WELLINGTON, Feb 10: Australia proved themselves a class above New Zealand when they crushed their hosts by 66 runs at the Basin Reserve today to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in a four-match series.Australia also won the first match by a wide margin at Christchurch on Sunday.
Today's win was set up with a typically robust 85 by Man of the Match, Mark Waugh and a swashbuckling 47 by brother and captain Steve Waugh.
Batting first after winning the toss, Australia made 297 for six, just five runs short of their highest score ever against the hapless Kiwis.
``I think its the best we've batted for the last couple of years,'' Steve Waugh said afterwards.
Left-arm wrist spinner Michael Bevan's bowling figures of three for 54 reflected the heavy punishment he dealt to the Kiwi batsmen.
New Zealand made a difficult task even more demanding when they lost a wicket in their first over. Llorne Gowell dolied a catch to Darren Lehmann off Adam Dale.
The Kiwis were briefly in the hunt when Chris Cairns (67)and Nathan Astle (37) put on 81 for the second wicket at the required run rate.
However, the middle order then self-destructed as they desperately strove to keep up with the demanding target.
SCOREBOARD
Australia: Mark Waugh c Howell b Astle 85, Adam Gilchrist c McMillan b O'Connor 0, Ricky Ponting c Fleming b Nash 26, Darren Lehmann c Vettori b O'Connor 62, Michael Bevan run out 39, Steve Waugh c Fleming b O'Connor 47, Stuart Law not out 13, T Moody not out 12;
Extras: (lb5, w3, nb5) 13. Total: (for six wickes in 50 overs) 297Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-46, 3-168, 4-191, 5-265, 6-277Bowling: O'Connor 9-0-55-3, Cairns 9-0-55-0, Nash 10-0-52-1, Doull 4-1-16-0, Harris 6-0-31-0, Vettori 7-0-49-0, Astle 5-0-34-1.
New Zealand: Llorne Howell c Lehmann b Dale 1, Nathan Astle st Gilchrist b Robertson 37, Chris Cairns lbw S Waugh 67, Stephen Fleming run out 3, Adam Parore run out 0, Craig McMillan c Robertson b Bevan 25, Chris Harris b Bevan 45, Dion Nash c Gilchrist b Bevan23, Daniel Vettori c M Waugh b S Waugh 4, Simon Doull not out 9, Shayne O'Connor run out 4; Extras: (b4, lb2, w7) 13. Total (all out in 47.3 overs) 231
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-81, 3-84, 4-87, 5-131, 6-142, 7-193, 8-209, 9-219
Bowling: Bichel 6-0-28-0 (w1), Dale 5-1-23-1 (nb1), Robertson 9-0-40-1 (w1), Moody 8-1-34-0 (w2), Bevan 10-1-54-3 (nb1, w2), S Waugh 9.3-0-46-2 (w1).
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
