Reuters
Auckland, Feb 28: Kane Williamson (45 n o, 42b, 5×4, 1×6) coolly struck a straight six to give New Zealand a one-wicket victory over Australia in an edge of the seat thriller between the cricket World Cup hosts at Eden Park here Saturday.
Williamson lofted pacer Pat Cummins (2/38) over the long-on boundary with last man Trent Boult at the wicket to ensure victory as New Zealand reached 152 for nine off 23.1 overs.
Earlier Mitchell Starc (6/28) had scythed through the New Zealand batting after Brendon McCullum (50, 24b, 7×4, 3×6) had given the home side a flying start. It turned out to be a day of the left-armers as New Zealand’s Trent Boult (5/27) recorded his best figures in ODIs and restricted the Kangaroos to 151 in 32.2 overs when they batted.
There was no hint of what was to follow at the start of the day when Australia, who won the toss, set off as if they were determined to post a total around the 400 mark. Southee conceded 15 runs off the first over of the day, David Warner slashed a six off his second over the third man boundary and Aaron Finch struck the pace bowler over mid-on into the stands off the third. With his next ball Southee knocked Finch’s off stump out of the ground after he had scored 14.
Warner and Shane Watson took the score to 80 when McCullum introduced Daniel Vettori into the attack. Bowling with his accustomed flight and guile, the left-arm spinner put a brake on the scoring and the frustrated Watson (23) perished when he pulled a short delivery straight to Southee at mid-wicket.
Wickets started to tumble after Tim Southee sent back Warner. Steve Smith (4) was caught behind by Luke Ronchi off Vettori from a thick inside edge and Glenn Maxwell (1) and Mitchell Marsh (0) both dragged deliveries from Boult on to their stumps. The left-arm pacer then also dismissed Michael Clarke (12) and Mitchell Johnson (1). Only Brad Haddin’s (43, 41b, 4×4, 2×6) effort took the Aussies past the 150-run mark.
The Kiwi fans were hoping for an easy win. But Starc reality hit them the moment McCullum was dismissed. The Kiwi skipper holed out in the deep trying to go for his fourth six off Cummins. Starc returned for his second spell and in the space of a run bowled Ross Taylor (1) and Grant Elliott (0) with deliveries which swung back sharply.
Corey Anderson (26, 42b, 2×4, 1×6) added 52 runs with Williamson but after his dismissal wickets started falling in a heap as Starc clean bowled Adam Milne and Tim Southee off successive deliveries in his ninth over. Suddenly at 146 for nine, the hosts looked edgy.
Williamson however, calmed the jangling nerves by hitting Cummins for the winning stroke and ensuring New Zealand’s place in the quarterfinals with their fourth successive win.
Brief scores: Australia 151 in 32.2 overs (Brad Haddin 43, David Warner 34, Trent Boult 5/27) lost to New Zealand 152 for 9 in 23.1 overs (Brendon McCullum 50, Kane Williamson 45 n o, Mitchell Starc 6/28) by one wicket.
