Stunning comeback by New Zealand in Adelaide’s blazing heat

Press, 1 February 1983, Page 40

Stunning comeback by New Zealand in Adelaide’s blazing heat

NZPA staff correspondent Adelaide New Zealand went one step closer to a place in the finals of the World Series Cricket Cup with a stunning 46-run comeback victory over Australia in blazing heat at the Adelaide Oval yesterday.

Yesterday’s duel in the sun — a match played in temperatures of more than 40 degrees — gave New Zealand its second victory in three days, proving the adage ’‘when you're hot you’re hot” but adding the rider "when it's hot, the cricket's not" for it was a match highlighted more by bad performances than good ones. New Zealand's total of 199 for nine, in which Glen Turner's dogged 84 was the only notable contribution, had never seemed adequate for victory. Australia however, produced a performance of striking ineptitude to lose its final eight wickets for 50 runs and to squander a superb winning chance. There Was no destroyer among the New’ Zealand bowlers and apart from Turner's remarkable innings, no outstanding performance. The difference between the sides was New Zealand's guts. . its teamwork and understanding. It was the team which weathered the heat most successfully and most of all it was the team which displayed intestinal fortitude in trying circumstances. Australia in the field was skilled and effective, but, asked to chase even a mediocre total, showed a lack of application and composure, damning in its magnitude.’ ; A beaming New-Zealand captain. Geoff Howarth,, reflected that premise in his after match comments.

He had theorised after New Zealand's historic win over England on Saturday that his side showed purpose and commonsense in difficult circumstances which England and Australia lacked. "I don't think there's ever been any doubt about that," said Howarth. ‘T’ve felt all along that when the Australians are given a total to chase they tend to panic. They've done it time and time again in this series. “I can’t say I was happy with our total — I thought it was about 20 or 30 runs short; but our bowlers won it for us this time, just like our batsmen did on Saturday. “We were aware that we didn’t bat well this morning. We went extremely well in the field in spite of .’the heat," he said. “Everyone bowled well and our fielding was very good considering the temperature. “It was extremely pleasing — another magnificent effort." Howarth's only regret was that he could not contribute more to the victory personally, for he. like the majority of New Zealand’s batsmen, was unable to come to grips with the Australian bowling yesterday. . Only Turner, who batted with both mastery and courage added substance to the New Zealand total. He fought accurate bowling and intense heat for two and a half hours for his 84 runs — his highest innings in the series to date — applying himself to his task so com-

pletely that he left the wicket on the point of collapse. He reached his half-cen-tury in 83 minutes and with typical elegance, but from that point on struggled for every run as the heat took an inevitable toll. New Zealand can attribute its victory yesterday to the fact that Turner — honoured later with the man of the match award — did keep going. For. without his contribution the New Zealand scorecard was a grim statement of batting inefficiency. Only three batsmen, including the reinstated opener, Bruce Edgar, w’ho batted for 81 minutes for 18. exceeded 15 runs making Turner's innings more notable by comparison. Of Australia’s bowlers. Geoff Lawson and the debutante, Ken MacLeay, won notoriety. Lawson bowled with exceptional economy but without reward to concede only 20 runs from his ten overs. MacLeay. in his first match for Australia, matched that performance by taking one wicket at a cost of 39 runs and distinguishing himself in the field with a catch and a number of sharp returns. It was perhaps the sad irony that the home side's batsmen seemed likely to complement the performance of their bowlers when they came to the wicket, then collapsed completely to hand victory to New Zealand on a platter.

NEW ZEALAND J. Wright c Border b Thomson 15 B. Edgar b MacLeay 18 G. Turner c Hookes b Thomson 84 J. Crowe c and b Hogan . . 14 L. Cairns c MacLeay b Hogan 0 G. Howarth c Hughes b Chappell 15 R. Hadlee run out 8 J. Coney c Marsh b Thomson 5 W. Lees b Hogg 9 M. Snedden not out 16 E. Chatfield not but 2 Extras (lbB. w2. nb3) .. . 13 Total (for nine wickets) 199 Fall: 23. 64. 95. 95. 144. 156. 170. 171. 195. Bowling: G. Lawson 10. 3. 20. 0: R. Hogg. 9. 0, 32. 1; J. Thomson.' 5. 0. 27. 3: K. MacLeay. 10. 0. 39, 1: T. Hogan. 10. 0. 42. 2: G. Chappell. 6. 0. 26. 1. AUSTRALIA J. Dyson c Coney b Chatfield 24 A. Border c Snedden b Chatfield 41 D. Hookes c Lees b Hadlee 27 K. Hughes c Wright b Coney. 6 G. Chappell c Lees b Cairns. 7 K. MacLeay lbw b Hadlee , 3 R. Marsh c Hadlee b Coney . 15 G. Lawson b Coney 7 T. Hogan run 0ut...... . 4 J, Thomson b Cairns 3 R. Hogg not out 1 Extras (lb!3. w2) 15 Total 153 Fall: 64, 76. 103. 112. 116, 116, 141. 148, 149, 153. Bowling— R. Hadlee 7, 1. 15, 2; L. Cairns. 10, 0. 41. 2; M. Snedden 7, 1. 16. 0; E. Chatfield 10.1, 26, 2: J. Coney 10. 0. 40. 3. World series Cup standings.— P W L Pt New Zealand 8 5 3 10 Australia ’ 9 4 5 8 England 9 4 5 8 To play: February 5. N.Z. V. Eng. (Perth). February 6. N.Z. v. Aust. (Perth).