NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA 1985-86

Border elected to bat, and despite a green tinge to the pitch Hadlee and Robertson, appearing in his first Test, were played comfortably. Boon was caught off one of the few to lift, but Marsh and Phillips batted for most of the day, their stand of 168 being a record for Australia's second wicket against New Zealand. Marsh's century, which took him 258 minutes, was almost inevitable, so competently did he play. At 227 for four overnight Australia were comfortably placed, and with Ritchie and Zoehrer in command the next morning, a score in excess of 400 seemed in prospect. However, Bracewell, with flighted off-breaks and ready turn, changed the course of the game as the last six Australian wickets fell for 36.

Matthews struck back with three wickets for Australia before the close (75 for three) and the success of the two off-spinners on the second day did not augur well for the side batting fourth. New Zealand lost five wickets for 107 before Coney, striking the ball confidently, and Hadlee added 63, and then Coney, in perhaps his finest Test innings, assisted by Robertson, took New Zealand to 258, a deficit of 56. Australia were 32 for two at the close, with Boon 13 not out, and he was to stay there, not out at the finish, the tenth Australian to carry his bat through a Test innings. There was little sign of fight from the others as Bracewell, whose match figures of ten for 106 made him not only the Man of the Match but the first New Zealand spin bowler to capture ten wickets in a Test match, achieved a vast amount of turn.

New Zealand required 160 to win and it seemed a difficult task, but Matthews bowled too flat to make the most of the wicket. Wright produced one of his best Test match innings and Rutherford played pluckily. At 62 Rutherford was given out, but Zoehrer signalled that the catch had not been properly made, Border chivalrously waved him back, and New Zealand finished the day 85 for one. On the fifth day Wright completed his second half-century of the match and Crowe's succession of boundaries eased New Zealand to victory.