00:00At the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in August 1978, Geoff Howarth rose to the occasion with
00:06a masterful display of batting.
00:08The New Zealand best man crafted a scintillating knock of 123 runs off, 291 deliveries, spending
00:15336 minutes at the crease and striking 14 exquisite boundaries.
00:20It was an innings of immense character, combining patience, timing and elegance against a probing
00:25English attack.
00:26Geoff Howarth's brilliance ensured New Zealand reached a competitive total of 339 in their
00:32first inning, setting the stage for what could have been a gripping contest.
00:36But cricket, as ever, is a game of two innings and the second proved disaster for the visitors.
00:42New Zealand's batting line-up crumbled under pressure, bundled out for just 67 runs in
00:47a dramatic lap that ended all the hard work of Geoff Howarth's heroics.
00:52England chasing a modest target secured victory by seven wickers.
00:55For Geoff Howarth, it must have been a bittersweet memory, his individual brilliance shining
01:00at the home of cricket, yet his teammates falling to provide the sport needed to turn his artistry
01:06into a famous New Zealand triumph.
01:13And Howarth onto it quickly, worked it away through mid-wicket and just about get four for it.
01:26Now it's sliced away, there's nobody down there at third man, and so Howarth, that's a second
01:31boundary to score, moves on no to eight.
01:38It was nicely played, he gave himself room for that.
01:53Once again to Howarth.
01:54I'm not sure, let's cover the shot.
01:55Nice into position and fairly cluttered it off the bat, pulled through the covers for four.
02:08It's worked it away nicely past slip, brings up a very comfortable fifty-four half, then we move through to take three runs for it.
02:33That's a fine shot, that's four runs all the way in.
02:52They really are giving it a bit of a clubbing out there.
03:05This is a splendid shot from Geoff Howarth.
03:11It's got through very nicely by Howarth, overpitched ball, driven firmly through for four more, takes him into the nineties.
03:23It goes on to 91, score on 262 for five.
03:28Geoff Howarth been battling away for the best part of four and a half hours on 99 now.
03:33And has made no mistake this time, overpitched, and he's absolutely delighted.
03:41Great performances by the New Zealander.
03:44Goes through to his third hundred and touch cricket.
03:47They've all been made against England.
03:49Two in New Zealand last winter, and this is a place that he desperately needed to make one.
03:53He's done it here at Lords.
03:54He goes to 103 out of New Zealand's score of 278 for five.
04:17A slight change of action there, lovely shot.
04:20No need for anybody to chase that.
04:22Perfectly timed, clutch straight.
04:32And that's it.
04:33There's a nick, it's caught behind.
04:34Botham snapped up the wicket he wanted, that of Howarth.
04:37Eight men are out now, score on 321.
04:40And Jeff Howarth, after a stay of a little over five and a half hours, is caught for 123.
04:47Very reliable and safe hands of Bob Taylor behind.
04:59No doubt, Jeff Howarth produced one of the finest innings of his test career.
05:03An effort built on courage, skills, and immense determination.
05:07Batting not just England's bowling attack, but also the efforts of influenza.
05:12Jeff Howarth reached his century with his 12th boundary, just minutes before stumps,
05:17guiding New Zealand to 280 for five.
05:20His stay at the crease touched to five hours and 40 minutes, yielding a valiant 123 runs.
05:26The highest score of his test career laced with 14 crisp force.
05:30What made the knock even more remarkable was the physical toll it took on him.
05:35On the weekend by illness, Jeff Howarth was forced to delay his appearance until after the weekend.
05:40And throughout his time at the crease, he was clearly laboring.
05:44After play he admitted with physical modesty.
05:47I could not sleep last night because of my illness.
05:50And I concentrated on occupying the crease and not doing too much running about.
05:55It was a glimpse into the grit and discipline that defined his cricket.
05:59For his magnificent effort, Jeff Howarth was rightly named Man of the Match award.
06:04While Bob Taylor's consistency earned him the Man of the Series accolade.
06:08The occasion was witnessed by a crowd of 55,334.
06:13Proof that the spectacle of cricket at the home of the game continued to captain imagination.
06:19This was not just a hundred.
06:21It was a statement of character from Jeff Howarth.
06:24Ashed forever into New Zealand cricketing folklore.
06:26If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe.
06:30Thank you very much.
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