fifth place overall, behind the four Czechs. Czech track riders took the first two. "places in the- 4.000 metres individual pursuit qualifying round of the Coupe d'Europe le Coq Sportif series at Middlesbrough yesterday.

Martin Penc, who covered just over eight laps of the Clairville track in Smin 4.23 sec beat his countryman Ales Trcka by just over four seconds. With the postponed sprint event still to be held in Zurich on 4 August, Crechoslovakia are in a strong position overall in the team series. Britain moved up one place thanks to Shaun Wallace winning the ride off for third place from Paulo di Martino of Italy in min 1.26 sec. CO con 2 pis. Away Win 1J Pl- Horns Win 1 lies oetore in his second over and Gounty cncKet uoaru tor mis Hogg, who had had Scott plav- week's match with Northamp- ing and missing five consecu- tonshire.

How to win friends THE gnats were flying low over JOHN PARKER the Chelmer yesterday so the local pundits forecast, correctly, DGD willing assistance, the rush be can. Simie of his strokes tended to contradict those who think he is not at home on the back foot, although this pitch was not ouick enough to test anyone's reactions. At one stage he gave himself room to ilog Hcndrick over extra cover- for four and he and Cowdrey cobbled together 50 runs in only eight overs to ensure maximum baiting points. By the time he fell to the lust ball of the day, Tavare had made the highest score of his career, passing the 1,000 run mark and Derbyshire's bowlers, like everyone else in the club these days, were full of resignation. The tall Allott lacked Hadlee's movement off the scam but he, too, made the ball fly from a length.

The unhappy Weightman looked in need of borrowing Allott spectacles as he vainly tried to sight the -lifters before eventually ducking into one which kept low enough to have him Ibw. Randall self-destructed as so often through inability to resist the temptation to hook early in his innings. With Todd beaten by a brute of a ball, Notts were struggling in turn. Rice, however, was instantly in the form which has brought him five centuries in his last ten innings, three of them; oh this Trent Bridge nitch which others find difficult. (Iml CKACKlNt; FORM Franca Viiwiilini).

15-S ii fav. Muditon Style. 20-1. 2: Rzmmanalle. IS-X it fav.

1. Ii. ran. Ill: Jl. II' Walwyn.) Toic I2n.

47p. tin. Dual Forecast: 3.0.1. CM" 2.35 (6f CIRCUS RING IW Swinburn. 4-fi fav.

Apples of Gfll, II I. 2: Hunt The Ihlral.lc. 211-1. i. ran.

nil: HI. IM Stouter Tote lXp; lop. JSp. Dual l-'rrcca 1.15. CM-: 5n 3.20 flm -10 SHERGAR (W Swinburn).

2-5 fav. 1: Mudam 411-1. 2: Flncul't Cac. 4(M. i.

7 ran. 41: hi hd IM Slouic.) Toic I2p: Up. 45p. Dual Forecast ft 21. CSF 3.SS (fif) COI1RINCTON IS Cair-then).

11-2. I Mrnitckin. ri-l. 2: Snccl Av 10-1. .1.

14 ran. Fllao 11-4 fav. Nk; 21. Ill Hills'.) Tulc "Op: 24p. 24p.

lOp. Dual Forecast C2.1M. 4.2S (2m) AVYABAAN (P Eddery). 15-2. 1: Critnin.

7-4 it lav. 2: Rlaht Reccni. 7-4 ii fav. 1. ti ran.

(J Jenkins.) Tote: "Op: Up, lOp. lip. Dual Forecast 4So- 5.0 tlnir Hll.LSDOWN COLD (K Crossley). 511-1. Tugnkne.

7-2. 2: Allillirk' Buy. '1-1 lav. ran '(1 Hutlcr). Tote: 5.99.

67n. I2d. Up. Dual Forecast 21.43, Placeoot 9.35. Jaeknoi Noi won.

Toic Double: 12.10. Treble: t5J1.05. BEVERLEY I.4S (2m 3fl CHEMIN DK'GUKRRK (M Birch). 5-2 fav, Systems A nahtf. 9-2.

2: Alcock, 7-1. 9 run. 41: Jl. IM Easicrhy.) Toic 27p; Up. 22n.

Hp. Dual Forccni CSF CI I.I5 (1m) (K Street). 9-4, 1: Cardinal Flower. 2-1 KyclHibt, 9-1, 3. 7 ran.

til, 1,1. (B Hills. 1 Tare: 12p: I2p lu.n cas( CSF 74p. 2.4J (50 RUSSETING IP' Youna). fi-5 fav.

1: Wllch's Polnl. 7r2. 2: Pal Puns. 20-1. 1.

II ran. 31: 21. (W HasUnas-Bass.) Tote: 20o: lOp. Up. 79p.

Dual Forecast: Ifip. CSF: 6lp. Non-runners Jolly Buralar A- Phantom Flyer. 3.IS (7f GOLUEM LISLE Sea-uravc), 5-2 it fav. Pride of" Fair lie Id.

2: Philip Henry. J-1. 1. ft ran. Kve-Law 5-2 it lav HI.4J Eihcr-iTiKton.) Tote: JSn: Iftp.

Dual Forecast 11.83. CSF 4(06. Non-runner Granny Sue. 1.45 (7f) CYRIL'S CHOICK (M Wt'Kham). 1 1-8-fav.

Minsvtcrn. 9-2. 2: Meet Uiuicc, 11-2. 1. tan.

1)1: 41. IS Mcllor.) Vpte: 22p: IHp. 22p. Dual Forecast: 50p. CSF 79p.

4115 (Sf) HUMBLE BI.IIK (J Hill-cms. 11.10 fav, Superlrunill. 1-1, 2: FlyitiB Tyke, 5-1. 1. 6 ran.

Fletcher.) Tote I4p: H)h. 24r. Una! Forecast 21p. 4.45 (Im 4f- IIMBKI1 TRACK (M WtBham). t-11 fav.

1: Browne Kellpsr. 5-2. 2: Naliane. 12-1. 1.

1 ran. (E Weymesi. hue: lip. Dual Forecast lip. CSF I4p.

I'laccpnl 10.65. NEWCASTLE 1.30 (I Charnock). M-l. 1: Allico Unlimited. 12-1.

2: Waller 7-4 lav, 1. 12 ran. II; nk. (Deny Smiih.J Tote: JilJift; 17d. 3()P.

Iln. 2.0 dm) F.VNOAritiO TIME ru Johnson). 11-10 fav. Afrlcanos. 9-2 Show lit Hands, t-2.

1. fi ran. II; 21. (M Hills.) rote 22p: ISp I4p. 2.11) I5f)-IOUCM BUY 11 Jvcs), H-l, Hutch Girt.

6-4 lav. 2: Jot Collins. 11-2. 3. ran.

Sht hd: 4L (J Bcrrv.) Toic 2.03; 84p. I6p 3.0 171 MILK' OF THE BARLF.Y Ivcsl. 2-1 fav. Premier Rose. 9-1.

2: Ganimeile. 6-1. 1. 6 ran. Hd: 111 O'Gorman Toic: 2Sp: Mb.

54p 3.30 OO-IDLF. WARRIOR (E Hide 7-2 ii lav, Caribbean' Dream. 50-1, 2-ISap Hand, 7-2 it fav, 1. 1 1 ran. 1 nk' Hizicrahl.) Toic 43p; 20p.

2lp, npj 4.0 tm 4f 60yd) PRINCE MAJ (fi Hide). 4-7 fav. Dark Proposal, 7-4' 2: Scihournc Rccurd. 13-1, 1 7 ran' 51; 41. (M Stoute.) Tote 12o; Iflo, 4.10 II h'cap) CARI.iON II ALL t.M Fry).

7-2. Prlrslcrotl Boy. 7-1 2: I Oyslun. I5-H lav. 1.

9 ru J': )J. Smith.) Tote: 19p; yn' 14p. WARWICK: CO: 1. Casslcy Riser 111-11 fav. 2.

Clounish 7-r. 3. Trooper Scrscini 10-1. .30: I. Kalayan l- 2.

1-Clliim 5-4 fav. 3. Acushm Macrec K-l. 7.0 1. Dayara.

8-1. 2. Nnnsmler 2-1 fav. 3. Friendly Sparkle 0-1.

7.25 1. Steelworks 9-1. 2. His Master's Voice 11-4 it 1, Minib.mk i 7.51): I. All Moss 13-R.

2. Oratavo I fav. 1. Oklahoma Star 11-2. 8.20: 1 Mercy Cure tfi-l.

2. Sami 7-4 lav Byroc Buv 25-1. 8.50: 1. PhylHra 2ll-i' 2. Graf Traiin tl-l.

1. Blackncy Poiui "It THE Aga Khan's dual Derby winner Shergar fulfilled the wishes of his most ardent admirers as he became the' eighth Derbv winner to follow up with a victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot yesterday. A slow early pace set by Lester Piggott on Light Cavalry from Master' Willie nearly caused Shergar to get shut in as thev began the turn into the straight. Walter Swinburn admitted he was worried at the time, but as thev swung into the straight Light Cavalry left him an opening on the rails. Master Willie was in close contention bur these two began to drop back as Soon as Shergar went ahead.

Then Madam Gay and Pelerin put in their challenge but to no avail. Shergar came awav from his field in the style of a' true Madam Gav, four lengths winner of the French Oaks, ran a suoerb race to finish second four lengths behind him at the line and a short head in circumspection, was a good test of his temperament. He is however, tjuick to recognise that a half volley is a half volley anvwhere and with time to adjust he met few problems later and even hooked Hcndrick for four when the England bowler, like his colleagues, lapsed into expensive shortness. By the time Benson was caught at slip, lie and Tavare had added 147. in 54 overs.

Tavare had begun carefully, like a prospector knowing that gold was here somewhere is only be were patient. It took him three hours to make his first 50. but then he struck a rich seam and with Cowdreys analyses perceptable elfort. Lloyd probed the gaps in the close set field, but so powerful was his straight driving that field placing appeared an irrelevance. The left handed Fowler has made such progress this season that lie was by no means overshadowed by his partner despite Lloyd reaching his 50 in just 158 minutes.

Fowler, was going well before he mis-hit a hook. Thereafter it was Lloyd nr nothing, except for a few brave blows bv Allott. Once Rice had beaten Llovd's forward stroke the innings subsided tamely despite some wayward catching which mav be another handicap to Notts' title chance. Star Appeal stands at the National Stud. He won the Eclipse Stakes and the Arc de Triomphe and now Madam Gay Is a definite runner for the Arlington Million in Chicago at the end of August.

Shergar was quoted at 2-1 on by the William Hill organisation for the Arc. After the race trainer Michael Stoute said: I am very relieved. It was a great thrill to see him give such a performance against older horses. I'm delighted. I would like to give him one outing before the Arc.

Walter Swinburn admitted: 'I was a little bit worried-coming into the but Shergar quickened so well. The Aga Khan appeared to share those words for he said: I wasn't sure the horse would find a passage the rails. The others had the run on him. He will probably have two more races before he retires to stud and I shall be sending six marcs of my own to as the, Aga Khan's colt has done impression on expert watchers in the two seasons of hjs career so far. Phi) -Bull, who is surelv one of the finest judges, says quite simply that Shergar is the best horse he has ever seen.

No doubt the son 01 urear win reinforce Mr Bull's conviction by taking the Prix de I'Arc oe Triomphe in October, but there will still be some of us who will wonder what would' have happened if this magnificent creature had been obliged to take on the pick of the previous winners of that great French race. Ribot in his time was invinc- mere nave oeen. too, siuniuiigiy brilliant horses in the US since the war. Secretariat had a defeat or two on his record but when he was right his talent took the breath away. What sort ot a pro- digv is it that wins an American v.io.ion- uj No one can ever sav for cer tain if Shergar would have held his own with these and a few other freakishly gifted horses had it been possible to bring them together in one race.

But that won't prevent all of us who are addicted to the racing game from filling the air with vehement opinions. THE Australians must have approached their final canter before the Edgbaston Test still faintly stunned after the events of Headingley. One absentee who would have been equipped and only too happy to rub it in was Worcestershire's captain and fellow-Antipodean, Glenn Turner. Without him, and with- -LU111V-1. IUIUUL linn, ou our urmrqu oroKen arm, aim Allevne (ankle injury ana crueny wnen ne was me aui of exterminating ftiiumesexj: of themselves and Hughes was not too dazed to appreciate it when he put them in and bundled them out, for.

189 ber fore tea with Extras unusually high among the scorers Alderman was exercised only gently but Hogg struck a few sparKS irum tne unrestpuiibive wicket with three for 23 before lunchr bowling 12 no-balls in the process and afterwards Bright, and Beard, with an interesting medley of off-spin and little nibbling seamers, shared the remaining six wickets. All comfortably according to TOUR MATCHES Worcestershire Australians AT WORCESTER WORCESTERSHIRE: Kf'rst InninBS Wcsidd tbw Aldcrnian 2 At Hage A Ncalc Ibw Hosg -S Younis Ahmed Border Hour JG Paicl Ibw Beard 2H Henderson Alderman Beard 4 1 Birkcnsbaw Bright 32 Finhtr Briuhl Beard GilTord not -out A Pridncon Brishl Cumbes Border Brijiht Extras (1 III. l-b 4. ii-b 17) 3 11 i 31 Total 1) Fall of wickets 1-3. 2-16.

3-83. 4-1(6. 5- 102. 6-142. 7-I5S.

8-164. Bowline Hung. 16-6-42-3 Alderman. 7-2-17-1: Brisht. Beard.

27-11) AUSTRALIANS First Innings Dyson Cumbes 9 Wood Berkcnshaw. Cumbes A Border not out 43 Hughes Ibw Cumbes 5 Kent not owl 37, Extras (lb 2). Total (3 wkts) :,.7 Fall of wickets: 1-8. 2-11. 3-17.

Essex Sri Lanka AT CHEt MSFORO ESSEX A Gooch Meii.ns Kaluocruma 59 Gladwin De Mel 3 A Lilley Ranashinsc Herbert Maducalle Ranashinae 4 Pont De Silva Ri Prinntc! Wiiesuiiiya Philip Madycalle Kanashince 33 Hardic not out East Ibw AViiesuniya 2 N. A 1-osier si Dcvapriya Ranashince 3 Easi nor oui Extras (b 6. lb 7. 131 26 Total (9 wkis. 50 overs) 213 Fall of wickeis l-lx.

2-52. 3-6J. 4-1114. 6-137. 7-IS4.

S-t)2. Bowline De Mel s-l-27-1 Rana-shinuc IO-2-50-? Warnapura 3-ft-1 5-t A De IO-2-3I-I Kalupeiuma 10.1-29-1: Wiii'snrivi '-2 SRI LANKAN'S Wamapura Gooch East ..35 Wctiimuny and Herbert .64 If Dcvapriya East Herbert 2 Bias East Herberi Mcndh c. Prinfile 27 Madimalle noi out -Jl A -Ranashingc Gooch b-Foslcr ....22 A F.De Mcl not oul I. Emras fb 2. Ib 2.

w3, nb I) 8 Toial (6 wkts. 47.4 overs) ..214 FaU. of wickets 2-78, 3-138. 4-139. 5178.

6-211. Bowline: Phillip 5-0-25-0: Foster R.4-1-52-0: Prinsle S-2-29-1: Pont 6- 0O1-0 East Herberi 10-1-31-3. Sri Ijinkuns bent Esse by 4 nickels." OTHER MATCH Ireland Scotland At DUBLIN Scutlanil Hrsl Inniiian III lr (D I. Br-n nor ont TODW'S MATCHES TOUR MATCH Worcester: Worcestershire Austra-fians (I.3U-7 pm). JOHN PLAVER LEAGUE omi llcrln Derbyshire Ren.

Chelnisforrt Esser Yorks. thhvi Vale Glamoisan Sussex. Leicester Leicestershire Nous. I'riiia Noriliams MiddlcstJ. I he surrey Lancashire.

Birmiiiulmm Warwickshire Hampshire. i i i I III! that there would be no rain over Chelmsford. The Sri Lankans took advantage of an unexpectedly to win more friends and their SO-over match against Essex-by four wickets with "two-and-a-half overs to spare. Essex may well have underestimated their visitors, still celebrating their elevation to the' lofty heights of the international cricket set. The home team left out five regulars Fletcher, McEwen, Lever, Acfield and Turner and never reallv mastered the largely spin attack of the Sri Lankans who won, the toss and.

put their hosts inr-tb bsuV obviously treatina it as practice-in-the-middle, took two hours live minutes over 59, including two fours. In the 21st over he moved two paces down the pitch and lazily lifted Kalup'eruma for six. Then he went back to sleep for 10 more overs before suddenly doing the same off consecutive balls from De Silva. He went in to lunch looking susniciouslv at his apparently adequate bat and came out after wards Bearing weapon, stained an ancient dark brown, somewhat resembling a cave CYCLING loitering near the bottom des- pite such individual talent as Allott's formidable fast bowling and the versatility ot enve Llovd. When Rice put them in it was Llovd who led from the front on a wicket which made for and Dexter gave their innings entertaining olav.

The one sour note from the recent exhilarat- nlaintr that the pitch was not up to he sandard required by ench a match How pleasant it was in fact to see Test cricket played with a finish always in prospect, uasmen 01 sucji ton RICHARD BAERLEIN front of Fingal's Cave with Master Willie fourth. After this magnificent result which took his winnings past he 400.000 mark I asked Phil Bull bow he. rated the latest champion. He replied I rate him 5 to 7 lbs better Mill Reef and the equal or one pound better Sea In other words, I queried, he is the best horse you have ever seen said Phil. It wasycerlainly the most im-pressiw winner of this particular race that 1 have ever watched for he beat in Master Willie and Light Cavalry two top class four year, bids and in Madam Gay another classic winner.

You cannot want better than that. The time was poor due to the slow early pace but that was against Shergar rather than in his favour. It was the most exciting race of my career on the turf HUGH MdLVANNEY the. clients experience their rac- jng excitements vicariously through O'SuIlevan, Lindley and Wilson, or Scott and Oaksey. It was as one of nuge company of television race goers ttiat this reporter chose to follow the King George.

Ascot was only an hour away but it seemed somehow right that if Shergar was about to pass into the most elite circles in the sporting folklore of the nation the elevation should be witnessed as most of the millions acclaiming him would witness it. on the tube. The rewards were considerable. We who did our cheering at home were marvellously served by the BBC. Julian Wil- son's preview of the race must nave maae it almost impossime for even the most casual Saturday afternoon viewer avoid turning to the Ascot coverage at 3.20 when Shergar put his reputation on the line.

The horse has more than extraordinary statistics to make nm a compelling star. The fact tends to win his races by street-lengths and the wide spread agreement that he was a ludicrious bargain when syndicated for 10 million as a sire would be enough to draw most peopled attention to him. But self-sufficiency to go with the calm temperament so appreciated by his handlers in Michael Stoute's yard. When he broke loose and was suddenly lost among the lanes and roads around Newmarket between his victory in the Epsom and Irish Derbies he contrived to do far more harm to his trainer's Tine laying off old) gEnostts Comments nerves than he did to himself. Citriir fplt Hiat he wai decades as the increasingly desperate search for the missing mammon wpnr on out wnen Shergar was handed over by a van driver as an anonymous stray to the Henry Cecil stable there was not a scratch on his body or any evidence of a scar on "his psyche.

He had apparently taken himself for a quiet trot'about the countryside, man aging to avoia tne encounters with heavy traffic that might so easily have left him a mangled No checking Czechs THE programme listed only six opponents but every one con nected with Shergar knew that he was racing against a lot of horses that did not go into the stalls at Ascot yesterday. As he went to the post for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes the ghosts of great thoroughbreds of the the past were all around him Winning the 92,000 first prize, was. in a sense, the least of his problems. What his admirers were asking of him was a victory sufficiently dramatic and brilliant to underpin their belief that he is as remarkable a racehorse as has been seen in action this cen-turv. When 19-year-old Walter Swinburn brought htm smoothlv awav from his field to finish four untroubled lengths ahead of his fpmale rival.

Madam one Gay, there was certainly no weaken ing of the case for placing Shergar with the handful of his breed whose immortality is undisputed. But we can take it for granted that arguments over how he should be rated with such as Ribot. Sea Bird II, Mill TJoeF and Niiinskv (to name just a few of the outstanding animals mat nave competes on this side of the Atlantic since the war) will continue to enliven evenings among the knowledgeable groups around heap, and once his identity had ible from the sprints to long emerged he was returned to his distances, was a double winner proper quarters as ready as he of the Arc in 1955 and 1956 had ever been to humiliate the and would have been a worry-best racehorses in Europe. His ing opponent for anything on ramble had taken nothing at all four legs. Sea Bird II Slaugh-out of him.

It had, indeed, been tercd his Derby field at Epsom almost as leisurely as his races, in 19G5 and he won his Arc by There was some slight hint six lengths from Reliance, the that trouble was threatening French Derby winner, with a yesterday as Graville Starkev formidable assembly of inter-on Maram Gay ranged along- national contenders strung out side Swinburn just about the behind. Mill Reef, whose time that the young rider was wonderful galloping action was preparing to begin his run for glimpsed again on yesterday's the line. There was a definite preview, had an air of irre-chance that space for the dial- sistibility on his big days. And THE CZECH squad arrived for the Scottish Health Race hailed as the best team any country could field. Unfortunately for the other nine teams in the five-day race, that proved to be the case.

When the race ended in Strathclyde Park vesterav thev took all die top honours, the first Tour places overall, the team prize, the points award and the Observer King of the Mountains prize. Just to ruh it in they also won four of the five dailv stages, at Ayr. Perth. Leven and Strathclvde. Top man was Milan a 24-vear-old from Bratislava.

He took the -lellow jersey of race leadership after winning at Perth and was never challenged for the lead. Proving his superiority, he went on to win the next two stages as well. The only bright spots for the home faris were the perfor-mancs of Great Britain's Steve Joughin and Mark Bell. Joughin, 22, won the prologue time trial CM.CM!CM!CJ the bars of Newmarket and apparently ne nas, Dy way or Chantiliy and in pubs where additional, appeal, an independence of mind, a touch of cool lpnoe would be inttioitlngly tight -but a horse of Shergar's quality deserves a share of luck (the ind that must have attended him on his wanderings around Newmarket) and now I.iehr Cavalry under Lester PiSsntt hunc a little to the left ano ulioweo awxuuuiu uuuun. Then he fading Master Willie was passed on the inside, the race was over and history was being made.

Four otner norses nao com pleted the treble of Epsom rwh Triiti fWhir and Kine George before Shergar but none of that quartet, not even Nijinsky, made as deep an t- t- CO Check tor Liltlewoods. Vernoni and Zstters. Scoie Draw 3 pt- No-Score Draw pt..