Lynn McConnell
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1st Match: Australia Women v New Zealand Women at Lincoln, 29 Nov 2000 Lynn McConnell |
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Australia Women innings: New Zealand Women innings: Pre-game: |
Coming to the wicket with Australia 63-2, Rolton lost Jo Broadbent when the score was 84.
But such was her demeanour that she never looked like yielding her wicket.
To her fell the honour of hitting the winning runs, a boundary, which also raised her half century off 54 balls in the 48th over.
Typical of her aggression was the arrival of the usually parsimonious Debbie Hockley at the bowling crease.
Rolton clouted two fours from Hockley and that was the end of her in the bowling attack.
Then when Catherine Campbell was brought back for a second spell, Rolton lofted a ball over the long-off boundary for the first six of the tournament.
Try as New Zealand might with bowling changes , it couldn't create the breakthrough it needed to put the pressure on in the last overs.
Rolton built on the effort of Lisa Keightley who scored 44 to set the innings off in style after the early loss of key batsman Belinda Clark.
Cherie Bambury proved an admirable foil and the closer they got to their goal the more their confidence grew and the inevitability of the win was apparent.
However, New Zealand got some reward for its competitiveness when Bambury was run out for 38 with 12 runs still required.
New Zealand went into the game wanting to lift itself beyond the scores of 160-180 that are most common in the women's game.
That it didn't reach that total told the story of the game, New Zealand was 20-30 runs short of what it needed.
But diminutive New Zealand off-spinner Catherine Campbell, in only her second over, enticed the mistake out of Keightley. The Australian, who was on 44, attempted to lift Campbell but succeeded only in sending a mishit in the direction of Clare Nicholson in the covers to be caught out easily.
It was a vital breakthrough as the pair were starting to look very comfortable in the improved conditions.
New Zealand had earlier made a big breakthrough when Katrina Keenan bowled Australian captain Belinda Clark for 1.
Karen Rolton wasted no time getting into the action striking two fours off the only Debbie Hockley bowled.
Then just on the 30-over mark, a bowling change when Kathryn Ramel changed ends another key wicket was taken when Jo Broadbent offered a caught and bowled chance which Ramel accepted.
That left Australia 84-3 and the game interestingly poised in the manner of all trans-Tasman games.
Clark, who vies with New Zealand's Debbie Hockley for the ranking of best batsman in the world, was bowled by Katrina Keenan for one in the fifth over.
At that stage, Australia was coming to grips with New Zealand's use of off-spinner Clare Nicholson as opening bowler.
The ploy was a popular, and effective, one when Dipak Patel filled the same role in the 1992 World Cup.
She bowled seven overs for 16 runs to ensure Australia was not able to get away to a fast start.
Conditions were more favourable for the New Zealand bowlers. There was still a southerly breeze but it wasn't of the same intensity that Australia faced earlier in the day.
The skies cleared also and there was sporadic bursts of sunshine over the ground during the Australian innings.
After 15 overs Australia was 30-1 with Lisa Keightley dominating the scoring.
Drumm had 10 overs off the field after taking a blow on her forearm from a ball bowled by Australian pace merchant Charmaine Mason. She was 14 at that stage and in the process of resurrecting the innings after New Zealand was 13-2.
But by the time she returned the side was 48-5 and in real strife.
All the top order had difficulty with Australia's World Cup debut bowler Therese McGregor. She bowled her 10 overs unchanged, and into the teeth of a stiff southerly breeze. But her aim was unerring and brought her the reward of 4-18.
However, once she was completed Drumm was quickly onto the attack. Unleashing some attacking stroke play she spirited the ball all around the ground, but never as effectively as when she drove straight and through the covers.
She joined by Kathryn Ramel in a 71-run partnership that saw Ramel quite prepared to attack as well.
Drumm's exhibition in playing the Australian spinners, leggie Olivia Magno and off-spinner Avril Fahey, was outstanding. By using her feet to get down the track she nullified the effect the spinners were able to have. Magno conceded 17 from her five overs while Fahey was hit for 30 off her six.
Had Australia not picked up Drumm's wicket when the did in the 43rd over when she was on 74, the prospect of New Zealand making 200 looked real. It had to settle for 166/9.
However, it was left-armer Karen Rolton who got rid of her at 138 and it was left to the lower order to add 28 runs in the last seven overs to leave Australia the target of 167 to win.
McGregor, making her World Cup debut, bowled out her 10 overs unchanged into the teeth of a biting southerly wind for superb figures of 4-18.
As she varied her pace with outstanding effect, she also maintained her control and did not yield an extra which was testimony to her accuracy throughout her spell.
After 30 overs New Zealand was struggling at 73-5 with captain Emily Drumm 29 not out and Kathryn Ramel on 18 not out.
The key wicket in her haul was undoubtedly that of New Zealand's most experienced player Debbie Hockley, who became the player with most World Cup games in the world. Hockley was caught when trying to drive McGregor down the ground.
New Zealand's woes were not helped by the absence through injury of captain Emily Drumm when she was 14.
She left the field in the 16th over after taking a blow on her forearm from Australian fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick.
However, with the loss of Helen Watson when the score was on 48, Drumm returned to the crease and immediately got back into her scoring stride. She back cut the fourth ball she received from Charmaine Mason behind point for four runs.
Then when facing leg-spinner Olivia Magno she danced down the pitch to to loft the ball to the long off boundary.
By removing both opening batsmen for only 13 runs they set up a contest within a contest as the two bowlers took on New Zealand's two best batsmen captain Emily Drumm and Debbie Hockley.
The two New Zealanders were required to call on all their experience to take the side through to 31-2 after 15 overs.
New Zealand carried out its intention to try and make a flyer of a start but was made to pay for its decision. Rebecca Rolls was used as the pinch-hitting opener in preference to Hockley.
Rolls was dismissed from the second ball she faced, only the eighth of the game, when edging a catch behind to wicket keeper Julia Price from McGregor's bowling.
However, the tactic worked well in New Zealand's pre-Cup series with England, and it is not likely to be discarded quickly.
Fitzpatrick almost made it a double blow when Anna O'Leary edged a sharp chance to Charmaine Mason at second slip when New Zealand hadn't scored.
McGregor drew the short straw when having to bowl into a stiff southerly breeze, but she bowled as if born to the task.
She varied her pace and length, and her slower ball was especially effective as it held up in the wind causing the New Zealand batsmen to delay their strokes.
The Australians kept the pressure on by bowling both opening bowlers for seven overs straight. Fitzpatrick's pace was ideal under the conditions and while she didn't pick up any wickets in her spell, she certainly worked the batsmen over.
The bounce in the pitch also allowed her to unleash the odd bouncer.
Overnight rain cleared this morning and with a brisk drying breeze it was decided a start could be made at 11.30am.
Ground staff worked throughout the night with super soppers covering the entire match surface to try and have the ground ready for play as soon as possible.
Temperatures were cool but there was every indication that a full 50 overs could be completed for both sides.
New Zealand left out Erin McDonald and Emily Travers from its selection while Paula Flannery was named 12th man. Julie Hayes was named Australia's 12th man.
The teams are: New Zealand - Emily Drumm, Debbie Hockley, Rebecca Rolls, Catherine Campbell, Anna O'Leary, Haidee Tiffen, Rachel Pullar, Clare Nicholson, Katrina Keenan, Kathryn Ramel, Helen Watson.
Australia - Belinda Clark, Lisa Keightley, Joanne Broadbent, Karen Rolton, Cherie Bambury, Olivia Magno, Julia Price, Therese McGregor, Charmaine Mason, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Avril Fahey.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 29 Nov2000 - 18:23