When I took over from Jim after Australia’s innings, I was certain that the number one ranked ODI side in the world would chase down their target of 196. The Aussies did well to post that score after stumbling at 54-5 but Steve Smith’s 61 and fighting contributions of 38 not-out and 23 from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood gave Australia something to defend.
And din’t they just. Starc had Martin Guptill caught at slip in the first over and it went downhill from there for the Black Caps.
Sean Abbott bowled four maidens in a row as he finished with 2-1 from his five overs. Adam Zampa was then handed a freebie when Kane Williamson missed a looping full toss and was out lbw for 17 from 58 balls. Zampa then cleaned up the tail, ending with his first ever five-wicket haul in the format, with Starc and Bracwell picking up wickets as New Zealand stuttered along, eventually bowled out for 82, their second lowest score against Australia.
This one-sided match somehow felt even more uneven than the scorecard suggests. Not that I’m complaining. Was good fun being part of it.
Thanks for sticking with me. Catch you next time.
Updated
New Zealand 82 all-out, Australia win by 113 runs
Adam Zampa gets his first ever five wicket haul in ODI cricket as New Zealand slump to a humiliating defeat. The Aussie wrist spinner tosses it up to Boult who looks to send it over across the Tasman Sea. It skids on and plods into his pad. That’s plumb and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is staying this side of the ditch.
Updated
32nd over: New Zealand 76-9 (Santner 16, Boult 3) Maybe Maxi was being overly generous there. All six of his balls were tame darters that the Kiwi batters navigate without much fuss. Two singles for Boult and one for Santner.
31st over: New Zealand 73-9 (Santner 15, Boult 1) Adam Zampa is one away from a first ever five-for in ODI cricket and Australia are one away from a thumping win to claim the series. Boult is there. He’s good entertainment value though he looks like he’s batting with roller skates. Zampa will hope Maxwell goes wicketless in the next set.
WICKET! Henry c sub (Agar) b Zampa 5 (New Zealand 72-9)
Another shocker of a ball (though not Zampa’s worst) gets a wicket. That is as soft as underbaked banana bread. Just poor from Henry. A half tracker is tamely dinked to short midwicket. It’s the substitute fielder, Ashton Agar, stationed there. He has to launch his lanky frame skyward and pluck it out the air. Still, a woeful stroke that sums up New Zealand’s batting.
30th over: New Zealand 72-8 (Santner 15, Henry 5) Maxwell back into the attack. I was certain we were hurtling towards a swift finish but this little partnership – worth 15, only the second double-digit stand for New Zealand – has delayed things somewhat. Three singles, two for Henry and one for Santner,. But runs are almost an irrelevance now.
29th over: New Zealand 69-8 (Santner 14, Henry 3) Like Starc, Zampa is searching for that additional scalp. He almost gets it with a flatter, zippier, shorter one that Santner squeezes with a checked-cut. It’s actually well played and he’s timed it superbly. Four runs down to deep third. A wide down the leg side, two singles apiece and a brace for Santner at the start of the over means that over is worth nine runs. I’d have to double check but that could be the most expensive in the innings. A New Zealand fightback, perhaps?
28th over: New Zealand 60-8 (Santner 7, Henry 2) Starc is searching for a wicket, aiming rockets at the stumps. He can’t get one in this over. Henry gets a couple through midwicket with a lovely little flourish of the bat. That should annoy Starc. Perhaps a bumper to set him straight? Nope, he keeps it full and Henry is right behind it.
27th over: New Zealand 57-8 (Santner 6, Henry 0) Without doing anything spectacular, Zampa has three wickets. He’s giving it flight and encouraging the lower order batters to come forward. A dream scenario for a wrist spinner who could well end with a five-for.
WICKET! Southee b Zampa 2 (New Zealand 57-8)
A wrong un to the tailender. A tried and tested recipe for success. Zampa flights it up and brings Southee forward. It jags back into him and squeezes through the gate to knock over his furniture. Australia two wickets away from taking the series.
26th over: New Zealand 55-7 (Santner 5, Southee 1) Starc is simply unplayable when he’s doing that. Full, swinging, fast and with extra lift across the right hander. Is Santner was a better batter he’d have nicked it. Southee is there and he’s off the mark with a single through midwicket. Successful over for Starc.
WICKET! Bracewell c Maxwell b Starc (New Zealand 54-7)
Is that lbw? No, it might have been if Bracewell didn’t hit it. But he did, just a tickle from an inside edge. It crashes onto the front pad and diverts towards backward point where Maxwell does well to hold on at full stretch on the dive. Starc deserves that. He’s full, straight and fast and New Zealand’s demise is nigh.
25th over: New Zealand 54-6 (Bracewell 12, Santner) Halfway through the 50 overs (I’d be astounded if we get there) and Maxwell enters the scene. Two lefties on strike so it makes sense as he’ll want to take the ball away from them. Neat start with just three singles off his opening set.
24th over: New Zealand 51-6 (Bracwell 10, Santner 4) Starc comes back into the attack. He can smell blood and will want to warp this up sharpish. Just a single at the end of the over off Bracwell’s blade as he pulls towards the leg side. It could have been more but for a neat stop by a diving fielder (apols, I didn’t see who it was).
23rd over: New Zealand 50-6 (Bracewell 9, Santner 4) That’s a good shot from Santner who offers a lesson on how to play Zampa – down the ground and with some elevation. He just about clears mid-off but gets away with it and is rewarded for his gumption.
WICKET! Neesham c Finch b Stoinis 2 (New Zealand 45-6)
New Zealand are falling apart here. Neesham, who came out for a good time, not a long time, picks out Finch at midwicket to hand the Australian skipper his third catch of the night. The Kiwi all-rounder was trying to force things, which is commendable, but he chose the wrong ball to do it and clothed it with an ugly heave.
At the start of the over Bracewell played a wonderful straight drive for four down the ground. The shot of the innings.
22nd over: New Zealand 46-6 (Bracewell 8, Santner 0)
21st over: New Zealand 38-5 (Bracewell 3, Neesham 0) Success again for Zampa and he could have had another in the over. The new man Neesham clearly wasn’t watching when Mitchell was out lbw on the (reverse) sweep as he gets down and brings the broom out to Zampa. But it skids on and thunks into his pad. Rod Tucker gives it ‘not-out’ soi Finch reviews. It’s just going past the off stump. Neesham survives and he’s fortunate to do so. That was not smart cricket. Australia all over their guests.
WICKET! Mitchell lbw Zampa 9 (New Zealand 36-5)
Zampa is on fire. Mitchell knows he has to get things moving and so turns to his get-out shot which is the reverse sweep. He’s usually so assured with it but this delivery skids under his wafting bat and pings him on the front pad. He reviews, but the grimace as he does so is revealing. He knows he’s in trouble. Yup. Three red lights and Mitchell has to go.
20th over: New Zealand 36-4 (Mitchell 9, Bracewell 2) A pair of singles for each batter. If they’re going to score of any bowler it’s got to be Stoinis. But fair play to the big Aussie. He’s sticking to a tight back of a length and keeping the batters honest.
19th over: New Zealand 34-4 (Mitchell 8, Bracewell 1) Success for Zampa who bowls five good balls and one stinker. Except it’s the stinker that gets him a wicket. And what a wicket to get. Williamson must be wondering how he let a loopy full toss hit his pad in front of his stumps. Bracewell, the new man, gets off the mark but that’s another tight over as far as runs are concerned. Australia weren’t much better in their innings at 54-4, but this feels different. New Zealand just can’t get out of their shell.
WICKET! Williamson lbw Zampa 17 (New Zealand 33-4)
What the what?! Adam Zampa has served up a pie covered in gravy and Williamson has completely missed it and is out lbw. It’s a looping full toss from the leggie who changed ends. Williamson could have trapped that with his foot. He could have grabbed it with chopsticks. He could (should) have whacked it into orbit. Instead his ugly hoick gets nowhere near it and it pops onto his front pad. The review was more in hope than anything. What an embarrassing end to a plodding knock from the captain and he leaves his team in real trouble.
18th over: New Zealand 33-3 (Williamson 17, Mitchell 8) Stoinis into the attack and Mitchell shows a bit of aggression, lofting a drive over a wide mid-off. He doesn’t catch all of it though and it plugs for two. Williamson started the over with two courtesy of a clip towards deep midwicket and also took a single down to fine leg.
Updated
17th over: New Zealand 28-3 (Williamson 14, Mitchell 6) Booo! New Zealand have a run off Abbott. After bowling 28 dot balls he strays onto Williamson’s hip and it’s tucked neatly towards deep backward square. He follows up with a dot to Mitchell, no doubt seething at his profligacy.
You think this is slow? Back in 2009 Scotland took 26 overs before the recorded their first boundary against Ireland. The Scots were 10-0 after 10 overs, eventually bundled out for 109 in a 96 run loss.
16th over: New Zealand 27-3 (Williamson 13, Mitchell 6) New Zealand’s second boundary and it’s a lovely shot. Mitchell gets low and reverse sweeps with confidence, getting Zampa fine of deep backward square. Two more singles means it’s the most productive over for the Black Caps.
15th over: New Zealand 21-3 (Williamson 12, Mitchell 1) Four maidens in a row for Sean Abbott. Four! That’s insane!
Updated
14th over: New Zealand 21-3 (Williamson 12, Mitchell 1) Spin now and Adam Zampa joins the party. He concedes three singles – which feels like a deluge given the drought that’s come before. New Zealand do need to score runs. 196 might not be the heftiest target but it feels like a long way away right now.
13th over: New Zealand 18-3 (Williamson 10, Mitchell 0) Normal service resumes with a maiden from Abbott who has figures of 3-3-0-2. Not bad.
If you’re here you might be interested to know that the Test between England and South Africa has been delayed by half an hour because of a wet outfield. So do stick around with me if you were looking forward to some helter skelter Test cricket.
12th over: New Zealand 18-3 (Williamson 10, Mitchell 0) After 27 dot balls Kane Williamson pounces on a short and wide one from Hazlewood and belts it four in front of square with a textbook cut shot. Just shows his powers of concentration. When he’s given the chance he’s all over it.
11th over: New Zealand 14-3 (Williamson 6, Mitchell 0) A third maiden in a row. White ball cricket in 2022. Tight bowling from Abbott with Mitchell compact in defence.
No boundaries for New Zealand yet. Remarkable. I wonder if that is a record in ODI powerplays. Sensational bowling from Australia.
10th over: New Zealand 14-3 (Williamson 6, Mitchell 0) Another maiden for Hazlewood as Australia end the powerplay well on top. It’s just quality bowling. Probing, testing, nagging, call it what you want. Williamson clearly respects it and is not interested in trying to force anything.
Just done a quick Google and apparently the lowest powerplay in ODI history is 11-3, posted by India against Sri Lanka in 2017. Will get back to see if that’s been beaten since.
Updated
9th over: New Zealand 14-3 (Williamson 6, Mitchell 0) The Black Caps in trouble after a double-wicket maiden from Sean Abbott. Bit job here from new man Daryl Mitchell who has earned a living this summer dragging his team out of holes. Hope he’s got his shovel with him because this one looks dark and treacherous right now.
WICKET! Latham c Finch b Abbott 0 (New Zealand 14-3)
Another one! New Zealand are collapsing. Abbott might have been fortunate in picking up his first but there’s no luck with this one. Brilliant bowling, angling across the left-handed Latham who takes a tentative poke at it. A thick edge off the top half of the bat reaches Finch around waist height and the Aussie captain, who can’t buy a run, holds on for his second grab of the night.
WICKET! Conway c Zampa b Abbott 5 (New Zealand 14-2)
Oh no, Devon Conway, what have you done, mate? It’s a wayward drag down the leg side from the change bowler, Sean Abbott, and Conway looks to help it on it’s way. He times it a little too well and picks out Adam Zampa down at fine leg who looks surprised that he’s clung onto it. I guess that’s what pressure does and that wicket is as much a consequence of what had come before from the Australian openers.
Too right. Kerry O’Keeffe has just said this “has the feel of a World Cup semi-final”. I think that’s fair enough. I’m in to this.
ODI games should be like this. Something for bowlers, to get runs you need to construct your innings, can’t hit your way out of trouble. Partnership building. Traditional attrition. Mass 🔥🔥🔥#AUSvNZ
— dileep ⚡️ (@dileepthoutam) September 8, 2022
Updated
8th over: New Zealand 14-1 (Conway 5, Williamson 6) Now then. A bit of aggression from Conway to start this over. A skip down the track and a well timed drive on the move to Hazlewood. Warner does well, diving to his right to save four, but that is perhaps a blueprint on how to play the tall Aussie seamer. Conway eventually gets off strike with a nurdle down to fine leg before Williamson is squared up by a jaffa that straightens off the deck.
7th over: New Zealand 13-1 (Conway 4, Williamson 6) Conway gets back down the other end with a flick past square leg. That’s the place to be with the Australian openers bowling like this. Starc looks happier bowling to the right hander but that right hander is Kane Williamson and he’s solid in defence, riding the bounce and playing it late with soft hands. A firm drive off the final delivery is well timed but straight to mid off. The Kiwi skipper has now faced 11 dots in a row. Not that he’ll mind.
6th over: New Zealand 12-1 (Conway 3, Williamson 6) Flawless from Hazlewood. Perfect line. Perfect length. Not a lot of movement off the seam or through the air but it’s kissing the surface and rising as it gets to Williamson. The Kiwi captain plays the ball as late as anyone in world cricket so he’s equal to it.
Oh, except he isn’t on that final ball. Beautiful. How’s that missed the edge of that checked drive?
Grim reading for the Aussie skipper
Aaron Finch becomes the first Australian to record five ducks in ODI cricket in a calendar year.#AUSvNZ
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) September 8, 2022
5th over: New Zealand 12-1 (Conway 3, Williamson 6) This is challenging for the Black Cap batters. Starc’s first ball traps Conway on the crease and thwacks his pad. The appeal is turned down but replays show it wasn’t too far away, just going over the top of leg. Quality bowling.
A wide down the leg takes the total to double figures and a couple of scampered singles for each batter add two more.
4th over: New Zealand 9-1 (Conway 2, Williamson 5) Oooooh! Williamson survives a review for lbw. Umpire Paul Wilson has stuck him but he was certain he edged it onto his pads. He’s right. Thick edge. A couple of twos in the set keeps the score ticking.
Updated
3rd over: New Zealand 5-1 (Conway 2, Williamson 1) The Black Cap skipper is off the mark with a little nudge into the off side. Starc is getting bounce from the surface. The Kiwis won’t necessarily mind that. I reckon they’d be happier contending with extra lift than skid.
2nd over: New Zealand 4-1 (Conway 2, Williamson 0) A palate cleanser after the spicy start. Hazlewood does what Hazlewood does and sticks it on a good length around the fourth stump line. Conway is happy to give him his dues until he clips the final ball down to wide fine leg and picks up a couple.
WICKET! Guptill c Finch b Starc 2 (New Zealand 2-1)
That is a gift for the Aussies who needed an early breakthrough. Starc pushes a wide one far outside Guptill’s off stump but the Kiwi can’t help himself, throwing his hands and catching a fat edge. Finch clings on well at first slip. What was Guptill thinking?
What a mad over! The ball before the wicket Labuschagne shelled a tough chance at square leg after a firm flick from Guptill. The ball after the wicket there’s a ridiculous mix-up with Conway and new man Williamson and Carey can’t complete the run-out. A better throw would have made his life easier.
What a crazy start to the chase.
1st over: New Zealand 2-1 (Conway 0, Williamson 0)
Right then. Here we go. Starc has the ball Guptill and Conway have a bat each. We’ve got a game on.
Danio G? Fair enough Jimbo. After such a stellar shift, you can call me anything you like, mate.
Glad you’re in such good spirits. I imagine the Aussies feel the same after dragging their score to 195-9 after stuttering at 54-5. They can thank Steve Smith for that as his 61 from 94 balls dug his mates out of a hole after Aaron Finch and Dave Warner failed to get going (again). Then a breezy 38 not-out from Mitchell Starc catapulted the men in canary yellow to something they might defend.
It’s game on, but it’s a game the Black Caps should win. Though you never know. Cricket is a funny fish (you know that popular saying, right?).
Stick around. This could be a tasty chase.
New Zealand looked a little disconsolate trudging from the field, that’s the sapping power of tailender runs for you. They had the Aussies on the rack at various points in that innings but were never quite able to land the killer blow. 26-4 and 56-5 turned into 117-8 but still the Aussies kept breathing and then fighting to the last. You didn’t expect anything else did you?
I’ll take my leave and tee up Daniel Gallan, or as I like to call him – Danio G – to take you through the Kiwi chase.
Goodbye!
Updated
Australia set New Zealand 196 to win
50th over: Australia 195-9 (Starc 28, Hazlewood 22) Game on! Jimmy Neesham with the last over, Starc launches him over mid-wicket for six! Australia take 11 runs off the final over and plenty of that spurious notion – momentum – into their bowling. This is not, repeat not, a done deal.
49th over: Australia 184-9 (Starc 28, Hazlewood 22) THIRTEEN runs off the over! Hazlewood plays the shot of the innings by a country mile – a lofted in-to-out drive over extra cover that goes into the crowd for SIX! Bracewell has been milked and New Zealand look a bit ragged here. Hazelwood was only on four when New Zealand let him off by not appealing for a pretty adjacent lbw. One over to go in Cairns.
48th over: Australia 171-9 (Starc 25, Hazlewood 12) Hazlewood clonks drives elegantly for four! Lovely shot by the big man. Another nice drive brings two more. Two overs to go, painful runs these for New Zealand.
47th over: Australia 164-9 (Starc 24, Hazlewood 6) Bracewell continues and five runs are collected off the over, so far the Aussie bottom order have shown the batters how to do it. Tv replays show Bracewell should have had Hazlewood lbw but the Kiwis curiously don’t appeal? Did they think there was an inside edge? There wasn’t. It was out. How many might that cost ‘em?
46th over: Australia 159-9 (Starc 15, Hazlewood 2) 25 runs in the last five overs by Australia’s tail, a mini wag of sorts. Henry is plundered for four through point by Starc and Hazlewood plays his part by picking up singles. Henry’s work is done for the day, he finishes up with 3-33 off ten.
45th over: Australia 151-9 (Starc 15, Hazlewood 2) Trent Boult finishes with excellent figures of 4-38 from his ten overs. Some bowler. Michael Bracewell comes on for some off-spin and three runs are eked by the final pair.
WICKET! Zampa c Neesham b Boult 16
Trent Boult comes on for his final over to see if he can break this annoying little partnership that Starc and Zampa have got going. And he can! Zampa’s cameo comes to an end, he backs away to leg to carve over the off side but a thick edge is snaffled by a diving Jimmy Neesham.
44th over: Australia 148-9 (Starc 14, Hazlewood 0)
43rd over: Australia 146-8 (Zampa 15, Starc 13) Southee finishes his last over and goes for three runs. One wicket for the seamer today (for 39 runs) to take him two shy of 200 ODI wickets.
42nd over: Australia 142-8 (Zampa 14, Starc 10) Useful over for Australia, eight runs from it. Starc runs one away off the face for four and Zampa drives over mid-off to pick up a couple.
41st over: Australia 128-8 (Zampa 12, Starc 5) Zampa lofts a drive just the outstretched fingers of Williamson at mid-on! Four more very welcome runs to the Aussies.
An email! Jonathan Greig (any relation to Tony?) is amused/perturbed by Australia’s selfish use of the review system. It's an '“mine, mine, mine” attitude by the batters he thinks. The ones today were certainly pretty poor.
40th over: Australia 128-8 (Zampa 7, Starc 4) Two singles off Matt Henry who has 3-25 from nine overs. Very tidy indeed. We’re into the last ten, can Australia bat out their overs? It’s a big ask.
39th over: Australia 126-8 (Zampa 6, Starc 3) Shot! Zampa nonchalantly flicks Southee off his pads for four. The spinner looks slightly skittish but can certainly bat, he showed that in the last game. He drives over cover, not quite timed, and picks up a couple more. On we go.
38th over: Australia 120-8 (Zampa 0, Starc 3) Henry to Starc, big Mitch can certainly give it some humpty with those long levers of his. He goes over mid-off and collects two runs.
Updated
37th over: Australia 118-8 (Zampa 0, Starc 1) Down to the bowlers now, can they biff Australia to any sort of total? There are still 13 overs left in the innings.
WICKET! Smith c Boult b Southee 61 (Australia 117-8)
Steve Smith launches Southee for six into the stands with a clip off his toes but then holes out to Boult at mid-off! Disaster for Australia, Smith had batted so patiently but his side needed him to shepherd them to a competitive total.
Smith GONE for 61
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) September 8, 2022
📺 Watch #AUSvNZ LIVE on ch. 501 or stream it via the Kayo app: https://t.co/ZdxufU3Jj1
✍️ BLOG: https://t.co/E0YAJ7epvH pic.twitter.com/8A7L1D42kN
WICKET! Abbott c Santner b Henry 7 (Australia 111-7)
Nelson strikes! And so does Matt Henry. Abbott leans back on a drive and crunches a length ball to Mitch Santner at cover who takes a very sharp catch.
36th over: Australia 111-6 (Smith 56, Starc 0)
35th over: Australia 110-6 (Smith 54, Abbott 7) Just a couple to Abbott off Southee. The commentators reckon 200 would be a competitive score… Australia are still a long way off that though.
34th over: Australia 108-6 (Smith 54, Abbott 5) Abbot gets underway with a boundary, a thick edge off Neesham runs away down to third for four. Tim Southee is coming on to replace Boult after the southpaw slinger has made the key breakthrough. He’ll be hoping that is his day’s work in the can.
33rd over: Australia 103-6 (Smith 53, Abbott 0) Sean Abbot joins Smith at the crease with 17 overs still to be bowled. That Maxwell wicket came at a pivotal time, he was looking to get set before launching an assault at the back end. Smith is still there but not looking particularly fluent or dominant. There’s still time for Abbot to do something special to keep his side in the contest.
WICKET! Maxwell c Guptill b Boult 25 (Australia 103-6)
Big breakthrough! Maxwell falls to Boult for the fifth time on ODIs – he hacks a short ball across the line but it zips onto him a but too quickly and the top edge is well grabbed by a diving Martin Guptill running round in the deep.
32nd over: Australia 102-5 (Smith 53, Maxwell 25) Just a single off Neesham, he’s economical if a little unthreatening.
Good stat from @SampathStats: this is Australia's slowest team 100 in ODIs since 2014, where they took 31.1 overs vs Zimbabwe https://t.co/rFEH2ENiQ7#AUSvNZ
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) September 8, 2022
It has indeed been slow progress from Australia today.
31st over: Australia 101-5 (Smith 52, Maxwell 25) Boult does come on for a second stint and he stiffly sends down a short ball that Smith swivels on to pick up four and bring up his fifty! He’s keeping Australia in this.
A midweek day-nighter, 98 in the 31st over, a half-century off 83 balls, this takes me back to the Geoff Marsh 80s and 90s ODIs that we all love. #AUSvNZ
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) September 8, 2022
30th over: Australia 93-5 (Smith 47, Maxwell 22)
Maxwell is growing in confidence and output with each over, surely it is time for Boult to test him out? Maxwell isn’t quite his bunny but with four ODI dismissals there’s a certain carrot-y hued cloud hanging over him when Trent has the ball. As it is he neatly glides Neesham away fine on the off side for four and then attempts a booming drive that is DROPPED by Neesham in his follow through. It was laced but he looks gutted not to cling on.
29th over: Australia 87-5 (Smith 47, Maxwell 17) Maxwell breaks the shackles momentarily, Santner drags one down and Maxwell is onto it in a flash, carving over mid-wicket for SIX! Maxwell allows himself a grin and a little fist pump, he’s been waiting very patiently for that and didn’t miss out.
28th over: Australia 78-5 (Smith 45, Maxwell 10) Maxwell has faced twenty dot balls in this innings, New Zealand have tied him down well. Just a single off Neesham.
27th over: Australia 77-5 (Smith 45, Maxwell 9) Santner is bowling an inspired spell here. He has sent down six overs for 13 runs and has the wicket of Carey in his back pocket.
26th over: Australia 74-5 (Smith 44, Maxwell 7) Jimmy Neesham into the attack, clipped sides and long fringe blowing in the breeze as he strides to the crease. He’s full and targeting the pads. Just a couple to the score.
Glenn Maxwell has an ODI average of 3.5 against Trent Boult. The left armer has got him 4 times. Australia don’t bat very deep today. I’d love to see Williamson bringing back Boult and trying to knock them over within 40 overs. #AUSvNZ #CricketTwitter #Cricket #NZvAUS
— Dwaipayan Mukherjee (@Dwai_Doyen) September 8, 2022
I was thinking the very same. Bring back Boult!
25th over: Australia 72-5 (Smith 43, Maxwell 7) Santner sends down a maiden, he’s targeting the stumps and then tossing the odd one up to Maxwell to see if he fancies having a heave. Cat and mouse. Maxwell content to get his eye in and pat the ball away.
Updated
24th over: Australia 72-5 (Smith 43, Maxwell 7) Smith brings up a welcome boundary for his side with a slightly spawny inside edge that runs between stumps and keeper and to the fence for four. Maxwell then glides a lifting ball down through point and the scamper three runs.
23rd over: Australia 64-5 (Smith 38, Maxwell 4) Just a single off Santner. Pressure cooker just hissing up a notch.
Here’s the stumping. I think Carey knew he was gone.
Carey unlucky but Australia lose another.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) September 8, 2022
📺 Watch #AUSvNZ LIVE on ch. 501 or stream it via the Kayo app: https://t.co/ZdxufU3Jj1
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22nd over: Australia 63-5 (Smith 37, Maxwell 4) Southee keeps things tight, just a single from it. Sean Abbot is the next man and he can certainly bat but Smith and Maxwell have got so many overs to negotiate here. Their approach at the minute seems to be to dig in rather than try and hit their way back into the game.
21st over: Australia 62-5 (Smith 36, Maxwell 4) Santner bowls slowly, giving it a fair bit of loop, trying to toy with Maxwell, tempt him into doing something rash. He then chucks in a quicker one for good measure. Four from the over.
20th over: Australia 57-5 (Smith 31, Maxwell 2) Glenn Maxwell joins Smith. Australia well and truly on the ropes here. Maxwell is off the mark with a clip off his toes off a Neesham full ball.
Shit that's sharp keeping! #AUSvNZ
— Alex Chapman (@AlexChapmanNZ) September 8, 2022
It really was by Tom Latham. He knew he has his mad as well, scampering off with a big smile on his face. Carey seemed to know he was a goner too, walking in a daze to square leg with the air of a damned man.
WICKET! Carey st Latham b Santner 12 (Australia 54-5)
Tom Latham thinks he has Alex Carey stumped here! He whips off the bails as Carey attempts a reverse-sweep off Santner but misses a quicker ball and seemingly drags his back foot from the safety of his crease. Crikes it is tight! It doesn’t look like there is anything behind the line and sure enough after a lot of torturous replays Carey is given OUT. A keeper on keeper scalp.
19th over: Australia 55-5 (Smith 31, Maxwell 1)
18th over: Australia 52-4 (Smith 31, Carey 11) Three runs picked off Neesham as Australia look to accumulate and get a foothold in this game.
17th over: Australia 49-4 (Smith 29, Carey 10) Mitch Santner is on for a twirl after the drinks break. A single each to Smith and Carey. It looks to be more overcast now in Cairns, not too dissimilar from South London where dawn has arrived with a hush.
Read all about it. Here’s a thoughtful piece on Zimbabwe’s current position in world cricket by m’colleague Adam ‘Collo’ Collins. Well worth your time.
16th over: Australia 47-4 (Smith 28, Carey 9) Steve Smith is settling into his work here as he looks to re-build for Australia. He is nudging, gliding and punching and looklng like he is loving every minute. Of course he is. Time for a drink. Kenco calling!
15th over: Australia 43-4 (Smith 25, Carey 8) Just a single off the heavily zinc’d Tim Southee.
Trent Boult’s in-swinger deserves its own podcast. Imagine the stories #AusvNZ
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) September 8, 2022
14th over: Australia 42-4 (Smith 25, Carey 7) Ooof! Carey lines up a booming drive off a wide, full ball from Neesham but fails to make contact. He settles for a single with a back foot punch off the next ball. The field is spread out here but New Zealand should surely keep hunting for wickets, Carey and Smith are both capable of helming a recovery and giving Australia something to bowl at under lights later on.
13th over: Australia 40-4 (Smith 24, Carey 6) Southee is miserly and concedes just one run from his first over. It is going to be a double change with Jimmy Neesham coming on to replace Matt Henry.
Aaron Finch becomes the first Australian to record five ducks in ODI cricket in a calendar year.#AUSvNZ
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) September 8, 2022
A savage stat, you might say.
12th over: Australia 39-4 (Smith 23, Carey 6) Just a couple of singles off Henry. Boult is going to have a blow, he was a bit down on pace in his last over. Here comes Tim Southee.
Nathan Lyon on TV commentary after Aaron Finch's dismissal:
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) September 8, 2022
"I'm not really sure what to say in my position here."#AUSvNZ
Bit awkward.
11th over: Australia 37-4 (Smith 22, Carey 5) Steve Smith does his thing, clipping a rare loose ball from Boult off his hip and away for four. He then works a fuller ball on a similar line away for two more.
10th over: Australia 31-4 (Smith 16, Carey 5) Henry continues and keeps it tight, just a couple to Carey. The Kiwis have Tim Southee up their sleeve today but surely will have learnt from the first game and will keep Boult and Henry on for as long as possible and try to kill Australia off right here. The home side have got Maxwell waiting in the wings but nowt much after that.
9th over: Australia 29-4 (Smith 16, Carey 3) Alex Carey joins Steve Smith with Australia currently in ‘Dickie’s Meadow’ as me ma might say. Strife. They are in strife. Carey picks up three with a flick to mid-wicket. The Australian contingent on commentary are bemoaning not only Australia’s top order batting but also their terrible use of the review system. Somewhere, Shane Watson’s ears are burning.
WICKET! Stoinis lbw b Boult 0 (Australia 25-4)
Plum Plum Plummety Plum! Boult swings one into Stoinis’ big yella front pad and it is surely smashing middle stump out of the ground?! Yep it is. GONE! Stoinis, incredibly, sends it upstairs and burns through the second and final review for Australia. Strewth.
8th over: Australia 22-3 (Smith 15, Stoinis 0) Ian Smith comes onto the tv commentary and the big man is positively purring at this start from his countrymen. The tv footage also pull up a split screen of both Marnus’s dismissals to Boult in this series and it is fair to say you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart in an identity parade. Australia need a partnership here… but they aren’t gonna get one… (ellipsis of doom)
WICKET! Labuschagne lbw b Boult 5 (Australia 22-3)
Another one gone, another gone… Boult pins Marnus in front and hollers loudly to Rod Tucker who duly raises his digit. This looks dead. Dead I tell ya. Labuschagne reviews in vain, DRS shows the ball scudding into leg stump and he is on his way back to the hutch.
Boult then shows his swing bowling chops by greeting Marcus Stoinis with an out-swinger first up. Too good Trent.
7th over: Australia 22-3 (Smith 12, Stoinis 0)
6th over: Australia 19-2 (Smith 11, Labuschagne 3) Smith pounces on a short ball from Henry and pulls it through mid-wicket for four. He then picks up a single with a clip off his pads.
5th over: Australia 14-2 (Smith 6, Labuschagne 3) Boult sends down a maiden. He’s so good. Probing, perfect line to keep Marnus honest. Plenty of ‘No run!’ in that over.
4th over: Australia 14-2 (Smith 6, Labuschagne 3) Marnus joins his mentor at the crease with green and gold backs against the wall. He’s away straight off with a pretty on-drive for three. Smith then repeats the shot bit gets a bit more oomph on it and it goes to the rope.
I’ve not had time to slurp my Kenco with this rapid start, it’s now tepid at best. Tough gig eh. It’s creeping up to 6am here in London, if you are out there then do drop me a line with your thoughts and/or theories.
Updated
WICKET! Warner c Williamson b Henry 5 (Australia 7-2)
Carbon copy dismissal and it is Warner who is on his way this time! Plinking a drive on the up straight to a gleeful Kiwi skipper. Australia in all sorts!
3rd over: Australia 7-1 (Warner 5, Smith 2) Davey Warner biffs Boult down the ground for a lofted four. A counterpunch. Smith is away too with a nudge. A nudge from Smudge.
2nd over: Australia 0-1 (Warner 0, Smith 0) Steve Smith is the new man and he pats back a maiden, a wicket maiden to boot. Strong start for the Kiwis. The ball was there for Finch to hit but he just didn’t commit fully to the stroke, the bat twisting in his hand as he tried to take the ball on the up. Penny for ‘em Aaron?
WICKET! Finch c Williamson b Henry 0 (Australia 0-1)
It’s a plump slice of duck for Aaron Finch! He plinks a length ball from Matt Henry tamely to Kane Williamson at mid-off. Finch hangs his head and drags himself from the field, might that be the end?
Updated
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Finch 0) Boult is right on it from the get go, there’s a hint of movement and the left-armer reels off dot after dot after dot… you get the picture - a maiden first up.
Trent Boult has the ball under slightly cloudy Cairns skies. Warner and Finch are out there with willow in hand. Let’s play!
Here’s the teams:
One change to each side. According to Finch at the toss Cam Green has not quite recovered from his heroics the other night so Sean Abbot takes the all-rounder spot for the Aussies.
Wily old veteran Tim Southee is back in for the Kiwis, replacing Lockie Ferguson. Southee needs just three more scalps to get to 200 ODI wickets, a mighty fine career he’s had.
New Zealand: Guptill, Conway, Williamson (capt), Latham (wk), Mitchell, Bracewell, Neesham, Santner, Henry, Southee, Boult
Australia: Finch (capt), Warner, Smith, Labuschange, Stoinis, Carey (wk), Maxwell, Abbott, Starc, Zampa, Hazlewood
New Zealand win the toss...
They are going to bowl first up, if they start in similar fashion to the first game then you’ll not want to miss the first few overs.
There’s also the somewhat mouthwatering prospect (for the neutral) of Aaron Finch v Trent Boult as the Aussie skipper battles to save his place in the side and maybe his captaincy tenure with it.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the OBO of the second match of the Chappell-Hadlee series in Cairns.
Australia survived the wobbliest of wobbles in their top order in the first match to eventually prosper by two wickets. They had mature knocks by Cam Green and Alex Carey to thank for helping them squeak a win after being reduced to 44-5 under lights.
Can New Zealand level the series or will the home side secure it, let’s find out shall we?
Jim here with the call first up before Daniel Gallan, a ‘specialist finisher’ in the mould of Michael Bevan, tags in later to steer the chase.
Back in a tickle with the toss and teams.
