Analysis

Falling short by a whisker

Cricinfo looks at some of the other nailbiters between these Australia and New Zealand over the years

Cricinfo staff
07-Dec-2005
New Zealand came within touching distance of pulling off the fourth-highest run chase in ODI history in the second match of the Chappell-Hadlee Series at Wellington. Cricinfo looks at some of the other nailbiters between these two sides over the years.


The latest heart-stopper: Australia win by 2 runs at Wellington © Getty Images
New Zealand won by 1 run, Sydney 1980-81
Len Pascoe took 3 for 37 and Dennis Lillee conceded just 27 runs off ten overs as New Zealand managed only 220 for 8 after choosing to bat. John Wright anchored the innings with 78 off 135 balls after losing Bruce Edgar on 2 but none of the other batsmen made any significant contribution. In reply, Australia crumbled to 123 for 5 before Doug Walters (50 not out) and Rodney Marsh (49) put on 78 runs for the sixth wicket. However, after Marsh fell, Walters could not take Australia home and they fell short by one run. Ewen Chatfield returned splendid figures of 1 for 26 off ten overs for New Zealand.
Australia won by 3 runs, Indore, 1987 World Cup
Australia held their nerve to come up trumps by three runs in a rain-reduced 30-over contest at Indore in the 1987 World Cup. Chasing 199 to win, New Zealand were given a brisk 83-run start from Ken Rutherford (37) and John Wright who, in a rare departure from his stoic style, had blasted himself to 47 from 44 balls with two sixes. Simon O'Donnell, however, dismissed the duo in quick succession, before the trio of Bruce Reid, Craig McDermott, and the steel-blooded Steve Waugh took over. Not even Martin Crowe's thrilling 58 from 48 balls could prevent a frenetic middle-order collapse as New Zealand lost five wickets for 29 runs, finishing on 196 for 9. The irony: this was a reserve day.
New Zealand won by 1 run, Perth, 1987-88
This was nearly the Dean Jones match. Set a target of 233, he guided the Australian tail from a shaky 132 for 6 to 221 for 8 before getting run-out for a brilliant 92. Jones was the ninth wicket to fall before Martin Snedden removed Mike Whitney to clinch a thriller. New Zealand, opting to bat first, had lost their way after Andrew Jones (87) and Martin Crowe (45) had added 106 runs for the second wicket to lift them to 233.
New Zealand won by 1 run, Hobart, 1990-91
Australia, chasing 195, rode on Geoff Marsh's half-century to be comfortably placed at 93 for 2 when Richard Petrie, the medium-pacer, struck to remove Mark Waugh to trigger a collapse. Five wickets fell for 60 runs as all the New Zealand bowlers maintained the pressure. Australian hopes then hung on Allan Border, the captain, who took them to 177 when a series of run-outs ended their challenge. Border, Terry Alderman and Bruce Reid all were run-out in the frenzy of the chase at the end. Earlier Bryan Young, who was the man-of-the-match, steered New Zealand to a fighting total with a breezy 41 off 37 balls.


Jeff Wilson made 21 but New Zealand fell short by three runs at Auckland © Getty Images
Australia won by 3 runs, Auckland, 1992-93
At 175 for 8, needing 233 to win, New Zealand had frittered Mark Greatbatch's resolute 68 before Gavin Larsen (33 not out) and Chris Pringle (29 not out) mounted a stellar rear-guard fightback. The pair put on 54 runs in quick time but New Zealand fell three agonising runs short of the target. Mark Waugh had scored a run-a-ball 83 and Australia looked set for a big total before Rod Latham, who finished with 5 for 32, tore into the middle order and restricted Australia to 232 for 8.
Australia won by 3 runs, Melbourne, 1993-94
Shane Warne was in supreme form, taking four crucial wickets as Australia clinched a thriller at Melbourne. After Mark Taylor's 81 had taken Australia to 202 for 5 in 50 overs, New Zealand's inability to cope with Warne's magic saw them fall short by three runs. Shane Thompson threatened to take the match away with an exciting 42, but in the end Warne was too good, sending down 10 miserly overs for just 19 runs. Mark Waugh was the surprise package, though, chipping in with the vital wickets of Ken Rutherford and Gavin Larsen.