Cricket: A great World Cup rivalry

David Leggat revisits some memorable cup clashes between Australia and New Zealand

Indore, Oct 18, 1987

Result: Australia won by 3 runs

Rain cut it back to a 30-over contest on a postage stamp ground.

Sent in, Australia reached 199 for four, with David Boon's 87 and Dean Jones' rapid 52 the pick of the contributions.

After John Wright's 47 and Ken Rutherford's 37, both at run-a-ball rate, New Zealand were in the box seat at 183 for five. It boiled down to needing seven off the final over, and Martin Crowe, on 58 from 47 balls, on strike.

But Crowe holed out the first ball to deep cover, and Ian Smith and Martin Snedden followed as Steve Waugh demonstrated his cool head in a hot spot. It was a lost opportunity.

Chandigarh, Oct 27, 1987

Result: Australia won by 17 runs

Opener Geoff Marsh's unbeaten 126 set up his team's 251 for eight, after Australia had won the toss, and Jones' 56 was again a handy contribution.

New Zealand were rolled for 234 with six balls unbowled, Wright's 61, Rutherford's 44 the most notable innings. Crowe being run out for four didn't help.

Auckland, February 22, 1992

Result: New Zealand won by 37 runs

A famous day for New Zealand cricket. The opening game of the tournament on home turf, a full house on a hot day.

Captain Crowe made a fine unbeaten 100 after winning the toss. He shared a 118-run stand with Rutherford for the fourth wicket en route to 248 for six.

Then Dipak Patel marked out his short run up for the opening over in one of the World Cup's most notable tactical moves.

Boon and Steve Waugh put on 74 for the sixth wicket but were out one run apart, Boon completing his century before being beaten by Chris Harris' spectacular direct hit from the deep.

It was also the start of the dibbly-dobbly era of New Zealand's slow-medium bowlers. A big day all around for New Zealand.

Chennai, March 11, 1996

Result: Australia won by 6 wickets

Harris and captain Lee Germon's finest innings for New Zealand came this day. After winning the toss, they added 168 for the fourth wicket on a steamy day.

Harris' bold 130 off 124 balls was full of spectacular cuts and drives, Germon drove hard and Shane Warne's 10 overs went for 52.

The tail didn't wag, however and Australia, with Mark Waugh's 110 off 112 balls leading the way, Steve Waugh (59 not out) and Stuart Law (42 not out) providing the coup de grace. Chris Cairns, Shane Thomson, Nathan Astle and Roger Twose all went for seven an over.

Cardiff, May 20, 1999

Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets

Australia chose to bat and were restricted to 213 for eight, with left-armer Geoff Allott, during a splendid personal tournament, taking four for 37. He finished joint top wicket-taker on 20, with Warne.

Only Darren Lehmann, with 76, and Ricky Ponting's 47 were notable contributions.

Roger Twose's unbeaten 80 and 60 from Cairns did the job for New Zealand, who went on to the semifinals before being cleaned out by Pakistan.

Port Elizabeth, March 11, 2003

Result: Australia won by 96 runs

A dreadful day for New Zealand, which began so promisingly.

Having sent the Aussies in, Shane Bond had one of his purple days, producing figures of 10-2-23-6 to roll their opponents for 208.

They had been 84 for seven, before Michael Bevan (56) and Andy Bichel (64) turned the contest.

New Zealand were lamely dismissed for 112 in only 30.1 overs. Captain Stephen Fleming's 48 dwarfed his teammates, none of whom reached 20. Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath shared eight wickets.

Grenada, April 20, 2007

Result: Australia won by 215 runs

Another shocker. Matthew Hayden's 103 propelled Australia to a whopping 348 for six. Ponting, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson made hefty contributions.

New Zealand were all out for 133 in only 25.5 overs, Peter Fulton's 62 opening the innings the only hand of note.

Left arm Chinaman Brad Hogg and speedster Shaun Tait combined for seven for 61. A grim day indeed. It is Australia's biggest winning margin, in runs, over New Zealand and their second highest ODI total against them.