Jason - 22 Jan 1994
CricInfo report
|
Match 3, Basin Reserve, Wellington Jason - 22 Jan 1994 CricInfo report |
|
After winning a national championship semifinal with a last ball six in Wellington a few weeks earlier, home town pace bowler Julie Harris bowled Christina Matthews with the last ball of the match to give New Zealand a two run win, and the 2-1 series win. It was the Kiwis' first series win over their Trans Tasman rivals since 1987, but continued their more recent domination, after a victory in the semi finals of the World Cup.
When Debbie Hockley, the batswoman that New Zealand usualy relies on, was out at 20-2 the kiwis were in deep trouble. However Kir- sty Bond, who wasn't selected for the first two matches due to slow scoring, then proceeded to anchor the innings with a patient 50. Once again Kinsella (who played the series not knowing that her cheekbone was fractured) made a useful 26, and Mia Lewis hit 4 boundaries in her 22.
The match winning partnership however was between Bond and Drumm. Drumm, who had dominated the first match, scored a career high 51 (from 51 balls, an amazing strike rate in international womens' cricket) as New Zealand reached 183-9. Australia bowled so slowly that they would only face 49 overs when they batted, a mistake that in hindsight was crucial.
Australia dominated early on, with Zoe Goss (44) well supported by Clark (28). However when McLauchlan brilliantly dived to with one hand catch Goss in the 34th over, New Zealand began to take control. Only 17 runs came from the next six overs.
48 runs were required from the last six overs, but 21 runs from 2 overs swung the pendulum. Wickets then fell, and 10 runs were needed from the last over with 2 wickets in hand.
Julie Harris bowled Bow but an edge to the third man boundary from the fifth ball meant that Australia needed two to tie from the last. Harris kept her head to bowl Mathews, and New Zealand had won a most exciting match.