Valiant New Zealand fall short by one run
Posted on Feb 15, 2009 at 13:51 | Updated Feb 16, 2009 at 14:23
0 Comments
Sydney: A sensational spell of fast bowling from Nathan Bracken snatched Australia a win from the jaws of defeat as New Zealand fell short by one run in their one-off Twenty20 international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Needing 12 to win from the last two deliveries, Nathan McCullum hit a boundary and a six but the Kiwis ended up on the losing side as Bracken capped off a tremendous spell, in which he conceded just 16 runs from his four overs.
Earlier, David Hussey steadied Australia with a calm 41 while cameos from Adam Voges (26), Cameron White (16) and James Hopes (16 not out) pushed the hosts up to 150-7.
New Zealand, however, got off to a poor start when Peter Siddle removed Martin Guptill and Peter Fulton in back-to-back overs, while Bracken gave away only a run from his two.
Brendon McCullum, though, brought the visitors back in the game with powerful shots around the wicket in partnership with Neil Broom.
Broom dominated the 51-run third wicket stand between the duo but fell to James Hopes before McCullum blazed away in the 17th over, carting James Hopes for 20 runs.
The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, however, fell in the next over when Adam Voges took an incredible catch on the boundary line. A disbalanced Voges took the catch but threw the ball back in play before regaining balance and taking a diving catch which all but ended New Zealand's hopes.
Openers David Warner (23) and Brad Haddin (15) got Australia off to a brisk start before the New Zealand bowlers pegged them back with quick wickets after stand-in captain Haddin won the toss and elected to bat.
But Hussey and Voges added 52 runs for the fourth wicket as the Australians revived their innings.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was the pick of the bowlers with 1-23 from his spell of four overs while Ian Butler picked up a wicket on his return to international cricket. Iain O'Brien took two wickets but went for 34 runs.
For Australia, Callum Ferguson and Moises Henriques made their Twenty20 debuts.
Australia maintained an all-win record against New Zealand in this format of the game. They have now played three against their trans-Tasman rivals and won each.
Prior to the Twenty20 game, the two sides had contested for the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series that had finished at 2-2 after the last ODI had to be abandoned due to rain at the Gabba, Brisbane on Friday.
Australia, who were the holders of the series, retained the trophy by virtue of the drawn result.
The Teams
Australia: Brad Haddin (captain/wk), David Warner, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Moises Henriques, Adam Voges, James Hopes, Cameron White, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (wk), Martin Guptill, Peter Fulton, Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien.
| Ads by Google |
Be the first to comment.