Sunday, February 8, 2009

AUSTRALIA VS NEWZELAND 3rd ODI:Australia bounce back with 32-run win


 Set to get 302 to wrap up the five-match series, New Zealand batsmen made a hash of things to be all out 269 off 47.3 overs in the third One-Day International against Australia here on Sunday.With this win, the hosts are back in the series even though they are trailing 2-1.Grant Elliott’s fighting 115 off 125 balls and a heroic 36 off 27 balls by the injured Brendon McCullum, coming lower down the order, failed to save the day for the tourists as they were bowled out with still two and half overs to go.The Kiwis who were reeling at 183 for seven and never looked like coming anywhere near the Aussie total. But the injured wicketkeeper-batsman McCullum and Elliott had other ideas as they added 69 runs for the eighth wicket even as tension set in the Aussie camp.However, when Elliott was caught by Mike Hussey off James Hopes for a magnificent 115 studded with eight fours the tourists lost the initiative. McCullum, who batted with a suspected broken shoulder then perished, giving Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting an easy catch off Ben Hilfenhaus for 36, which included three fours and a six.When Jeetan Patel was bowled by Nathan Bracken it was all over for New Zealand.Earlier, Aussie stumper Brad Haddin helped his team to a commanding score of 301 for nine.Opening the batting with M Clarke, Haddin took out his frustration on the hapless Kiwi attack by posting his first One-Day century.

The SCG knock was Haddin's second outstanding innings against New Zealand this season the first being his 169 in the Test in Adelaide.Haddin and Clarke (64 off 69 balls) put down Australia's best start of the summer before Mike Hussey (51 off 32 balls) rounded out the team's highest total.No side has scored more than 270 in a successful run chase at a one-day international in Sydney.New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori put Australia in with the home side shuffling the order after Ricky Ponting came in for misfiring opener David Warner.Haddin and Clarke started the innings in a respectful manner, Australia's fourth different opening combination of the summer compiling just six runs in four overs before igniting the innings by taking 14 runs off a Kyle Mills' over.The pair increased the tempo steadily, putting on 135 by the 24th over before Clarke departed trying to smash medium-pacer Grant Elliott through cover.Haddin, who was dropped on 76 off by Fulton off Elliott, then promptly completed his century.However, Elliott continued to trouble the Australians by removing Ponting (16).The Kiwis made the most of the second new ball with Iain O'Brien having David Hussey (7) caught behind before Haddin exuberantly celebrated his ton.

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