TARGET AUSSIES It’s all on the line at Eden again
There was stunned silence for three or four seconds from the crowd and then a realisation of what happened and the crowd erupted.’
Australia Day. Bond, again, tormented Australia with 5-25.
5:
NZ 229-1 beat South Africa 306-6 by 9 wickets (D/L) at The Wanderers, Johannesburg.
A nine-wicket victory chasing 307? The Wanderers was heaving and crowing South Africans declared it game over at halfway. But Fleming (134 not out) produced a great New Zealand one-day innings and with wickets in hand they cantered past their rain-adjusted target to send the Proteas on their way out. GOD DEFEND New Zealand played over the loud speakers, then silence followed by a calm realisation that this was the big one.
Twenty three years ago today, New Zealand cricketing allrounder Chris Harris looked around Eden Park and gulped down a few big breaths.
This was it. The first game of the 1992 Cricket World Cup against the old foe Australia.
The public expectations of the national cricket team weren’t that high, Harris said last week. They had just lost a series to England, but that didn’t help the jangling nerves.
‘‘Whenever you go out representing your country you are putting everything on the line,’’ Harris said.
‘‘There was that realisation of how big an occasion it was. I thought ‘this is pretty special, this is pretty big’.’’
The New Zealanders posted 248, with captain Martin Crowe scoring a century, and Harris said the side was a quietly confident at the innings break that they had a chance.
Australia, in reply, had made a touch over 200 runs with four overs left when Harris made one of the most crucial plays of the match. David Boon had just Match-winner: Chris Harris is mobbed by Dipak Patel, Mark Greatbatch, Rod Latham and Martin Crowe after sealing the win. scored a century when Harris grabbed a ball off an Ian Healy shot and threw it at the bowler’s stumps. ‘‘I will never forget throwing it and Gavin Larsen putting his hands in the air,’’ Harris said. ‘‘I thought ‘what are you doing? All you need to do is catch it and he will be out.’
‘‘Then just seeing the bails go off and the wickets get destroyed.
‘‘It was a pretty surreal feeling. There was stunned silence for three or four seconds from everyone in the ground and then a realisation of what happened and the crowd erupted.
‘‘That was a pretty special feeling. It was then we realised the game was ours and we just had to finish the job off.
‘‘That set us on the road to a pretty special six weeks.’’
Next Saturday the Black Caps will face co-hosts Australia at Eden Park. It is billed as the match of the cup. After New Zealand’s massace of England and Australia’s hot form, it should be.
Harris said it was a coup the match will be in Auckland.
‘‘We have got the advantage of knowing the conditions, and having a home crowd is always a massive advantage.
‘‘It was amazing when we played there and it was full and now it is an even bigger stadium.
‘‘It’s going to be a pretty amazing event to be part of it. I am excited for them. New Zealand and Australia seem to be the two form teams. Everyone is so excited for this game because it is going to give a great indication of where both teams sit.’’