Cricket: Richardson rediscovers steely nerve at crease

HARARE - Mark Richardson was happy enough to arrive as a test cricketer yesterday, despite his horror dismissal for 99 in the last over of the day.

The New Zealand opener was given out leg-before to Zimbabwe's Mluleki Nkala with two balls left as New Zealand ended day one of the second test on 226 for four.

Richardson was playing only his third test innings, but had excellent credentials after scoring 212 for New Zealand A in England in July and then 306 in Kwekwe a fortnight ago.

But he doubted himself at test level after a double of six and 13 - both dismissals coming after loose shots - in his debut test in Bulawayo last week.

"I felt I was carrying a lot of baggage into this game. I overcame that and I'm pleased," Richardson said.

"I needed to show what I was capable of and show it quickly."

What he was capable of is something too rarely seen in the New Zealand top order in the past year.

Batsmen placing little value on their wickets has been a common downfall, seen again from others in the top four yesterday.

Richardson soldiered on without incident as Craig Spearman, Mathew Sinclair and Stephen Fleming fell around him.

He batted for 378 minutes and faced 258 balls against bowling designed to contain rather than dismiss the batsmen.

But then came the fateful raised finger from local umpire Ian Robinson when Nkala bowled around the wicket.



"He gave me a couple of balls I could have scored off and I ruined those. I got a very good ball that got me out, so I didn't give my wicket away, he took it," Richardson said.

The last time a New Zealander scored 99 in a test it happened twice in the same game - to Dipak Patel and John Wright against England in Christchurch in 1991-92.

It had happened before to Wright against Australia in 1987-88, with the dubious honour also going to Richard Hadlee against England in 1983-84 and John Beck against South Africa in 1953-54.

Richardson credits his time with a Dunedin sports psychologist as the reason for his hardened attitude to batting.

"There was a time a few years back where I was pretty excitable, a little bit jumpy at the crease.

"I've worked on identifying what's a good state of mind for me."

Coach David Trist said: "His mental game is in fantastic shape. You could just about do a PhD on him in that area.

"To get out for 99 is an injustice a cricketer has to endure, but his day will come and we're very lucky to have him."



Richardson and Nathan Astle steadied the ship for New Zealand, adding 135 in 195 minutes after they were 91 for three, having won the toss.

"They built a partnership that was vital for us to take the honours," Trist said.

For captain Fleming, the alarm bells are almost beginning to ring. In his last nine innings he has passed 50 only once.

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NEW ZEALAND

First Innings

M. Richardson lbw Nkalalu 99
C. Spearman c A Flower b Olonga 2
M. Sinclair c Carlisle b Olonga 44
S. Fleming c Campbell b Mbangwa 9
N. Astle not out 64
Extras (1lb, 5nb, 2w)8 - Total (for 4 wkts, 89.4 overs)226Fall: 5 (Spearman), 69 (Sinclair), 91 (Fleming), 226 (Richardson).

Bowling: H. Olonga 17 overs 5 maidens 59 runs 2 wkts (5nb, 1w), H. Streak 16-1-40-0, M. Nkala 10.4-0-42-1, M. Mbangwa 15-5-33-1 (1w), P. Strang 21-8-33-0, G. Flower 10-5-18-0.