†ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND 1986

At Manchester, July 18. England won by six wickets, but New Zealand won the Texaco Trophy on their faster run-rate in the two matches. The batting of Gooch and especially Athey made amends for England's poor, at times slovenly, showing in the field after they had put New Zealand in. Rutherford played attractively, but the highlight of the innings was the strokeplay of Martin Crowe, whose power and placement made nonsense of Gatting's field setting. He hit two 6s and eleven 4s in 74 balls, his last 43 runs coming off thirteen balls. With his brother also timing the ball well, the last nine overs produced 126 runs; the last four 71 as England lost control. Foster's seventh over (the 53rd) cost 20 runs and the 55th, bowled by Gooch, cost 26 (including 5 wides) as Hadlee in six balls added to the mayhem. The crowd's displeasure, warranted but crudely expressed, turned to pleasure as Gooch and Athey compiled the highest first-wicket partnership in a one-day international, Gooch's 91 taking just 102 balls. Needing slightly more than 5 an over, they were on course with 128 after 25 overs and had improved the asking-rate when 92 were needed off the last twenty. Athey, opening in place of the unfit Benson, played his best innings for England, hitting fourteen 4s in 172 balls, driving and sweeping with assurance despite problems from a muscle spasm in his thigh. New Zealand missed the control of Chatfield, who had broken his left thumb catching Benson at Headingley.

Man of the Match: C. W. J. Athey. Attendance: 19,000; receipts: £150,000.

Men of the Series: C. W. J. Athey (England) and M. D. Crowe (New Zealand).