†NEW ZEALAND v ENGLAND 1987-88

At Auckland, March 19. New Zealand won by four wickets. Toss: New Zealand. Fielding their strongest team for the first time since the First Test, New Zealand won an exciting, fluctuating match with four balls to spare. Jones and Hadlee, returning after injury, were the architects of a win which squared the series 2-2, and the difference their full-time presence might have made to the Tests and internationals is incalculable. England, put in to bat, made a poor start, Watson rather than Hadlee causing their distress. Solid contributions from Gatting, Fairbrother and Capel took them past 200, with 60 coming from the last ten overs. The best crowd of the tour, around 20,000, saw Wright and Jones set up the win with 86 from 24 overs, but tight bowling from Jarvis and Radford changed the picture. When Hadlee joined Jones, 71 were required from twelve overs with five wickets standing. Jones, lucky not to be run out when 49, reprieved in the deep when 71, and dropped again at 82, fell for 90 in the 48th over, leaving Hadlee, roared on by the excited crowd, to ensure victory with a straight six off Emburey.

Man of the Match: A. H. Jones.