One-day rivalry renewed for women

Press, 24 January 1986, Page 19

One-day rivalry renewed for women

While the New Zealand men’s cricket team does battle across the Tasman, the women’s national side is also engaged in a oneday series with Australia.

At Lancaster Park tomorrow, New Zealand wil meet Australia in the third of a best-of-three series for the Shell Rosebowl trophy. The trophy has previously been competed for, in 1979 in Australia, 1982

at the . World Cup in Nev Zealand and last yeawhen New Zealairi stopped off for thre games on the way b India. New Zealand hs never held the trophy. In those three game:, .New Zealand went dowi, 2-1. In the first match <t Melbourne, it had a disastrous start. Losing tte toss, New Zealand battel first, and never recoverei from 19 for four. It wa all out for 58 in 56 oven, Jeanette Dunning contributing 20. Lynette Fulliton took four for 19 f<r Australia. In reply, Australia knocked off tie runs for just one wickit, in 27 overs with Deniie Annetts unbeaten on 26.

It was a different stoiy in the second game tie following day. Australa struggled for runs aid was dismissed for 155 n the sixtieth over, incluiing five run outs. Denise Emerson contributed a solid 54.

An outstanding innings

by Debbie Hockley, of 72 not out, well supported by 52 from Ingrid Jagersma, steered New Zealand to a tense victory, with seven balls to spare.

Australia convincingly won the deciding game. It. made 214 for seven,’ Emerson making 75 and Karen Read 56, before bowling New Zealand out for 106. Sue Rattray top scored with 24, while Karen Brown took three for 21. Next season, Australia will host New Zealand in Perth after the inter-state tournament at the end of January. The tour wil comprise one-day internationals.

New Zealand has a very experienced lineup. In the last two years, there have been tours of England and India. Most of the players in the present squad were in one or other, if not both, of those trips. The captain, Lesley Murdoch, is the exception but she has had wide

international experience. The side is fortunate to be led by such a determined competitor and astute tactican. Hugh Lawrence of Wellington, has helped the squad with the motivational aspect of the game.

Murdoch will open the batting for New Zealand along with Jackie Clark. The two combine admirably with Clark the aggressor and Murdoch the sheet anchor. Clark has been in brilliant form both at the recent interprovincial tournament and early in this series. Coming in at No. 3 is Debbie Hockley, an outstanding performer of enormous potential. She scored a magnificent 168 not out against Wellington in January.

There are a number of exciting prospects in the middle order. Nicki Turner, Jeanette Dunning, Ingrid Jagersma, Sue Rattray, Karen Gunn and Nancy Williams are all

attacking batsmen and fine strikers of the ball. In the lower order Liz Signal, Sue Brown and Linda Fraser are all useful with the bat.

The great bowling, depth is made possible by the number of genuine all-rounders in the side. Jagersma is an excellent wicket-keeper who also topped the batting averages on the Indian tour. Dunning, Gunn and Rattray, always tight and accurate, are important components in the New Zealand bowling attack Hockley and Williams are able to provide extra variation.

However, the main strike bowlers are Brown, Fraser and Signal. Brown a right arm swing bowler, has a magnificent record. As well as being the leading wicket-taker at Hansell’s cup tournaments for several seasons, she has also been New Zealand’s most economical bowler in international competi-

Fraser, also a seasoned campaigner, is a leftarmer able to generate considerable pace. Signal has had recent successful tours of England and India. With several of Australia’s top players unavailable, there are five new caps in the team.

Denise Annetts and Belinda Haggett are the Australian opening bats while the very experienced international player, Karen Read, comes in at No. 3. Also in the tour party are Lindsay Reeler and Ruth Buckstein who are top-order batsmen for their state sides. There are a number of hard-hitting, aggressive bats in the middle order, notably Lyn Larsen, Sharlene Heywood, Chris Matthews, Karen Brown and Karen Price. The Australian attack is spearheaded by Debbie Wilson, who is rated the

second fastest women’s bowler in world cricket >

Back-up medium-pacers are Karen Brown, Karen Price, Frances Leonard and Haggett. The slow bowlers in the attack are the captain and vice-cap-tain, Lyn Larson and Lynette Fullston, who have records of economy and accuracy.