In the fourth of five instalments running throughout the New Zealand-England series, we delve into the Wisden Almanack archive to pick out a memorable one-day match between the sides. Here we recall one of David Gower's finest innings, and one of England's closest finishes Match 1: Nothing between them
Match 2: When England were bad in Ahmedabad
Match 3: Fight to the final

World Series Cup, 1982-83 – Melbourne
New Zealand won by 2 runs

David Gower was not a fan of one-day cricket. But that did not prevent him from being extremely good at it. In 114 matches for England, he managed seven centuries, and during the 1982-83 World Series Cup he was at his zenith. This innings of 122 took England to the brink of victory, but it was a mere warm-up for his true masterpiece, the 158 he scored in his next match, against Australia at Brisbane, an innings rated at No. 6 on the Wisden 100.

On this occasion, Gower's artistry was upstaged by New Zealand's artisans. Every one of the Kiwis top eight reached double-figures, but only Gower and Ian Botham, who scored 41, managed a score of note for England. It might not have mattered, had Gower seen it through to the end, but Richard Hadlee had the last laugh.

Almanack report
Scorecard

Andrew Miller is on the staff of Wisden.com.

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