- New Zealand 286-9; Australia 280 (47 overs); New Zealand win by six runs
- Marcus Stoinis’ 146 not out not enough as Australia’s run chase falls short
New Zealand 286/9 def Australia 280 (47.0 ov) by six runs
It was a thriller at Eden Park that manifested from nowhere. At the forty over mark Australia needed somewhere approaching 110 with two wickets in hand, and about forty minutes later were poised for victory. It wasn’t to be, however, as the ice-veined Williamson corrected the wrongs of an earlier run out attempt with a pinpoint diving finish from short mid-on. While much of the conversation will be about how Australia almost pulled off a miracle, it should be remembered that in a critical moment Tim Southee nailed a yorker and Williamson made the crucial play. They were just about worthy winners, New Zealand.
Related: Marcus Stoinis heroics not enough as Australia fall to New Zealand in first ODI
Need to take a breath after that
Will compose myself and gather some thoughts to summarise. From the top of my head (as ever), this was one of the all-time great ODI performances by an Australian. It will only be soured by the result. It was excellent fielding from Williamson there, who only moments earlier had missed an opportunity to ice the match with a similar run out from the other side. Will be back shortly with some concluding remarks.
GAME OVER - NEW ZEALAND WIN!
The final ball of the over sees Stoinis miscue a drive to short mid on. Hazlewood takes off instinctively for the run but it’s suicidal. By the time he turns to recover his ground, Williamson has already underarmed and this time hit the stumps! He was aiming at about one and a half of them - he dived full length and underarmed with precision. Hazlewood was about half a metre out of his crease, and pandemonium ensues. New Zealand win by six runs. An incredible finish.
47th over: Australia 268-9 (Stoinis 134, Hazlewood 0) *287 to win
Australia need 19 from 24 at the start of the over. It’s Southee to Stoinis - it’s full, Stoinis goes straight, but he miscues it. It rolls out to mid wicket for no run. Stoinis then gets every piece of one over Southee’s head but it’s saved by Neil Broom out on the boundary. What an outstanding piece of fielding. Stoinis is playing for sixes here. He only needs three or four. He then hits Southee for six over cover! This is outrageous. THE NEXT BALL GOES FOR SIX OVER MID OFF! This is one of the great innings in the modern era. Move over Mitch Marsh, Moses, Cartwright, whoever...this is extremely special stuff. Twelve off the over, one ball left. The field’s up. What does Stoinis do?...
What an unbelievable game from @MStoinis... Huge 100* & 3fa. This would be one of the great wins... #NZvAUS
46th over: Australia 268-9 (Stoinis 134, Hazlewood 0) *287 to win
Stoinis finds two to wide long on as he drags one out there. He slashes the next and nearly beats the third man boundary rider, but it’s saved so he decides not to run. Stoinis, who is hammering everything offered to him, then blazes one straight to cover, so there’s no run there. Boult’s in again - Stoinis is back and trying to pull him but it’s too quick - it fires into his hand and that’s hurt him. He faces up again and finds the boundary! The shot was similar to the one he attempted the ball previous, but this time he nailed it. This is brilliant stuff from the man they call ‘Stoyne’. It’s six off the over with one ball to go before the requisite team conference. Boult heads in...Stoinis appears to miss it but the Black Caps appeal, it’s given not out but they review!...stand by. The Aussies scampered one anyway. Stonis was jamming his bat down on the ball and the question is whether the ball hit the pad or the bat. To me it looks as though the snicko vibration is ‘thud-ish’, but I hear the umpire saying he ‘sees a spike’. He goes on to say that ‘he sees no conclusive evidence of bat’, so they do not overturn the decision. Stoinis is not out, and the match carries on. What drama.
45th over: Australia 261-9 (Stoinis 128, Hazlewood 0) *287 to win
We start the over with 43 from 36 balls, and one wicket in hand. Stoinis doesn’t take the single early, and both batsmen are in conference after every ball. He then gets one in the slot and hits another six over cow corner! It was a slower ball but Stoinis saw it. Next ball is cut over short third manfor four! Here comes Australia! It’s 33 from 33 for Australia now, unbelievable stuff. Can Stoinis stay the journey? Can Hazlewood? He then hits another one for six over mid on! He leans back and just golf swings it all the way. Incredible. 27 from 32. Stoinis toes a rank full toss for no runs the next ball, making for an interesting conversation ahead of the final delivery. Does he take a single or carry on? Do New Zealand bring the field in? They leave it, wisely. Or is it? Stoinis hits the ball straight to short cover, takes off, and Williamson runs directly to the stumps but misses with the underarm! He probably could have run all the way and taken them, but the pressure told. Stoinis retains the strike and we carry on.
44th over: Australia 244-9 (Stoinis 111, Hazlewood 0) *287 to win
Another eventful one! Stoinis farms the strike, ignoring a few singles early before standing prone as five wides go over his head. He follows that with two sixes way over Boult’s head, before taking another single to hold on to the strike next over. The run rate is now eminently achievable for Australia, it’s just the wickets that hurt. It will be Southee from the other end.
What a magnificent innings from Marcus Stoinis. In only his second match for Australia, he’s led the way with a combination of patience and power. He brings up the milestone with a huge, straight six over Tim Southee’s head, meaning it comes as better than a run-a-ball pace. He kisses his helmet, beats his heart and salutes the change room. What a knock.
43rd over: Australia 226-9 (Stoinis 98, Hazlewood 0) *287 to win
Stoinis cuts Santner behind point for a boundary from Santner’s first ball, taking him to 96. He takes a single the next which brings Starc on strike. He just needs to get off strike but he does better than that and jams his bat down on one, gets a thick edge and takes two. He then gets off strike the following ball with a cut to the boundary rider. Stoinis takes a single before Starc holes out to mid wicket! Description below, Hazlewood is the last man and last wicket.
Australia had done so well that over, but from the final ball Starc tried to slog sweep Santner over mid wicket for six. He instead mistimes it and the ball flies comfortably to Neesham on the boundary. A shame, as something was building there. They’ve crossed too, I think, meaning Hazlewood takes the strike. He’ll be disappointed with that, Starc.
42nd over: Australia 217-8 (Stoinis 92, Starc 0) *287 to win
Huge over from Australia here! A wide, then 6, then wide, then 6, then a dot starts things off. Stoinis hit the first one over cover then the next one over mid on. He then clobbers another one straight back over his head! The equation closes! Stoinis then annihilates one to mid off and it’s dropped by Williamson! He really cracked that one, it would have been a stellar take. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s broken his hand, it was hit that hard. One from the final ball and...is this match still on?
41st over: Australia 196-8 (Stoinis 73, Starc 0) *287 to win
There were a few nerves from the New Zealand radio commentators at the start of this over as they contemplated all manner of permutations. Santner ultimately did the job, bringing the Black Caps within touching distance of a well-earned win. He’s bowled well today. It’s Starc to the crease now.
Brilliant bowling from Santner, who floated a ball high and wide to the advancing Australian, beating him comprehensively, before Latham did the rest. It was a wicket borne from pressure early in the over. He’d only conceded four singles heading into the last ball, forcing Cummins into risky business. He succumbed, bringing to a close a pretty entertaining knock.
40th over: Australia 193-7 (Stoinis 71, Cummins 35) *287 to win
A top edge to Cummins from Ferguson brings him another boundary via the keepers head. Two balls later the same man swings him lustily over mid wicket for six! Cummins continues in the same vein, and is almost caught by a superman-leaping Guptill, who almost claims a beauty with his outstretched right hand before grassing it. Would have been a classic, now just an excellent save. Cummins then nearly pierces point and cover but more brilliant fielding prevents a boundary. High quality cricket this over. Cummins is batting exceptionally well.
@sjjperry is there such a thing as a non-naked streaker?
39th over: Australia 179-7 (Stoinis 70, Cummins 22) *287 to win
Stoinis takes one to mid off before Cummins crunches one over cover for four. Williamson nearly reeled it in, but replays showed his leg touching the rope at the critical moment. Despite the miss, New Zealand have been exemplary in the field - a notable difference from Australia’s most recent opponents. Cummins takes one from the last ball.
38th over: Australia 173-7 (Stoinis 69, Cummins 17) *287 to win
Further respect shown for Ferguson, whose offerings are good enough to prevent too much damage early in the over. Stoinis then gets some luck after he canes one with a flat bat down the ground - Southee slid in on the circle to stop it, but the ball just rolled over him and continued on its way to the boundary. There was a broken bat in there too, and Stoinis retained the strike heading into Southee’s next over.
37th over: Australia 166-7 (Stoinis 63, Cummins 16) *287 to win
Williamson continues to trust Munro, whose driven handsomely over wide mid on for four from Cummins’ blade. Both batsmen then tick over the strike before Cummins again lifts Munro over mid off for another boundary. A really good shot from the Australian quick. There’s almost a mix up on the final ball, but Cummins sends Stoinis back and there’s no run added.
36th over: Australia 155-7 (Stoinis 61, Cummins 7) *287 to win
Smelling Australian blood, Williamson brings back Lockie Ferguson, who’s probably been their best today. He hurries up Cummins with typical pace early, catching his splice as he attempt to pull him. He defends the next, then leaves(!) another one. Wonder if there’s an edict from stand-in coach Langer to build an innings. If so, only Stoinis and Faulkner can lay claim to have followed orders. Cummins then edges one past the outstretched hand of Williamson for four.
35th over: Australia 149-7 (Stoinis 61, Cummins 1) *287 to win
I’m getting a cult-hero vibe from Colin Munro, his celebration was enthusiastically elaborate. His first ball to Cummins shapes away beautifully and beats the New South Welshman’s bat. He finds a run to finish the over. New Zealand are closing in.
Partnership broken! Faulkner tries to heave Munro over midwicket but misses entirely. He’s clean bowled by the ecstatic Munro, whose delivery clipped the top of off. Now seven down, the end is nigh for Australia.
34th over: Australia 146-6 (Stoinis 60, Faulkner 24) *287 to win
Santner, so economical early, is now the subject of aggression as Stoinis lifts him over the offside for two, then a single, which brings Faulkner on to strike. Santner’s still giving the ball plenty of air which is encouraging to an old spinning sympathiser, and it seems to lock Faulkner in to his crease. There’s five off the over leading into the last delivery. Stoinis tries to sweep Santner powerfully from outside the off-stump but mistimes it. He takes off for one but is promptly sent back by his partner, diving into his crease with enough time to render the whole event fairly innocuous. A good one from Santner there. Taking predictions now: can Australia run this close? 90 balls, 151 runs.
33rd over: Australia 141-6 (Stoinis 57, Faulkner 23) *287 to win
It’s Colin Munro’s military mediums now - presumably Williamson wants to soak up a few more overs before bringing back the big guns. The offerings look exceptionally palatable, but maybe that’s the point? The Australian’s seem to hedge their bets in the same way I am, as a smattering of singles and two wides greet the first part of the over. Faulkner seemed to dummy Munro into the second one - feinting toward leg before moving back inside inside it. All singles otherwise as the partnership moves to 74.
32nd over: Australia 135-6 (Stoinis 55, Faulkner 21) *287 to win
Neesham is withdrawn for Santner; Williamson probably sensed danger there. Can Santner pick up where he left off? Initially no, as Stoinis crunches his first ball for six - a diving Munro couldn’t prevent it, as the ball cannons into the rope, flat, for what some annoying people continually describe as a maximum. Stoinis has signalled his intentions. The next one goes for six too, as he pulls a rank long hop over cow corner. That’s fifty for Stoinis, and a very good one too. A few singles follow, and that’s a good one for Australia. 14 from it and Stoinis adds a half century to his first innings haul of 3-fa.
31st over: Australia 121-6 (Stoinis 42, Faulkner 20) *287 to win
Thirty overs must’ve been a target for these two. Southee’s Test length doesn’t suffice early on, as Stoinis clubs a low forehand back past the bowler for another early boundary. A single later and Faulkner’s now clearing his leg and cross-batting a ball for two down to mid wicket. It’s getting funky as they say. Fine leg comes up and mid wicket drops back for the last ball - Faulkner tries to work Southee for one or two to that newly created space, but botches the execution. No run. Seven off.
30th over: Australia 114-6 (Stoinis 37, Faulkner 18) *287 to win
Stoinis is 32 from 56 balls as the over starts, and while he’s been very solid it’s probably time he upped the ante. He does exactly that, giving himself room to pull Neesham over to cow corner for an early struck boundary. The next ball is wide but Stoinis can’t make contact. Stoinis brutalised the following delivery but can only hit long on along the ground for one. The tempo rises. Faulkner can’t get his first of the over away due to a well directed yorker, making the last ball crucial. Faulkner advances down the wicket and is able to split point and backward-point with a slash through the off side for four. A good one for Australia, they’ll need abundantly more.
29th over: Australia 105-6 (Stoinis 32, Faulkner 14) *287 to win
Southee 1-18 (5) rejoins the fray and picks up that off stump line again. It makes for an interesting contrast with typical Australian ODI bowling, which emphasises variety through slower balls, wide and straight yorkers and bouncers. Here Southee opts for either decent lengths or balls aimed at the shoulder. It speaks to the quality of the wicket. Southee wouldn’t retain these lengths unless he felt it was offering him something. He’s vindicated, as only three come from the over.
28th over: Australia 102-6 (Stoinis 29, Faulkner 14) *287 to win
Get the sense that Neesham is the guy Stoinis and Faulkner need to target. If they’re able to target anyone at all, of course. The game’s best tweeter is up to the task, conceding only two singles and a wide. Stoinis charges the fifth delivery but is tucked up like a vulnerable child - he scores zero from it. If not Neesham, then who? We’re entering wild risk territory soon...
27th over: Australia 97-6 (Stoinis 28, Faulkner 11) *287 to win
New Zealand have engineered themselves into the ultimate position here. They’re comfortable bowling tight to defensive fields, safe in the knowledge that Australia’s task is now such that major risks will need to be taken to bridge the almost insurmountable gap that’s been created. To that end, Boult further develops his relationship with fourth stump, and both Faulkner and Stoinis can only conjure one single. They have to move pretty soon, you’d think.
26th over: Australia 96-6 (Stoinis 28, Faulkner 10) *287 to win
We’re beyond the halfway point now. As the over commences, Australia need 193 and only have four wickets. Probably in greatest comeback of all time territory - which I say to highlight New Zealand’s ascendancy more than anything else. Neesham is tighter here, only conceding two to add some respectability to his loose start last over.
25th over: Australia 94-6 (Stoinis 27, Faulkner 9) *287 to win
Pace is Australia’s friend, as both Stoinis and Faulkner punch balls for a few singles to start the reintroduced Boult’s over. Faulkner’s then reaching to manipulate a ball through cover but it’s of the slower variety - it means Faulkner’s through his shot and it rolls down to fine leg. There’s at least a run off every ball before Boult beats Stoinis outside off stump with one that just tails away. Seven overs without a wicket - is this a rescue? RRQ now 7.72.
24th over: Australia 88-6 (Stoinis 23, Faulkner 7) *287 to win
So Santner gets a rest as the straight and upright Neesham is introduced. I would have thought Santner’s economy might have necessitated a continuation of his services. Anyway, Neesham concedes consecutive singles before Stoinis top edges a pull over Latham for four. They’re definitely adopting a short-ball approach to Stoinis, who’s dealt with it pretty well thus far. Neesham attacks there again but it’s a wide, and another short one is in the perfect zone for a Stoinis pull shot. It hurtles past mid wicket and long on for four, signalling Australia’s best over of the innings. Twelve off.
23rd over: Australia 76-6 (Stoinis 14, Faulkner 5) *287 to win
Further consolidation for Australia through a leg bye, bouncer evasion, and a couple of singles down to the boundary. Ferguson is still bowling with great heat, and was lucky to avoid a wide for one that screamed over Stoinis’ shoulder. It will be Neesham now from the other end as we near the official halfway mark of the innings.
22nd over: Australia 73-6 (Stoinis 13, Faulkner 4) *287 to win
Santner’s through again quickly in a relatively non-eventful set of six. Singles to long leg tell the story, as it’s all looking very economical for the Black Caps.
21st over: Australia 70-6 (Stoinis 12, Faulkner 1) *287 to win
Great opportunity for Ferguson to polish up his figures here. Both Faulkner and Stoinis are still fending and prodding and pushing their way through the over. There’s a grand total of two runs, both singles - one behind square and one to mid wicket.
20th over: Australia 68-6 (Stoinis 10, Faulkner 1) *287 to win
First maiden of the innings, delivered by Santner. Faulkner is treading water for Australia here, who obviously stand no chance without batting deep into the innings. The Taswegian does strike me as the likeliest prospect to engineer an Australian recovery, but there feels to be a pattern to this capitulation.
19th over: Australia 68-6 (Stoinis 10, Faulkner 1) *287 to win
Heazlett goes, Ferguson’s wonderful spell continues and Faulkner grabs a single after sighting the first couple.
Now Heazlett’s gone! He’s back and across trying to punch Ferguson through the off-side but he’s well beaten for pace by the NZ quick, who’s bowling exceptionally well. Heazlett nicks through to Latham to complete a pretty disappointing innings, it must be said. Another nothing shot from a member of the Aussie top order.
18th over: Australia 66-5 (Stoinis 10, Heazlett 4) *287 to win
Did you have a drink? I barely caught up there. Five wickets in 17 overs will do nothing to assuage the view that Smith and Warner really do hold the key to Australia’s batting.
#PredictViz is putting up a 100-run for NZ from this position (Aus 58-5, need 287 to win) #NZvAUS
17th over: Australia 60-5 (Stoinis 5, Heazlett 3) *287 to win
Stoinis is upright, chesty, powerful and correct here. A quintessential athletic cricketing prototype at first glance. He does, I should add, appear to be better equipped to handle Ferguson, who’s targeting his bench-pressed chest regularly. Stoinis is chewing up deliveries, but at this stage he has to. How responsible! He tucks one around the corner for two, and almost chops one on to finish the over. He survives, and it’s time for a drink.
16th over: Australia 58-5 (Stoinis 3, Heazlett 3) *287 to win
Santner’s doing his best Travis Head impersonation (probably the other way around, to be fair), and Heazlett is struggling to get off strike. Stoinis found a single earlier in the piece but that’s it. The squeeze is well and truly on for these two.
15th over: Australia 57-5 (Stoinis 3, Heazlett 2) *287 to win
The Ferguson thunderbolts continue as Eden Park raises its non-existent roof. There’s a leg gully, but the barrel-chested Stoinis negotiates Ferguson pretty well. He flays him down to third man to get himself off-strike, and that’s all she wrote for the over
14th over: Australia 56-5 (Stoinis 1, Heazlett 2) *287 to win
Santner races through this one, and two singles come from it. Has there been two less experienced Australian players batting together in an international fixture? If ever there was a test of Australian depth, it’s now.
13th over: Australia 54-5 (Stoinis 0, Heazlett 2) *287 to win
So Australia lose five wickets in 13 overs, it’s incredible stuff. Ferguson was very quick this over, and got his reward. He’s up around 150km/hr - fairly frightening stuff. Stoinis is now to the crease.
Australia in all sorts now. Ferguson has Maxwell merely fending well outside his body, and he gets a regulation outside edge through to Latham. He’d been climbing all over Maxwell with pace up until that point, so you’d have to say it’s well deserved. Pretty incredible scenes here - you can just feel the recriminations bubbling.
12th over: Australia 44-4 (Maxwell 16, Heazlett 1) *287 to win
Replays showing that Marsh just played ‘all around that’. A more accurate way to put it is that he played for zero spin. He left a major gap between bat and pad, and the ball spun through. In short, he disrespected Santner’s revs. And now it’s the rawest of raw debutants, Sam Heazlett, to the crease. A wonderful over from Santner, and New Zealand are well on their way.
Spin does the job! Now Marsh departs, stumped by Latham and completely beaten by spin and flight by the new bowler, Santner. He advanced down the deck and looked to work the left-armer with the spin through mid wicket. Santner’s angle may have done for him though, as the ball spins inside the bat for Latham to complete the stumping.
11th over: Australia 48-3 (Maxwell 16, Marsh 16) *287 to win
NZs gunslinger, Lachie Ferguson, is now into the attack and hits that mid-140s pace straight away. It looks reasonably straight at this stage, and Maxwell’s able to lean into one and grab a single to wide mid-on. Marsh does similarly to third man before Ferguson beats Maxwell with an absolute ripsnorter (is that a Rugby League term?). He has Maxwell hopping as the ball rears up past his chin and hurtles through to Latham. Great wheels, as they say. Three off.
10th over: Australia 45-3 (Maxwell 15, Marsh 14) *287 to win
NZ are fielding well here - Maxwell tries to slash Boult through cover point but De Grandhomme dives full stretch to prevent a run. It was one of those stops that engenders full and physical demonstrations of praise from his team mates - about four of them ran over to pat him on various parts of his body. Maxwell defies my earlier comment by producing a textbook on-drive for four, followed by a couple off his pads to complete the over.
9th over: Australia 36-3 (Maxwell 6, Marsh 14) *287 to win
It can’t ever be a conventional boundary for Maxwell. This time he’s jump-pulling Southee behind square for four. He doesn’t turn with the ball as most do when playing the shot - he almost turns himself further side on upon playing the shot. He finds another single and Marsh is happy to see it out from there.
8th over: Australia 36-3 (Maxwell 6, Marsh 14) *287 to win
So the ICCs number one ODI bowler, Boult, is miserly here for the majority of the over, keeping Marsh largely defending for the most part. Marsh then manages to work him around his hip and it’s too fine for the man at short fine leg, and it’s four. Marsh then edges one ala Handscomb but gets a little more on it - it flies over first slip for another boundary. A win to Australia, but one more mistake would render them almost kaput.
7th over: Australia 27-3 (Maxwell 5, Marsh 6) *287 to win
After Handscomb’s dismissal Maxwell, the new batsman, is obviously off the mark with a swivel-pull boundary that just evades keeper Latham at 18-3. A single later and Marsh is gracefully pushing one past the bowler to the mid-off boundary. Two Australian batting enigmas with a lot of work to do now.
Now Handscomb goes! He’s back and across to an away-swinging Southee delivery and offering half a shot well away from his body. He succeeds only in nicking the ball via the corner toe of his bat through to Latham. The umpire says not out but a review proves otherwise. Interestingly nothing registered on hot spot, but RTS gives Handscomb away. It was probably a little full to be running down to third man.
6th over: Australia 18-2 (Handscomb 7, Marsh 2) *287 to win
Handscomb’s characteristically back in his crease here, all long sleeves and popped collar and neat, deliberate methodology. Just noting the Aussie guernsey doesn’t have buttons over the neck, instead it’s a zip. Handscomb’s is all the way up, Marsh’s the opposite. These things are important. Boult, who despite his two wickets has probably been bowling two lengths, is slashed over point for a boundary early on by Handscomb. He then takes another single to third man.
5th over: Australia 10-2 (Handscomb 1, Marsh 1) *287 to win
A couple of angled bats and balls run down to third man sees out Southee’s over, as Australia look to consolidate. This is Handscomb’s first real test as an ODI batsman, and Shaun Marsh’s first match in Australian colours for a while. Intriguing times - the first for a while, it must be said.
4th over: Australia 10-2 (Handscomb 0, Marsh 1) *287 to win
Well, what an over. Eden Park is rocking here with two dismissals and a near-run out. Head’s shot was the shot of a man perhaps used to fast, true wickets he could trust. As Geoff mentioned earlier this track isn’t quite that. He was severely unbalanced through the stroke, and now Australia is in trouble. Marsh and Handscomb to enact a little rescue here.
And another one! An extremely ordinary dismissal for the South Australian. Boult again offers him a bit of width but his feet are absolutely nowhere. He maneuvers his bat in a laboured arc and slices the ball high and long enough to Colin Munro on the third man boundary. There would have been a metre and a half between bat and head there (in both senses). Huge blow to Australia.
Finch is gone! He’s trying to heave a decent delivery from Boult away through square leg and Neesham takes a hot chance at chest height. Opportunity missed for Finch, and NZ has the early impetus they probably needed.
3rd over: Australia 9-0 (Head 5, Finch 4) *287 to win
Head fully capitalises on a ball just fractionally short from Southee, and he’s able to rock back and pull him forcefully over mid wicket for a one-bounce four. That sets up Head’s over nicely, but Southee’s able to correct his length and keep the South Australian in check for the over’s remainder. NZ have a Stephen Fleming-Damien Martyn-esque field here, with a fully stacked point region, including a man about 10 metres from Head’s bat.
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Head 1, Finch 4) *287 to win
Boult offers width and Finch doesn’t hesitate; he flays the bat at it and gains a couple over cover-point. He clutches his left hamstring straight away , it looks like he’s done it as a result of the actual stroke, not when setting off for the run. He takes another single to gain himself a rest. Later on in the over Head similarly tries to flay Boult but only succeeds in an underedge. The next ball is hit crisply enough to manufacture a misfield and a single ensues.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Head 0, Finch 1) *287 to win
Southee starts us off and elicits away-movement straight away. He’s got two slips and a gully and holds that good length-fourth stump line initially. Commentators are noting the relative inexperience of this Australian line-up. It’s hard not to be fractionally intrigued by it - not least due to the selectorial preference to anoint untested youth. Can the likes of Heazlett and Stoinis deliver today? Finch meanwhile gets off the mark with a bunted single to mid-wicket and Head absorbs the remainder for no run.
Should be a decent chase
Hello all and welcome to Australia’s second innings chase of New Zealand’s 286. Big thanks to Geoff for his first innings descriptions, erudite and compelling as per usual. Judging by his comments, NZs total appears pretty competitive. This new-look Australian side are away from home for the first time in a while, on a ground they’ve recently struggled on, at the end of an arduously long stretch of games. As ever, the early exchanges will be telling.
A substantial score, if not the massive one that looked on the cards when NZ was purring along early. This pitch might not be that simple to bat on, the slower bowlers and changes of pace seemed to go alright here today. And Australia has a new-look batting line-up: no Steve Smith, no David Warner, no Usman Khawaja. The recalled Aaron Finch will open with the still fairly new Travis Head, Shaun Marsh is another recall at 3, Handscomb has only played a couple of games, as has Stoinis, and Heazlett down at 7 hasn’t even played for Queensland before.
Guptill and Williamson did the early work for New Zealand today, Neesham kept things together through the middle, Broom played a brilliant solo hand to stop the end falling apart, and Boult applied the icing. Stoinis got his first international wickets and finished with three, Cummins got two but was expensive, while the other four bowlers picked up one wicket each.
50th over: New Zealand 286-9 (Ferguson 3, Boult 16)
Six! Trent Boult backs away, slaps at Cummins, and the bowler’s velocity is enough to see the ball carry third man. He clunks a pull way for a single, Ferguson drives one into the covers with less fuss. Boult then uses his patented version of backing away, sliding across the crease to get room and then crashing another one over midwicket for four more. Misses out on the fifth ball, very full, but collects the last ball of the innings, a basenall line drive down through long off for a final four. A burst of 16 from 7 balls from Boult right at the close, and honestly he could be batting ahead of Southee in terms of general usefulness.
49th over: New Zealand 270-9 (Ferguson 2, Boult 1)
NZ’s Last Stand. Boult at the crease, always entertaining. Lashes a single last ball of the over to keep the strike.
The Faulkner wrist-spin slower ball gets another victim, and Neil Broom’s fine innings comes to an end. Drags across the line after charging, looking for a boundary anywhere in any fashion, but it drops short at long-on and is held.
48th over: New Zealand 267-8 (Broom 72, Ferguson 1)
Whooshka. Broom is beaten by Cummins on the cut shot first ball, but the second is Slotto Lotto. Straight ball, short enough to get under, and Broom lifts it way over backward square into the stand for six. Takes a single, trusts Ferguson with the strike, and Ferguson doesn’t let him down - unruffled by a bouncer that whistles past his ear, then cuts a single next ball. Broom does the same at the end of the over to keep the bowling.
47th over: New Zealand 258-8 (Broom 64, Ferguson 0)
Starc finishes his 10 overs with 1 for 59, after a wide and another lofted cover drive for four by Broom. He’s going so well today. There’s a leg bye, Lachie Ferguson keeps out the last two balls, and Broom turns down a single from the last.
46th over: New Zealand 252-8 (Broom 60, Ferguson 0)
Two wickets and seven runs from the over, the latter largely thanks to another Handscomb mistake when he misreads Cummins’ slower ball, and it bounces in front of him but skips through for four byes.
Classic idiocy from Southee, for the millionth time in New Zealand colours. Has four and a bit overs to bat, needing to support a player who is striking the ball beautifully, and instead goes for a glory shot trying to ramp six over third man. Predictably, the word ‘over’ does not in this case apply.
Top work in the deep. Santner, the left-hander, slashes into the off side, and Maxwell runs a good distance to take a tumbling catch.
45th over: New Zealand 245-6 (Broom 57, Santner 7)
Well, it’s been a very important knock for New Zealand. Broom starts the over with a brutal lofted cover drive - and it is against Starc, so presumably Cummins will be the other death bowler. That boundary raises the 50 in style. The next is more fortunate but less dramatic. After a couple of dots, Broom pre-empts a short ball. He goes back in his crease, inverts the blade, and uppercuts high down to third man. Hazlewood is there, he’s airborne, he snares a ludicrous one-hander, but he comes down with the heel of his boot clipping the boundary rope. So a catch and a key dismissal becomes a six and extra momentum. All action: before that Australia used their DRS review on an lbw appeal that was going well down leg. The ball after, there’s another wide, 23 extras now. A single to close, and a dozen from the over.
44th over: New Zealand 233-6 (Broom 46, Santner 7)
Jeremy Coney is in full lyrical-wax mode on the radio about Neil Broom seeing off Josh Hazlewood. “He just needs to stay in for this over, and then play his shots and run like a hairy little velocipede.”Broom might need some of that waxing himself, by the sounds. A single from Santner first ball, skewed through the covers, then Broom is spooked by one that rips past his gloves, blocks out a couple, then is beaten again. He glides a single fromt he last after a couple of aborted attempts at the shot, and keeps the strike.
43rd over: New Zealand 231-6 (Broom 45, Santner 6)
Starc will have two overs left after this one. Will he wait until the end to use them? It’s a better over for NZ, they get the four singles but Broom is also able to slash a boundary over point. Runs, vital vital runs.
42nd over: New Zealand 223-6 (Broom 39, Santner 4)
41st over: New Zealand 219-6 (Broom 37, Santner 2)
Plenty of pressure on Neil Broom, the 33-year-old who has just come back into the side on the back of his domestic form, with Santner still trying to play himself in. Broom gets a couple from Starc behind point, then keeps out a yorker to run another single, but Santner takes until the last ball of the over to get a run, inside edged to long leg.
40th over: New Zealand 215-6 (Broom 34, Santner 1)
Hazlewood, another tight over. Gives up a leg-side wide, but aside from that only three singles. New Zealand can’t over-attack now, they don’t have a lot of batting to come. Southee and Boult can clout, but you wouldn’t want to give them more than a couple of overs.
39th over: New Zealand 211-6 (Broom 32, Santner 0)
Starc back for his sixth over, and it’s a good one. Just one run from it, as Broom turns over the strike early, but the new man Santner is stuck against Starc’s accurate bowling.
38th over: New Zealand 210-6 (Broom 31)
I said wickets in hand, not catches in hand. broom starts the over beautifully by advancing to Hazlewood and driving a ball so straight that it smashes the electronic sightscreen. They have adelay to fix the rainbow pattern that are now standing out against the black screen. Then glides a single, Neesham clubs a couple wide of long-on. But then he goes for one cross-bat too many, and the high top edge is held in the deep.
37th over: New Zealand 201-5 (Broom 24, Neesham 46)
Four runs from Faulkner’s over - Neesham starts well with a brace, but struggles to get the strike turning over thereafter. Still, they’ll be starting the last 10 overs with more than 200 on the board, and are well set to push home that advantage if they can keep wickets in hand a bit longer. Santner is a fine finisher, did a great job here against Australia in 2016.
36th over: New Zealand 197-5 (Broom 23, Neesham 43)
There’s a wicket, for a moment, but then it’s overturned. Short ball missed on the pull. Handscomb scarcely appeals for a catch, though he should ask for anything after the day he’s had, but umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge decides to throw him a bone. Broom challenges, and snicko shows no movement of the audio-tracking line as the ball passes bat. He lives. Escapes scrutiny via an STTM, then Neesham decides to celebrate the prrive on Broom’s behalf with a hefty pull shot for four, then another clouted through long-on. Hazlewood goes for some runs. Unheard of.
Not out! Nothing on snicko https://t.co/lNteZgu24o#NZvAUSpic.twitter.com/9uBZiHIvUm
35th over: New Zealand 187-5 (Broom 22, Neesham 34)
Faulkner helping turn the screws, just two from his over as he mixes slower balls with regular pace.
34th over: New Zealand 185-5 (Broom 21, Neesham 33)
The Aussies mean business now. Hazlewood is back, and is right back into his groove. No looseners here. Neesham scrambles a single from the inside edge, and that’s the only score from the over as Broom is trapped on strike.
33rd over: New Zealand 184-5 (Broom 21, Neesham 32)
Fair effort from Stoinis to bowl 10 overs straight through, he’ll be sore tomorrow. Another Victorian teammate of Finch, so I suppose today’s captain knows his bowler’s capabilities. Now Finch asks James Faulkner to come back on, and Broom takes full advantage of his loosener, enough width, and the late cut goes to the rope. The next is more on point, and point is where it goes via an edge. Neesham though gets confused by the slower balls, and it takes him four deliveries to next find a run.
32nd over: New Zealand 178-5 (Broom 16, Neesham 31)
Stoinis finishes his 10 with 3 for 49, which I suspect he would have taken if you’d offered it to him at the start of the day. Broom is doing his part well, tugging singles where on offer, then placing another square leg shot better for two. Neesham does the same to deep midwicket. Everything must go (to the leg side).
31st over: New Zealand 171-5 (Broom 12, Neesham 28)
Dropped! A relatively straightforward one, Marsh diving across at slip as Neesham drives off the edge, done by Cummins’ pace. They get a run, add three more singles thereafter.
Handscomb proving to be a seamless replacement for Wade behind the stumps. #NZvAUS
30th over: New Zealand 167-5 (Broom 10, Neesham 26)
Stoinis will probably just bowl out here. Ninth over. Broom goes straight to the field twice, then uppercuts in his effort to find a run. Neesham takes a break from composing hilarious tweets to crash another ball straight down the ground for four, then finds a run to farm the strike.
29th over: New Zealand 161-5 (Broom 9, Neesham 21)
Cummins back to hurry up the batsmen. Neesham copped an unpleasant blow to his arm during the series just past in December. The batsmen each get a single, hopping and deflected behind the wicket. The Neesham goes for a big pull shot and top-edges four. Over Handscomb again, add that to the tally of balls he’s seen fly by. Then inside edged for four more, just past the stumps this time. One over, two batting errors, 10 runs. What even is luck?
735 - Martin Guptill has now scored more ODI runs than any other batsman at Eden Park (735). Record. pic.twitter.com/Qs4oGs8ORj
28th over: New Zealand 151-5 (Broom 8, Neesham 12)
Stoinis finishes his eight, five singles as Neesham gets busy with three of them.
27th over: New Zealand 146-5 (Broom 6, Neesham 9)
A boundary! What is that? It’s been a while. Head floats one up, Neesham just straight-bats it down the ground for four. See? Simples. A few singles and that’s an eight-run over.
26th over: New Zealand 138-5 (Broom 4, Neesham 3)
Jimmy James Jiminy Jimmles Jamesons Neesham was batting up at No4 during the Chappell-Hadlee in Australia, but he’s back down at 7 today. Gets off the mark with a glance, Broom reciprocates, Neesham goes squarer for two runs. 7 overs, 3 for 31 for the Stoyne.
And well, that is an utter bin fire of a dismissal. Stoinis gets three, just a length ball, Munro slaps at it, wants to clear the infield but just skews it to the temporary Australian captain at mid-on. Plonk. The sound of something dropping into a toilet bowl.
25th over: New Zealand 134-4 (Broom 3, Munro 2)
Dropped! Was he? I think Handscomb has put Munro down, yes, a big nick there too fast for the keeper. Head’s off-break turned away from the left-hander. Handscomb might have actually missed Guptill earlier as well, that run that came off the keeper’s pad looked in retrospect like it might have been nicked as well. Let me reprise my comment from earlier about what we’d be saying if Wade had done the same. Fill-in keepers still aren’t the answer, it seems. As with every other time someone has asked the question. We’ll see how Latham goes. Another tidy over, anyway.
24th over: New Zealand 132-4 (Broom 2, Munro 1)
Colin Munro in next, who played a good cameo this season for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL. He’s off the mark with a flick off the pads.
Not sure about the on-screen graphics - like having a bright, enthusiastic child tugging at your coat with yet more info @GeoffLemonSport
Two in two. The big pair are gone, and it’s down to New Zealand’s lesser lights. Stoinis has got his pace up into the mid 130s, I was being mildly satirical in describing his bowling before. He’s turned in some fine shifts in the Big Bash the last two seasons. Today he gets one to nip back a touch, Guptill is slow coming forward, and it slips through the gate to take out his stumps.
23rd over: New Zealand 129-3 (Guptill 61, Broom 1)
Perhaps Neil Broom will be better at the sweep. Though perhaps he’d bristle at that joke. I don’t know, I don’t have a handle on him. Maybe he likes deadpan humour, or he’d just brush it off. He gets his first run through midwicket.
That patience fails. Head is bowling around the wicket, lots of angle, Taylor tries a powerful sweep shot, and only under-edges the ball into his stumps.
22nd over: New Zealand 126-2 (Guptill 60, Taylor 15)
Stoinis, another to the extras tally with a bouncer called wide for height. Three singles aside from that. The slow-down continues through the middle overs. The patience period.
21st over: New Zealand 122-2 (Guptill 59, Taylor 13)
A single and a brace from Head’s over, Australia starting to turn the screws. The run rate is dipping below six an over, not bad, but after their fast start the batsmen might feel some frustration.
20th over: New Zealand 119-2 (Guptill 57, Taylor 12)
Run-out chance from the Stoinis over? How about three? Maxwell is fielding sharply at backward point, but not throwing sharply. Twice he throws at the striker’s end, once at the non-striker’s. Two are attempted runs that are abandoned, one is a single taken. All three are thrown to Ross Taylor’s end, and all three would have been close with a direct hit. Three singles from the over.
19th over: New Zealand 116-2 (Guptill 56, Taylor 10)
Travis Head on for his first bowl, not Maxwell, as discussed down the page. Left-arm batsman who bowls off-spin with the right. Head bowls a wide down leg side, trying to spear past Guptill’s pad, then Handscomb concedes four more runs in the form of byes, distracted by Guptill coming across in an attempted scoop shot, and the ball sneaks through the keeper’s legs. I wonder what we’d be saying about Matthew Wade if he’d had a day like this behind the stumps? There’s another single that ricochets off Handscomb’s pad after that, and another wide from Head, before Taylor breaks the trend by sweeping off the bat. Australia have conceded 19 extras in 116 runs.
18th over: New Zealand 107-2 (Guptill 55, Taylor 8)
Only four runs from the Stoinis over, including a fast-run two to Guptill’s back-foot push through point. If not for the five wides, Stoinis would have 1 for 13 from three.
17th over: New Zealand 103-2 (Guptill 52, Taylor 7)
Starc bowling his fifth, Guptill not entirely at ease even with 50 next to his name. Gets off strike streakily after a few balls with an imprecise bash into the covers. Ross Taylor faces up, the man who received that 160 km/h ball from Starc at the Waca ground in Perth last season. This time he’s flaying the second ball he faces square for four to raise the team century.
16th over: New Zealand 98-2 (Guptill 51, Taylor 3)
Guptill’s last few ODI innings against Australia: 90, 31, 59, 114, 45, 34, 50*. He employs the classic STTM (single to third man) for the milestone, then Stoinis celebrates by bashing a bouncer over Handscomb yet again for five wides. Taylor gets off the mark with his own STTM, Guptill nudges to return strike, then Taylor clips square for two runs.
Will Maxi get a bowl with Finch being captain today? #NZvAUS#ChappellHadlee
15th over: New Zealand 88-2 (Guptill 49, Taylor 0)
Mitchell Starc immediately back on, Finch wanting to attack and get another of New Zealand’s gun batsmen. But the new man Taylor isn’t on strike, and Guptill soaks up five balls before finding a single. I wonder if that was deliberate to frustrate the Australians? He didn’t look overly keen to score.
14th over: New Zealand 87-2 (Guptill 48)
Soft dismissal, and Stoinis gets his first international wicket. The NZ skipper just looking for a single towards midwicket, gets an inside edge into the thigh pad, and it loops up to Maxwell at gully who then tries to throw down the stumps just in case. It had been a nondescript over for NZ before that, four comfortable singles taken as they gauged Stoinis’ moderate medium pace. But his seeming innocuousness does the job from the final ball.
Maxwell tries to dismiss Williamson twice. #Maxwellball
13th over: New Zealand 83-1 (Guptill 46, Williamson 22)
Guptill misses out on another possible boundary via a leg glance, instead only harvesting a leg bye from the pad. but when Williamson gives him back the strike via an STTM glide, Faulkner drops one short outside his off stump and Guptill pounds it away for four. A couple more singles make the over a profitable one for 8 runs.
12th over: New Zealand 75-1 (Guptill 41, Williamson 20)
Cummins carrying on, still bowling fast, but Guptill is accustomed to and has decided to take advantage. Waits for the shorter ball, then uppercuts that over Peter Handscomb for four! He’s watched a lot of balls go past and over him, has the fill-in keeper.
11th over: New Zealand 69-1 (Guptill 36, Williamson 19)
James Faulkner on, could be hard to hit with his changes of pace. So it proves, a couple of singles, then Williamson mistimes a lash over point that could very nearly have been caught. Gets four streaky runs.
10th over: New Zealand 62-1 (Guptill 35, Williamson 13)
That is proper loose fast-bowling garbage from Cummins. Sends down a bouncer, likes the look of it, tries an even shorter one, and it soars over Guptill and wide of Handscomb for five wides. Love it. Guptill had already pulled two runs through square leg, then he guesses the extra ball will be short as well and pastes it through midwicket for four! Excellent first 10 overs for New Zealand.
9th over: New Zealand 51-1 (Guptill 29, Williamson 13)
Guptill is getting of strike with ease today. He’s so often disappointing against Australia, but has started to learn how to make runs against them in his last six or seven starts. In ODI cricket at least, never in Tests where his overall record is also pretty dire. Williamson defends a couple, then finds his first boundary with a pull through fine leg, as Hazlewood gave him the line to work with. There’s the 50 up within the first 10 overs.
8th over: New Zealand 46-1 (Guptill 28, Williamson 9)
Williamson getting a few wake-up calls from Cummins. One that crashes into his thigh for a leg bye, later a bouncer that zips past his helmet. This is good stuff. Williamson tugs a couple of runs through midwicket, then he tries to glide and very nearly directs the ball into his own stumps. This is a good contest, and the Australian bowlers are well in it early, make no mistake. You just get the feeling that if NZ can weather the storm, there’ll be plenty of chances to profit later.
7th over: New Zealand 42-1 (Guptill 27, Williamson 7)
Williamson knows that Hazlewood spells danger, I think, and just wants to see him off early. Leaves a couple, blocks a couple, and in the end a single from the last ball via a leg glance is the only profit for New Zealand.
6th over: New Zealand 41-1 (Guptill 27, Williamson 6)
Cummins on early for Hazlewood, to give him a chance at this relatively fresh pitch. Fair enough. The speedster works away on off stump, Williamson blocking the first couple before again using the escape shot of a nudge to midwicket. Guptill? Well, he’s motoring. Gets one too straight, glances through fine leg for another four. The run rate is nudging 7.
5th over: New Zealand 36-1 (Guptill 23, Williamson 5)
Guptill doesn’t quite nail his drive, Cummins doesn’t nail his save at mid-off. The result is four runs. Plenty of chat from Starc, suggests Bryan Waddle on the radio airwaves. “The gum is fresh in the mouth, you see,” deadpans his partner Jeremy Coney. “It has a springy quality, forcing the jaws apart.” The bowler has more to talk about after Guptill is dropped by Handscomb! High over his head, big top edge, and he very nearly parried that for six as it clipped his gloves and bounced down to long stop for four. Then four more as Guptill gives everything he has to this last ball, lashing it over cover. Top shot to follow a... less top one. An even dozen from the over.
4th over: New Zealand 24-1 (Guptill 11, Williamson 5)
Williamson looks first-rate today. Casually glances another couple of runs, this time from Hazlewood, who is attacking the stumps for both players. Guptill is being unusually circumspect, but eventually the levee breaks and he comes down the pitch to bash Hazlewood over cover for four. Disrespectful, tsk tsk. Hazlewood comes back by nailing Guptill on the pad, but the appeal is declined and the Australians don’t review. Maybe high, maybe leg side? Close.
3rd over: New Zealand 15-1 (Guptill 6, Williamson 2)
Williamson comes out with one ball to face, taps it through midwicket for a couple. The early blow that Finch was hoping for when he put New Zealand in. But, Guptill was the one who towelled the Aussies up here last year.
Not a great dismissal, but the bowler will take it. Latham has just driven Starc gorgeously through cover for four, but when Starc loses his line down leg side, Latham chases it and gloves it through to the stand-in keeper, who registers his first international dismissal.
2nd over: New Zealand 9-0 (Guptill 6, Latham 3)
Hazlewood, starting marginally shorter than Starc, but still pitching up enough. That perfect awkward length that he settles into so easily. Gee he’s become an outstanding bowler in the last year, even if he was very good already. Draws a genuine edge from Latham, and unlucky for it to cost him a run given there are two slips in thanks to Aaron Finch, but the edge goes just past them. That’s the ball after Guptill has edged one through gully. The right and left combo not fazing Hazlewood. Fazlewood? Four singles from the over.
1st over: New Zealand 5-0 (Guptill 4, Latham 1)
Mitchell Starc opening the bowling, as you’d expect with 125 ODI wickets to his name. He’s the only Mitchell in this side, which will not sit well, but he’ll be comforted by a couple incoming Mitchells for the Test squad via Swepson and Marsh. There is a Marsh in this side as well, to maintain that quota - Shaun is back in the side today given that Warner, Smith, and Khawaja are all off resting or preparing for India. Guptill is tested with the first two balls, both straight at the stumps, but he keeps them out. No swing as yet. Guptill’s third straight ball is turned through midwicket, nice outfield today and they’re back for three runs on the throw from the deep. Latham, the left-hander, drives one through cover, which is always his best spot. Guptill gets another to midwicket, and that did move a bit.
New Zealand
Guptill
Latham +
Williamson*
Taylor
Broom
Munro
Neesham
Santner
Ferguson
Southee
Boult
Australia
Finch*
Head
S. Marsh
Handscomb +
Maxwell
Stoinis
Heazlett
Faulkner
Starc
Cummins
Hazlewood
He might not have time to be overwhelmed, Aaron Finch. “I only found out about 10 minutes ago,” he says of becoming captain. He plans to bat first to see if his quicks can get anything out of this wicket first up, which Bryan Waddle on Radio Sport NZ says is very hard and looks like an excellent batting track. Kane Williamson says he would likely have bowled for the same reason. Not sure about that though, Australia won the toss in an ODI this time last year and sent NZ in, and the locals made over 300 before bowling Australia out for less than half that. From memory I think it was Australia’s shortest ever ODI innings? 24.2 overs, yes it was.
It’s 22 degrees over in Auckland, and tipped to be 38 in Melbourne where I’m writing this from. I’ll be taking refuge at the second and third games in person to help with that radio call and send you back the odd missive. It seems like a very sound travel plan when one eyes the forecasts.
Yes, you read that right. Matthew Wade had been named for the tour, but has had to withdraw with back spasms. So Finch, who was out of the side and the squad for the entire last series that Australia played, is not only back in the squad and back in the XI but in charge of this team for the first time. He has captained Australia’s T20 side before, and led the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash, so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed.
Good morning! Also evening, afternoon, supper, dawn, dusk, noon, nocturne and diurne, and BFG Witching Hour. The summer of cricket isn’t over yet. We’ve already had one Chappell-Hadlee series this season, back in early December in Australia, and now it’s time for the other half of that contest in New Zealand’s home territory. Auckland today, Napier on Thursday, and Hamilton on Sunday, all of those days in New Zealand local time.
Geoff will be here shortly. Before he gets here, a bit of team news in case you missed it.
Related: Matthew Wade to captain Australian ODI side after Steve Smith injury
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