Date-stamped : 21 Dec96 - 06:14
10 December 1996

Pressure On Astle Abates As He Rediscovers Touch

KARACHI -- The pressures of touring Pakistan eased a little for
Nathan Astle on Sunday when he finally delivered the goods for
New Zealand in the third and final one-day cricket international
at Karachi's National Stadium.

Astle emerged from the biggest form slump of his brief career to
blast a hard-hitting 60 from 66 balls to set New Zealand on
course for its seven-wicket win which reduced the margin of its
series loss to Pakistan to 2-1.

For the Canterbury all-rounder, success at the crease was a long
time coming. Seven previous one-day innings on tour in Sharjah
and Pakistan had netted him just 111 runs as he struggled for
confidence and timing.

"It was a hard tour until today," he said before rushing off with
his team-mates to Karachi Airport and a plane trip back home.

"It was just good to get some runs under my belt, but it is the
end of the tour and I'd have liked to have got some earlier on."

Astle's return to form coincided with him returning to the
opener's role which he last filled in the early stages of the
Champions Trophy limited overs tournament in Sharjah last month.

"Today I just went out to concentrate on watching the ball and to
forget everything that had happened before. I just wanted to play
the way I know I can play."

It was the Astle of old as he collared the fast bowlers in a
67min slugfest which rewarded him with six fours and a solitary
six, a pull over the mid-wicket boundary off leg-spinner Mushtaq
Ahmed.

"The track was very slow and the quicker the bowler the easier it
was to play," Astle said.

Coach Steve Rixon, who had stuck by Astle during his times of
trouble, was particularly pleased to see the 25-year-old
rediscover his touch. -- NZPA


Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz)

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