Sport Last-over loss

Press, 20 October 1987, Page 6

Sport Last-over loss

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Of NZPA Indore For the second time in two matches New Zealand lost a World Cup cricket match it had every chance of winning, against Australia at Indore last evening. New Zealand, needing 200 to win , fell four runs short to be 196 for nine, at the finish of a thrilling 30-over match. Going into the final over New Zealand needed seven runs to win and was only six wickets down, with Martin Crowe on strike on 58. But for the second time in the tournament the Australian all-rounder, Steve Waugh, proved the man for a crisis. He bowled the final over when Australia beat India by one run, and yesterday he well caught at

deep cover by Geoff Marsh with his first ball. On the next ball he clean bowled the wicket-keeper, lan Smith. Needing six runs off the last three balls, New Zealand’s last hope disappeared when Willie Watson struck the ball back to Waugh who turned and ran to the stumps to run out Martin Snedden. Watson needed- to score five runs off the final ball, but could manage only a single. Crowe batted superbly for 58 off 47 balls and seemed set to carry New Zealand to victory. Australia now leads the group with 12 points from three wins, while New Zealand has four points from three matches and will almost certainly need to win its last ttiree games-to progress to thfcemi-finals.