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A good toss to lose
Wisden CricInfo staff - February 25, 2002
There have been 19 previous one-day internationals at Carisbrook, Dunedin. New Zealand have played in 18 of them of which they have won eight and lost nine - with Australia and India meeting as part of the 1994-95 Centenary Tournament.
The highest total made at Dunedin is 310 for 4, by the all-conquering Australians in 1999-2000. New Zealand chased their target gamely, but were dismissed for 260 after 45 overs.
The Australians were also responsible for the lowest score made on the ground, when they dismissed New Zealand for 129 in 1992-93. Tony Dodemaide was a rather unlikely hero with 4 for 20.
In Dunedin's first one-dayer between New Zealand and Australia in 1973-74 the busiest man was the Man of the Match adjudicator: he had to give out six awards. There were awards for batting, bowling, and fielding for each team. For the record, the lucky sextet were: batting: Ian Chappell, Bevan Congdon; bowling: Gary Gilmour, David O'Sullivan (for a doubtless breathtaking 1 for 38); fielding: Doug Walters and Ken Wadsworth.
New Zealand's best performance on thise ground came in 2000-01 when they successfully chased 290 to beat Pakistan the highest target reached on the ground. Nathan Astle's 116-ball 119 was the catalyst for New Zealand's victory and his innings equalled Viv Richards's record score on the ground.
Richards made his 119 in 1986-87, as part of one of the finest allround displays in one day international history. He also spun his way to 5 for 41 and in 1811 one-dayers remains the only player to have scored a century and taken five wickets in an innings.
The highest individual run scorer on the ground is Astle, who has scored 300 runs at an average of 75 in his four matches.
The best bowling figures taken on the ground are 5 for 38 by Richard Hadlee against Pakistan in 1988-89.
Hadlee is also the highest wicket-taker on the ground, claiming 18 (more than twice as many as anyone else) at an average of only 10.44.
As is the case at most grounds in New Zealand, sides batting second have prospered at Dunedin, winning 10 of the 18 completed matches.
Winning the toss at Dunedin is truly a double-edged coin: on only five occasions has the side winning the toss gone on to win. Sides winning the toss and batting first have one only once in seven matches.
England have played three previous one-dayers at Dunedin. The first match, in 1974-75 was abandoned due to rain, but England were victorious in 1987-88 and 1991-92.
In 1987-88, John Emburey took 4 for 39, his second best one-day
figures, to help restrict New Zealand to 204 all out. Neil Fairbrother then saw England home with the first
of 16 dapper half-centuries in one-day internationals.
In a scrappy match four years later, England made a meal of chasing 187 for victory. Rod Latham claimed 3 wickets and England needed a punchy
31* from Dermot Reeve to complete their seven-wicket win. Reeve
had earlier wobbled his way to 1 for 19 from 8 overs.
Tom Bowtell is a freelance journalist.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
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