LONDON. June 5: Pace bowler Geoff Allott will top New Zealand's list of potential match-winners when they clash in the World Cup Super Six second round with Zimbabwe at Headingley on Sunday. His excellent bowling is now earning him as many headlines as is batting did earlier in the year, reports AFP.

The 27-year-oId Canterbury bowler — known affectionately as a genuine number 11" — became the toast of his teammates in March when he battled for a world-record 102 minutes without scoring in the first Test against South Africa in Auck-

That performance, which out did the previous 50-year mark set by England's Godfrey Evans, helped save the match but has led to him being teased ever since.

"I'm not sure whether to be happy with it or not." he says of the record. "They boys have given me a bit ofgibbing."

Allott's bowling, however, is now the issue.

The powerful left-armer, whose style makes him a mirror image of England's rightarm. paceman Darren Gough, tops the wicket-taking charts with 15 after the first phase of the World Cup.

His best, four for 37. helped New Zealand defeat Australia and get them through to the sec-

ond round.

Before the tournament. Allott was seen as a bowler offering pace and bounce rather than control but he has managed to balance those twin necessities

His victims have cost him just 12.33 runs apiece — only five bowlers have a better average there — and he is conceding less than four runs an over.

That success has left his batting in the shade.

He has only managed to get to the crease once in five games, playing a robust if unspectacular knock to finish on nought not out.