|
Australia may have triumphed in the three-match
Chappell-Hadlee series, but it was New Zealand who
ended up winning lots of hearts with their batting
display in the last two one-dayers. After being
blown away by the sheer pace of Brett Lee in the
opening game, few might have given the Kiwis a
chance of roaring back so loudly. But then, that's
the trademark of this side, made up of a bunch of
fighters.
The first game of the series at Auckland saw the
Aussies romp home to an easy 147-run victory, with
Brett Lee registering incredible figures of 3-5.
Chasing a rather modest target of 252, courtesy
impressive half-centuries by Katich and Ponting and
some lusty lower-order hitting by Symonds and
Clarke, New Zealand were never ever in the hunt
once Lee and Bracken combined to have them
tottering at 28-5. Any hopes of a miraculous
comeback vanished when newcomer Stuart Clark joined
the wicket feast and dismantled the lower order
while Symonds rounded off the game with a nice
all-round effort, adding the last two victims to
his valuable 44. Veteran Chris Cairns was the sole
saving grace for the hosts, remaining undefeated on
37 while Oram managed to contribute 23.
The New Zealanders had already been dealt a big
blow when Shane Bond, their trumpcard and
Australia's biggest nemesis, was ruled out of the
game following yet another injury concern. Bond's
influence on the Kiwi side has been phenomenal
whenever he's been a part of the squad, more so
against the world champions against whom he has an
enviable record. His presence might well have given
the New Zealand bowling that extra zing which they
were evidently lacking.
As it turned out, Bond missed the remaining two
games as well and the entire Kiwi bowling outfit
bar stand-in skipper Vettori was massacred by the
hard-hitting Aussie batting line-up. At Wellington,
Andrew Symonds stole the thunder with a
breathtaking exhibition of strokeplay en route to
his mammoth 156 off only 127 balls. Michael Clarke,
who seems to be rediscovering his silken touch,
contributed an equally impressive 82 off 77
deliveries, as Australia set the opponents a target
of 323. Not many times in the history of limited-overs
cricket has such a large total been chased
successfully.
The New Zealanders however were equal to the task.
Makeshift opener Lou Vincent began the proceedings
with a flourish, blasting a 49-ball 71 inclusive of
nine fours and two sixes. Crucial contributions
from all the middle-order bats; Styris, Cairns,
Oram and McCullum, kept the home side in the hunt
throughout with Australia's hero at Auckland, Brett
Lee, pulverized for 85 runs. New Zealand required
only six runs heading into the final over. But
debutant Mick Lewis ran out Mills of the
penultimate ball and put paid to the hosts' hopes
of a fairytale victory. Though they lost the game
and with it the series, the experience that New
Zealand gained from this chase helped them no end
when confronted with a similar situation in the
third one-dayer at Christchurch.
Ponting, Hodge, Katich and Hussey were instrumental
in Australia amassing a gigantic 332 in the final
game. Defending a total that had never been chased
successfully before, the visitors had every right
of harbouring hopes of a 3-0 whitewash. But with a
highly inexperienced bowling line up at his
disposal, Ponting could do little but watch
helplessly as Styris (101) and McCullum (50*)
starring in the record chase along with fruitful
cameos from some others.
This closely fought battle reignited to some extent
the Trans-Tasman rivalry, which had lost that
cutting edge in the last couple of seasons, due to
Australia's overwhelming dominance. The series also
exemplified that though Australia are still the
best, their invincibility seems to be receding with
time. |