New Zealand v Australia
Hagley Oval, Christchurch: 1st – 4th February 1990
The final Test of the series was at the picturesque Hagley Oval in Christchurch, on the South Island, with series all square at 0-0.
Lesley Murdoch won the toss for New Zealand, elected to bat and was first out for just 7 runs, caught behind off Karen Brown. Fellow opener Jackie Clark moved things along with the ever reliable Debbie Hockley before she too was out, bowled by Lyn Larsen for 40.
Hockley tried holding the innings together but wickets just kept falling at regular intervals before she too was out for 77, one of four victims to Debbie Wilson. Murdoch, perhaps mindful that rain had impacted the first two Tests and that New Zealand had batted into the second day, made a spirited declaration, 9/197.
Australia batted with aggression, but also lost wickets steadily, losing both openers and Zoe Goss for a duck by the time they’d scored 76. Sally Griffiths and Denise Annetts combined to get the score over 100, but another string of wickets left Australia precariously positioned at the end of day two at 6/162.
The lower order fired on day three. Wilson, Brown and Joanne Broadbent all defied the Kiwi bowlers and gave Larsen the luxury of declaring at 9/292, some 95 runs in front. New Zealand came out to bat a second time and were confronted by a fired up Deb Wilson.
“Deb Wilson was lethal… scary even for me standing at first slip. She was hitting the NZ batters at regular intervals. I have never seen so many items of protection come out… arm guards, thigh pads and bodies took a pounding.” – Lyn Larsen
Wilson tore through the New Zealand batting, even bowling the great Deb Hockley for a duck. The home team were skittled for just 152, leaving Australia just 58 to score for victory, which they did, losing just two wickets in the process.
New Zealand 9 dec 197 (Hockley 77, Clark 40, Wilson 4/50) and 152 (Campbell 29, Wilson 5/42) lost to Australia 9/292 (Brown 65, Haggett 45, Turner 3/63) and 2/58 by 8 wickets