The artist upstaged

At Melbourne, January 13. New Zealand won by 2 runs. England again lost a match they had looked like winning. Needing 240 they were 190 for four with ten overs remaining. Botham had just been caught at long-on, but Gower was past his hundred and batting very well. Support then dried up for Gower, and when, at 223, he pulled Hadlee hard and straight to short midwicket, Marks and Taylor found the job of scoring 17 from the last three overs, on a slow pitch, beyond them. Marks had to hit 3 off the last ball to win and 2 to tie, but it bowled him. Only two of the England side passed 20. New Zealand, after being put in, had batted much more consistently. Wright and Edgar gave them a good start; Cairns, promoted to No. 3 to attack the England spinners, scored 36 off 26 balls by doing just that; Turner marked his return to the international scene with a useful 38, and Hadlee made a rapid 24.

Man of the Match: D. I. Gower. Attendance: 11,266.