Stunning bowling feat

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 52

Stunning bowling feat

If Hadlee was to end the match in such a decisive manner, he had begun the day with an even more stunning feat four hours earlier. Two deliveries had been left to be bowled in Hadlee’s second over with the new ball when bad light had caused an early finish on Monday. Greg Chappell was to take strike - an absorbing tussle was in prospect. But Chappell, driving, was not to the pitch of the first ball, and he could do no more than lob a catch to Edgar at cover point. It was a stunning start — there was a general aura of disbelief, shared by players and spectators.

Chappell waited to be given out. He said later that he had not doubted his dismissal — “I didn't know what had happened. I was confused more than anything."

Normality returned as Allan Border guided the ball past the gully and then attractively cover drove for fours from Cairns. Rod Marsh and Border survived Hadlee’s first full over, but Hadlee was only warming to his task. Hadlee has never marched back to his mark with more purpose, nor made his approach with greater menace. Marsh buckled up against Hadlee’s tenth delivery, and, after a few agonising seconds of juggling, young Martin Crowe held a sharp chance at forward short leg. Poor Yardley, who had been thoroughly beaten by Hadlee in the first innings, was to be back in the Australian dressing room before Marsh had even removed his pads. It must have been a terrifying two minutes for Yardley, and the fourth ball he faced brought release

when he steered it straight to Jeremy Coney at second slip. Australia was just 77 runs in credit, and more than five hours remained. After surviving a difficult chance to Crowe from Cairns, Jeff Thomson was given full attention by Hadlee. To conserve his energy, Hadlee had reverted to his' short run-up against Border. There was to be no such concession for Thomson and it was no surprise when Hadlee had him leg before wicket. Border managed some late retribution by twice driving to the off-side fence from Hadlee. It was time for drinks, and for Hadlee to rest with the" magnificent figures of 8.2 overs, 3 maidens. 14 runs and four wickets. He had far surpassed anything that Thomson or Dennis Lillee had shown in this game. The New Zealand captain,

Geoff Howarth, decided to gamble by having John Morrison take over from Cairns at the scoreboard end. Just as Cairns was later to come up trumps in the rearranged batting line-up. so Morrison was to justify the confidence shown in him.

It was a touch of inspiration by Howarth. Morrison had the ball turn and lift to Lillee, who could do no more than nick it into lan Smith’s gloves. Morrison then confronted Border, who was desperately seeking to protect his last partner, Aiderman. Howarth, indeed a man with the Midas touch, closed the field in to prevent a single, Border attempted to hit over the top, and Howarth-nonchalantly ended the Australian innings with his catch. Morrison, in three overs, had two wickets — his first at test level — for one run.