Date-stamped : 04 Jan98 - 14:23
South Australia recorded an exciting seven run victory over the touring 
New Zealanders in the day/night match at the Adelaide Oval. Batting first 
the Redbacks made an impressive five for 237 with David Fitzgerald (72 
off 98 balls) and Ben Johnson (53 off 78) building a very good platform 
with a second wicket stand of 121 off 163 balls. Darren Webber and 
skipper Jamie Siddons made useful contributions which help set the 
visitors 4.76 per over to win the game.

The New Zealanders got an ideal start with an opening stand of 97 thanks to a 
brisk half century from Bryan Young. His wicket signalled a minor collapse 
where New Zealand lost 3-8 before an excellent stand of 69 between 
skipper Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle took NZ to within 64 of their 
target. Fleming went for 32 then the reliable Harris was dismissed for 
two and NZ looked in some bother at 5/179.

Chris Cairns greeted Gillespie's second spell with a six over cover into 
the members stand but it turned out the Paul "Blocker" Wilson would be 
their hero. He bowled Astle at 6/193 for a well made 40 (64 balls, no 
fours) then had a belligerent Cairns caught  at the wicket, yorked Parore 
and finished the game bowling Drum for just one. Wilson's earlier spell 
was 5-0-29-0, his second 4.4-0-14-4 in a match altering performance.
He will almost certainly now retain his one day place and travel to 
Brisbane for the match their on Sunday.

New Zealand had their chance to win the game and would be disappointed. 
They certainly played OK in patches but to beat either South Africa or 
Australia they are going to have to play a lot better if they are to make 
the World Series Finals.

<END> Contributed by Laurie Colliver (colliver@ozemail.com.au)