†AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND 1982-83

At Perth, February 6. Australia won by 27 runs. Australia's victory assured them of second position in the WSC qualifying table and so a place in the finals. They were given a good start, after being put in, by the new opening pair of Wood and Smith. Smith, a 21-year-old New South Welshman, was playing in his first representative match. On a pitch helpful to seam bowlers, runs were always hard to come by, the top score for either side being Wright's 33, other than the 35 extras which New Zealand conceded. Hadlee, much New Zealand's best bowler, retired with hamstring trouble after bowling only five of his ten overs. Morrison, slow left-arm, took three wickets in his first bowl of the competition. While Wright and Turner were adding 52 for New Zealand's second wicket an Australian defeat looked possible; but at 61 Lillee bowled Turner and Crowe with successive balls, after which only Morrison and Snedden, in a ninth-wicket partnership of 37, threatened Australia. After the match Marsh admitted to having deliberately kicked the ball away while taking a quick single, to avoid being run out. The New Zealanders had appealed, unsuccessfully, against him for obstructing the field.

Man of the Match: R. W. Marsh. Attendance: 25,000.