N.Z. inflicts humiliating defeat on Australia

Press, 28 January 1986, Page 38

N.Z. inflicts humiliating defeat on Australia

Australia’s cricketers had little cause to celebrate their national day at Adelaide Oval yesterday — their New Zealand opponents overturning the established World Series Cup order with a resounding 206-run victory.

The Australians were dismissed for a humiliating 70 runs in perfect conditions after New Zealand had recovered from an early reverse to reach 276 for seven wickets in its 50 overs. There was no hint of what was to follow when New Zealand lost its “manufactured” opening batsman, John Bracewell, from the second delivery of the match. Bracewell had been promoted in a bld to quicken New Zealand’s initial ruh-rate and provide a right-handed contrast to upset the bowlers’ direction. At least the latter intention was achieved when Martin Crowe replaced Bracewell. But matters appeared to be slanting towards the Australians when Crowe was caught from a ball which lifted to head-height — the competition rules stipulate a no-ball should have been called.

Ironically, New Zealand’s surge towards its decisive success began with a reunion between Bruce Edgar, who had been retained in an opening role, and John Wright, in his new position at No. 4.

Edgar and Wright shared the top score of 61, and their third-wicket stand of 120 runs ensured that New Zealand would set Australia a testing target. Edgar faced 84 balls — one less than Wright — and they were dismissed in consecutive overs. But the New Zealand advance was not stifled by the loss of the two lefthanders. Richard Hadlee was quickly into his stride, Jeremy Coney even more so as he joined and then overtook Hadlee in a partnership worth 64 runs in only 36 minutes.

Their dismissals also came in quick succession. Once again, it hardly mattered. Jeff Crowe and Bruce Blair maintained the momentum as 46 more runs were reaped from an uninspiring Australian bowling effort.

Two similarities marked the initial stages of Australia’s reply. Geoff Marsh emulated Bracewell by being out to the second ball, and Coney matched his captaincy counterpart’s feat of holding three catches. In every other sphere the innings were poles apart. Border, seeking to inject more experience and responsibility into his younger players before the finals, had also changed his batting list. The revised line-up was to be as solid as a house of cards in a whirlwind.

Coney threw himself far to his right to scoop up the chance offered by Marsh in Hadlee’s opening over. Stephen Waugh gulped when a Hadlee offcutter just cleared his offstump, then groped at a ball from Ewen Chatfield and became Coney’s second slips victim. Glenn Trimble stroked Hadlee for four, then nicked his second bail to Coney.

It was 15 for three in the fifth over. Before Hadlee was done he also caused David Boon’s downfall, assisted by a spectacular diving catch to the wicket-keeper, Ervin McSweeney. At 20 for four, Border promoted himself back up to No. 6; the total was only 22 when he slashed at the new bowler, Stu Gillespie, and was desperately close to offering Coney more catching practice. Not that it delayed the inevitable for too long. Border skied an attempted hit to mid-wicket, and Greg Matthews was sixth out, at 47, leg before wicket to Gillespie. The local hero, Wayne Phillips, was left with the tailenders.

Craig McDermott went at 55, then Phillips himself, well taken by Chatfield, at 68, and Reid and Dave Gilbert followed at 70. Gilbert had the dubious distinction of having

lasted for 31 deliveries, second best after Phillips (38). Coney had welcomed the opportunity to use some of his optional bowlers, though their match practice was limited by Australia’s demise in the twentyseventh over. John Bracewell had sensational figures, Blair a welcome wicket, and Martin Crowe tried a bouncer of his own to prove that some such deliveries are being noballed. Several of Hadlee’s team-mates must have pressed him hard for the "man of the match” award. Australia was “distanced” in what became a one-horse race. Had it happened at Randwick or Caulfield there would have been wholesale swabbings. No doubt Kapil Dev, the Indian captain, would volunteer for the role of chief stipendiary steward. NEW ZEALAND J. Bracewell c Border b McDermott 0 B. Edgar c Border b Reid 61 M. Crowe c Border b Reid 26 J. Wright c Gilbert b McDermott 61 R. Hadlee c McDermott b Davis 24 J. Coney c Phillips b Reid 40 J. Crowe not out 24 B. Blair b Davis 21 E. McSweeney not out . 4 Extras (lb 9, w 5, nb 1) 15 Total (for 7 wkts) 276 Fall: 0, 37, 157, 160, 224, 226, 272. Bowling.— C. McDermott 10, 1, 70, 2 (w 1); S. Davis 10, 0, 46, 2 (w 2); B. Reid 10, 1, 41, 3 (w 1); G. Matthews 10, 0, 49, 0 (w 1); D. Gilbert 10, 0, 61, 0 (nb 1). AUSTRALIA G. Marsh c Coney b Hadlee 0 D. Boon c McSweeney b Hadlee 10 S. Waugh c Coney b Chatfield 3 G. Trimble c Coney b Hadlee 4 G. Matthews lbw b Gillespie 4 A. Border c Gillespie b Chatfield 9 W. Phillips c Chatfield b Bracewell 22 C. McDermott c Wright b Gillespie 1 D. Gilbert c and b Bracewell 8 B. Reid lbw b Blair... 1 S. Davis not out 0 Extras (lb 3 wl, nb4). 8 Total 70 Fall: 0, 10, 15, 20, 31, 47, 55, 68, 70, 70. Bowling: R. Hadlee, 5,1, 14, 3 (wl), E. Chatfield, 7,2, 9,2; G. Gillespie, 5,0, 21, 2 (nb2), M. Crowe, 4,0, 13, 0 (nb2), J. Bracewell 3.3, 1,3, 2; B. Blair 2,0, 7, 1. The competition table is.

P W L Ab. Pt Aust. 8 5 2 1 11 N.Z. 8 3 4 1 7 India 8 3 5 0 6