Read the article of Australia vs New Zealand 7th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1986 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 7th ODI match played between New Zealand and Australia at Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth in 19th January 1986.
A economical bowling spells from Craig McDermott, Simon Davis and Steve Waugh before Captain Allan Border's steady half-century and Wayne Phillips' quick-fire 28* helped to Australia convincing four-wicket victory over New Zealand in a action-packed game of the seventh match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
New Zealand scored 159-6 in 50 overs with top scorer by Jeff Crowe cracked a 63 off 99-balls including 4-fours.
Jeremy Coney scored 33 off consuming 77-balls including a boundary and Richard Hadlee 15 not out.
Australia best bowler by Steve Waugh took 2-wickets for 28-runs in 10-overs including three maidens.
Simon Davis took 1-wicket for 13-runs in 10-overs including three maidens with economy rate of 1.30, Greg Matthews and Bruce Reid both took one-wickets.
This match reported by SMH Staff (Third Party Reference from SMH)
Australia retained their position at the top of the World Series Cup table with a four-wicket win over New Zealand in an action-packed match at the WACA Ground.
The Australians had anxious moments aplenty before sealing victory on the backs of a superb innings by captain Allan Border and Wayne Phillips.
Border, the mainstay of the innings, won the Man-of-the-Match award for his 58, while Phillips bludgeoned Australia home with 28 not out from 14 balls.
Phillips, who came in at the fall of Border's wicket with 29 runs still needed, decided on all-out attack as the formula for victory.
He hit the first ball he faced for four over mid-wicket and then struck Ewen Chatfield for a four and a six from successive balls in the following over to take the pressure off his task.
Phillips, who has been out of form with the bat in recent games, sealed the win with 4.5 overs to spare when he disdainfully clouted champion paceman Richard Hadlee over the mid-on boundary for his second six.
New Zealand had struggled to 6-159 on a green top which made batting a nightmare.
Border agreed with NZ captain Jeremy Coney and India's Kapil Dev in their condemnation of the WACA Ground wicket used for the weekend's double-header.
"Having watched Saturday's game it was obvious that the wicket was not good for one-day cricket. The spectators expect to see plenty of runs scored, but that can't happen on this type of pitches," he said.
Even so, Border took control of proceedings and made sure Australia had plenty of time to reach the target of 160.
He began his innings with a series of lusty swings, some productive, others not, at Chatfield and Hadlee.
Border added 52 with Geoff Marsh (20) before the opener slashed outside off-stump at Martin Crowe's first delivery to give keeper Ervin McSweeney a comfortable catch.
Steve Waugh played beautifully for 23 in a partnership of 39 with his captain before spooning a drive off Chatfield to Jeff Crowe.
Waugh hit three delightful boundaries - two off drives from Jeremy Coney's bowling and a cover drive off Hadlee and it came as a surprise when he was dismissed.
Equally surprising was Border's exit with 29 still required. Greg Matthews played a ball towards point and called Border through for what was always going to be a suicidal single. Border had no hope and was well short of his ground when John Wright's return lobbed over the bails to McSweeney.
The Australian captain, after three successive failures, made his top score of the series in 159 minutes from 104 balls with seven fours.
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