‘Magnificent N.Z. win — unbelievable’

Press, 31 January 1983, Page 17

‘Magnificent N.Z. win — unbelievable’

NZPA staff correspondent Adelaide New Zealand’s historic four wicket victory over England in the World Series cricket match at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday was a tribute to the basic virtues of teamwork and pride, according to the New Zealand captain, Geoff Howarth.

Subdued but clearly relieved after the match, Howarth said that New Zealand's ability to work together under enormous pressure had been the main factor in their victory.

Many teams would have panicked on being set a mammoth total of 297 for victory but New Zealand kept cool heads and produced a magnificent team performance to steal victory in the highest scoring match in

World Series history, he said. It was only after the match that Howarth could admit the true nature of his feelings during the tense moments of New Zealand's innings, betraying the doubt and reservation he had secretly harboured but never passed on to his players. “Between innings, I didn’t think we had a chance,” he confessed. “I thought we’d be lucky to get 250 or 260 all out.

“It wasn't until the last five overs that I really began to feel we were in with a chance.

“W’e bad talked long and bard about the batting order before the match and it took a lot of thinking before we decided to drop Bruce Edgar and move Turns (Glenn

Turner) up the order. “It was a hard decision and it must have been very disappointing for Bruce to be dropped but I think Jerry (Coney) proved a point,” he said. “Turns got us going pretty well. W’e would have liked him to stay around a bit longer but nevertheless he gave us a good start.

“Then we lost a couple of quick wickets and we were up against it, but Lance (Cairns) and Jeff (Crowe) really batted well and they got us going again.

"I had a bit of a heart flutter when Lance and Jeff went on the same score and tremendous credit is due Richard (Hadlee) and Jerry

for batting the way that they did.” Howarth cited the run rate of almost eight an over Coney and Hadiee had faced when they first came together. "It was a wonderful performance by both guys. They showed a lot of guts because we were really up against it at that stage they came together.

“But Jerry and ‘Paddles’ got it going. They were a bit slow to start but they began to pick it up and score the singles and twos which were the important runs and before we knew it we were in with a big chance.

“We had a lot of luck noone can deny that. The English guys put a few import-

ant catches down and probably didn't field as well as they could. But that’s to take nothing from the way we played. Richard batted well and he deserved the man of the match award and Jerry, Lancer and Jeff all showed a lot of guts. “Over all it was great team effort — a magnificent performance.” Howarth said that the vic-

tory was the “greatest oneday performance” he had been associated with. It was New Zealand's finest batting performance ever in a oneday match and a vindication of the Kiwis’ team spirit and pride in their country and themselves. "If was such a magnificent win — it’s still almost unbelievable,” he said. "I have to sympathise with

England. They batted so well, and a team in that position should never have lost. But it says something for our lads that they didn't panic or lose their heads in the face of such a huge total. “They played as a team, that was the main factor, and they played with real spirit. I couldn't be more thrilled for them and for New Zealand.”