Birthday falls flat for New Zealand

New Zealand have made the birthday cake, but they may not  get  a
bite.  Unless  there  is a sharp improvement in form, New Zealand
might not be invited to the  finals  of  the  two  major  cricket
events  which have been organised to celebrate the 100th birthday
of  cricket  administration in this country.  On  Saturday  their
women  were defeated by India, who have already qualified for the
final of the tri-series next Saturday, with New Zealand and  Aus-
tralia  going  for  the  other place. Yesterday New Zealand's men
fought hard, but failed by 27 runs to defeat  the  powerful  Aus-
tralians at Eden Park. The Australians play India on Wednesday in
a match that should not affect  Australia's  chance  of  reaching
next Sunday's final. New Zealand must beat South Africa on Thurs-
day to have a chance of a final against Australia. In yesterday's
second  over  Shane  Thomson,  a  part-time off-spinner, had Greg
Blewett caught off his first ball. But Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh
enjoyed  a  fast-moving  partnership  of 147 before Taylor, after
rousing strokes from 127 balls, prodded the 128th  for  a  return
catch  to  Chris  Pringle  for 97. The New Zealanders fought back
well to hold the Australians to 254 for five in their  50  overs.
New  Zealand  opener Mark Greatbatch hit two fours and two sixes,
so Taylor was forced to bring on Shane Warne, his most  effective
bowler, with his leg-spinners from the fifth over. This meant the
end of Ken Rutherford, but Greatbatch and  Stephen  Fleming,  the
talented  youngster,  quickly put on 82. However, Fleming was out
to a simple catch, and Greatbatch's 93-ball 74 was ended  as  the
pressure   of  the  well-controlled  Australian  bowling  finally
squashed the resistance  of  New  Zealand,  who  only  reached  a
creditable 227 for nine.

Thanks  ::  Don Cameron, The Daily Telegraph
 Contributed by vicky (vigneswa@sisko.ecs.umass.edu)