Kiwis clip Aussies' record flight

Kiwis clip Aussies' record flight
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

AUCKLAND, MAR 3: New Zealand fought back from series humiliation to halt the Australian juggernaut with a seven-wicket victory in the sixth and final One-day cricket international at Eden Park on Friday.

Australia's record unbeaten streak of 14 One-day Internationals ended as New Zealand avoided a series whitewash and broke through for their first win in the six-match series.

Led by a 74 from rookie wicketkeeper Chris Nevin, the Black Caps cruised to victory against Steve Waugh's Australians, hitting 194 for three from 41 overs in reply to Australia's 191 in 46.2 overs.

Captain Stephen Fleming finished unbeaten on 60 from 89 balls, enabling the Kiwis to prevent losing 5-0 and gain much needed confidence leading into the three-match Test series, which begins here on March 11.

The world champion Australians were always on the backfoot despite a dogged century from Damien Martyn (116 not out from 135 balls). Martyn scored the bulk of Australia's runs. He played alone hand in a reshaped batting order, opening the innings with Matthew Hayden, and finished as the fifth player in One-day history to carry his bat.

New Zealand's batsmen came out firing from the first ball, blasting 28 from the opening two overs before Nathan Astle (12 from six balls) was bowled by Glenn McGrath.

Australia were still in the hunt at 66 for two but Nevin and Fleming combined for a 100-run stand in 131 balls which ensured the world champions' run was terminated.

The Black Caps' surge to victory was delayed for 17 minutes when a light tower failed, leaving the home team temporarily in the dark 10 runs from victory.

But Roger Twose (13 not out from 18 balls) wiped off the required runs in four balls when play resumed. McGrath (1-29 from six overs), Shane Warne (1-25 from 10) and Andrew Symonds (1-6 from two) were Australia's successful bowlers.

Scoreboard

Australia: ML Hayden c Twose b Cairns 0, DR Martyn not out 116, SR Waugh c Fleming b Cairns 1, MG Bevan c Fleming b Doull 2, ME Waugh run out 14, AC Gilchrist c Cairns b Harris 22, A Symonds run out 6, S Lee lbw b Vettori 0, SK Warne c Nevin b Cairns 7, B Lee c Fleming b Wiseman 3, GD McGrath c Nevin b Styris 11; Extras: (w6, lb3) 9.
Total: (all out, 46.2 overs) 191
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-22, 4-86, 5-125, 6-141, 7-143,8-155, 9-160.

Bowling: Cairns 9-1-33-3, Doull 5-1-26-1, Styris 3.2-0-10-1, Wiseman 10-0-34-1, Vettori 10-0-39-1, Harris 7-0-31-1, Astle 2-0-15-0.

New Zealand: N Astle b McGrath 12, C Nevin lbw b Symonds 74, M Sinclair c B Lee b Warne 19, S Fleming not out 60, R Twose not out 13; Extras: (b5, lb3, nb3, w5) 16.
Total (for 3 wickets in 41 overs) 194
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-66, 3-166.

Bowling: McGrath 6-1-29-1, B Lee 8-0-39-0, Warne 10-1-25-1, M Waugh 5-0-24-0, Bevan 6-0-37-0, S Lee 3-1-8-0, Symonds 2-0-6-1, Hayden 1-0-18-0.