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Australia vs New Zealand

Monday, November 10 2003

Due to the conditions in India in the early morning, Stephen Fleming must have been delighted with winning the toss and inserting the Australians into bat in conditions perfect for seam and swing bowling. Especially as Australia were fielding a make-shift opening pair of Ian Harvey and Jimmy Maher. Ian Harvey, however, had other ideas as he proceeded to hit Tuffey for 4 boundaries in his first 2 overs including three consecuetive fours. Unfortunately for Australia, he wasn't able to continue this barrage of boundaries as Tuffey struck back with 2 wickets in 2 balls. First, Harvey (25) lobbed the ball high into the air and was well held by Chris Nevin at cover and then Maher was caught on the crease by a superb swinging delivery from Tuffey which was plumb enough for the finger to be raised instantly.

This left the captain, Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn at the crease. It didn't last long as Martyn fell for a third ball duck, playing a loose shot to a wide one from Kyle Mills and caught behind by McCullum. This left Australia wobbling on 3/34 as Symonds strode out to the crease to be beaten comprehensively by a lovely out-swinger by Tuffey, he survived and started to repair the damage with his captain.

Just as they were beginning to build a decent partnership, Symonds (18) played a cramped cut shot to a ball from Mills, tickled it to McCullum behind the stumps. Again Australia in trouble with the score at 4/61.

Michael Bevan joined Ponting (8*) ,who'd seen four of his top order wickets fall for just 28 runs, to form what was to be a crucial partnership in the scheme of the game. The New Zealand bowlers gave them a helping hand by bowling leg-side and overpitched deliveries at regular intervals so these two were able to sustain a run-rate of over 4 an over in difficult conditions.

A bowling change brought Vettori into the game and he tightened the reins on the partnership by using all his experience and skill to keep the batsmen guessing. Varying pace, spin and line allowed him to pick up the wicket of Ponting due to a well taken catch on the boundary rope by McMillan as Ponting lofted Vettori back over the bowlers head. The end of a partnership worth 78 to the Australian leaving the score at 5/139.

Clarke was soon to follow in almost exactly the same fashion. Same bowler, same fielder, same position and exactly the same result. 6/141 meant Australia were looking like setting a meagre total, especially as Brad Hogg (9) fell to Harris.

With 3 wickets remaining and 8 overs left with 164 on the board, Michael Bevan then produced what is becoming a trademark innings. He rotated the strike, placing confidence in his partners until the final overs. During the final 7 overs, Bevan struck 44 runs including 6 boundaries as he shared in an unbeaten 61 partnership with Andy Bichel. Bevan was left on 84* from 97 balls. The innings was characterised by his nudging and prodding quick singles which are essential in OD cricket. Vettori was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with figures of 10-0-20-2.

Australia will have been happy with 7/225 after being 4/61 and 5/139, but their happiness was to be increased when Bracken struck in the 3rd over to remove Chris Nevin (2) who is having a torrid series.

It was the start of what was to be a stop-start innings or maybe a start-stop innings as several of the New Zealand batsman gained starts but failed to capitalise on them. Vincent (9) fell to a good change of pace by Bracken. Fleming and Styris were looking good until Fleming got a leading edge back to the bowler, Harvey. Catastropically, McMillan fell next over for a duck though he might be regarded as unlucky as a leg-side delivery clipped his pad and was caught behind. Two of New Zealand's senior batsmen had fallen within 6 deliveries (4/68) and they were on the rocks.

Oram started nicely with a nicely executed cover-drive for 4 but he also fell for low double figures. He didn't pick the quicker delivery by Hogg and was caught plumb in front of the stumps for 14. Styris was joined at the crease by Chris Harris and these two started to string together an important partnership but it was not to be as the key wicket of Styris fell to Hogg to break a partnership of 55. The score at 6/143 with 13 overs remaining.

The innings petered out after Styris was dismissed, the last 4 wickets falling for 28 to leave New Zealand on 181 allout and 45 runs short of their target.

Scores

Australia 225/7 (M Bevan 84*, R Ponting 52; D Vettori 2/20)

New Zealand 181 (Styris 54, C Harris 38; N Bracken 3/34)

Australia won by 44 runs.

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Michael Bevan.

Points: Australia 5, New Zealand 1.



Posted by Peter