New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 4th Match WCC 1985 Highlights

Watch the highlights of New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 4th Match WCC 1985 - Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket one-day international tournament of the 4th ODI match played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne in 23rd February 1985.

John Reid struck half-century © Cricket Australia / Channel 9

John Reid's half-century and Jeremy Coney's four-wicket haul gives New Zealand comprehensive 51-run victory over Sri Lanka and New Zealand first team to qualify for the semi-finals in the fourth match of a Benson and Hedges World Championship of Cricket.

New Zealand scored 223 for all-out in 49.4 overs with top scorer by John Reid cracked a 62 off 108-balls.

Paul McEwan scored 27 off 38-balls including 3-fours, Lance Cairns hit 25 off 21-balls included 2-fours, Martin Crowe, Ian Smith each scored 22-runs and Jeremy Coney 21.

Sri Lanka best bowler by Vinothen John picked up 3-wickets for 29-runs in 10-overs including three maidens with economy rate of 2.90, Rumesh Ratnayake took 3-wickets for 40-runs in 8.5-overs, Uvais Karnain took 2-wickets and one for Arjuna Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka scored 172 for all-out in 42.4 overs Arjuna Ranatunga scored 34 off 40-balls without a boundary.

Amal Silva struck 33 off consumed 55-deliveries including 4-fours, Ashantha de Mel scored 27 off 26-balls without a boundary and Somachandra De Silva hit a unbeaten 24 off 32-balls with a boundary.

New Zealand best bowler by Jeremy Coney claimed 4-wicket haul for 46-runs in 10-overs, Richard Hadlee took 2-wickets and one for Lance Cairns - Even Chatfield.

John Reid named Player of the match for his brilliant 62-runs knocked off facing 108-balls including four boundaries.

This match reported by Mike Coward (Third Party Reference from SMH)

Jeremy Coney and Richard Hadlee pooled resources and inspired New Zealand to a 51-run win over Sri Lanka in a World Championship of Cricket match at the MCG.

New Zealand, in Australia after a succession of winning performances at home against Pakistan, have now graduated to the semi-finals of the championship being played by the World's seven Test match countries to celebrate Victoria's 150th birthday.

They will return to New Zealand today for two rounds of Shell Trophy matches before coming back to Australia early next month for the lucrative semi-finals of the tourna-ment.

Jeremy Coney and Richard Hadlee took six wickets between them — Jeremy Coney finished with 4-wicket haul for 46 and Richard Hadlee took 2-23 — as Sri Lanka, in pursuit of 224, were removed for 172 in 42.4 overs.

At the height of the assault by Coney and Hadlee, Sri Lanka lost 4-15 from 24 balls to be a sick and sorry 6-75 in the 24th over.

As happened so often during the recent World Series Cup contests Sri Lanka fell apart when vice-captain Roy Dais and skipper Duleep Men-dis were removed cheaply.

Only Arjuna Ranatunga - controversially caught by John Wright on the long-on fence off Coney - and wicketkeeper-opening-batsman Amal Silva managed to reach 30. However, Asantha de Mel and Somachandra de Silva thrilled the crowd of 8,759 with some bold hitting at the end, but by then the cause was lost.

Many of the people are expected to return to the ground this morning when the championship continues with Australia playing Pakistan.

John Reid, who played impressively for 62 from 107 balls in New Zealand's innings, was adjudged man-of-the-match, which carries a cheque for $500. Only Reid played with any confidence or authority against the Sri Lankan attack which gave one of its most convincing performances for the summer. 

                   

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