Match report
Time to say goodbye
Gracious and lump in throat stuff from Aaron Finch. I’ll take my leave too and leave his words to speak for themselves. Well played Australia, well played Aaron Finch.
End of a fantastic journey 👋#AUSvNZ #AaronFinch pic.twitter.com/YYuNkF6pvL
— CricWick (@CricWick) September 11, 2022
Thanks for your company, goodbye.
Aaron Finch takes his ODI bow
He’s gracious as ever in praising his players: “The partnership from Steve and Marnus was exceptional to take us through the middle overs and start to build. To get to 260 after probably our slowest start ever in one-day cricket was special. That innings from Steve was a great knock and our bowlers were fantastic all the way through.”
On his emotions immediately after retiring: “I feel pretty good, I mean - I don’t have to field 50 overs any more! It’s been a fun ride. I’ve loved every bit of it. Sitting around having a beer with your mates after winning a match or series is the thing I’ll miss the most, but we’ll enjoy tonight.
On his family: “It is very special to have them here, they’ve sacrificed so much their entire life for me to be able to achieve something I could only dream about as kid, so I’ll always be indebted to them for the countless hours in the car, the hours sitting around at cricket training. I want to thank everyone. The staff we’ve had, the captains I’ve had right from club cricket. All the players, it’s such a special time. My wife and family, the support they’ve given me. My career has had plenty of ups and downs but to always have the support of the changing room is something I’ve felt my whole career.”
Moving words from Finch. He’s been a fantastic ambassador for cricket and seems to be a thoroughly decent human.
Steve Smith is awarded player of the match and the series. His 105 runs today was the difference between the sides. The big question remains, will he be made Australia’s next ODI captain?
Aaron Finch leads his men from the field for the final time, another win and a trophy well shepherded. His family are there to greet him at the boundary edge. A lovely moment for a fine cricketer and a thoroughly decent bloke.
Aaron Finch retires with a win
Australia too good once again in Cairns as they complete a series sweep in skipper Aaron Finch's ODI farewell! #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/0sCk9ssRyi
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
Cute photo.
Updated
Australia win by 25 runs!
Starc bowls Ferguson with a yorker to bring everyone’s favourite number 11, Trent Boult to the crease. Boult duly slashes a wide ball in the air to be caught out for a glden duck! GAME OVER. That was a dismal end to the game for New Zealand. Phillips perishing to a nifty boundary catch by Sean Abbott proving the crucial moment, from then on it was all Australia. The Kiwi wait for a victory on Aussie soil goes on.
Australia take the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 3-0
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49th over: New Zealand 237-8 (Southee 5, Ferguson 2) More dots stifle New Zealand. Southee eventually clubs a four down the ground but it is too little too late. Ian Smith sounds bereft on the commentary, he thought they had this one, finally. So did I. Six off the penultimate over. 31 needed off the last. Not ‘appening.
48th over: New Zealand 231-8 (Southee 0, Ferguson 1) Eight dot balls in a row as New Zealand crumple at the last in Cairns. Make that nine dots. Hazlewood foxes Ferguson with a knuckle ball. TEN DOTS. And repeat. Painful this for the Kiwis, they had this game in thier grasp. Ferguson gets a single off the final ball of the over, to ironic cheers. 37 needed from 12 balls.
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WICKET! Santner c Green b Abbott 30 (New Zealand 230-8)
Santner holes out and that could be the game! A bitter blow for New Zealand. Are they waving goodbye to a first win on Aussie soil since 2009?
Tim Southee cannot get bat on ball and Abbott finishes with four dots. 38 needed off 18. Boundaries needed.
47th over: New Zealand 230-8 (Southee 0, Ferguson 0)
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46th over: New Zealand 229-7 (Santner 30, Southee 0) There’s no time to dwell on that Phillips dismissal. Southee is the new batter and he can swipe a long ball. Starc slings down a yorker that clips Santner on the pad and runs away for four! Much needed runs. Seven off the over and the crucial wicket of Phillips. 39 needed off 24. Three wickets left.
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WICKET! Phillips c Abbott b Starc 47 (New Zealand 224-7)
Starc goes to his yorker and gets away with a couple of dots. Hang on! Is this the turning point in this game?! Phillips swings Starc away and it looks as if it is going to be six but the ball is pouched by Sean Abbott on the rope. BUT is he actually on the rope? Abbott takes a few tiny steps once the catch is taken and throws the ball back to himself as he steps over the boundary. Numerous replays… and he’s given out! What a moment in this game.
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45th over: New Zealand 221-6 (Phillips 44, Santner 29) Sean Abbott called up by Finch with runs being leaked and a wicket needed. Abbott has gone to his slower ball, taking the pace off and making the batter’s do all the work. Seven runs pilfered from the over, it looks like we are going to the wire. 46 needed from 30 balls.
44th over: New Zealand 215-6 (Phillips 42, Santner 26) Zampa into his final over. His first ball is bunted back over his head by Santner for four! Santner winning the battle of the spinners so far. Seven off the over. 53 needed from 36 balls. Where’s your moolah?
43rd over: New Zealand 208-6 (Phillips 41, Santner 20) Starc back on with three overs up his sleeve. Santner greets him with a mighty heave over long on for SIX! This is a lovely little cameo from the bespectacled spinner. 10 runs from the over. This game is alive.
42nd over: New Zealand 198-6 (Phillips 39, Santner 12) Hazlewood pounds in, a slower ball beats Santner… or does it? Snicko shows a tiny edge on Santner’s toe end but neither Keeper Carey or Hazlewood deemed it worthy of an appeal. Let off for Santner and New Zealand. Four from the over. 71 from 48 is the equation.
41st over: New Zealand 194-6 (Phillips 37, Santner 10) Zampa continues, he’s into his ninth. Phillips plonks him over point for another remarkable six! All bat speed and brute force. Nine runs off the over, up with the required rate.
40th over: New Zealand 185-6 (Phillips 30, Santner 8) Josh Hazlewood to bowl the 40th and his eighth. Santner pounces on a short ball and swats him away for four through mid-wicket. We’re into the last ten overs, New Zealand need 83 from 60 balls. Bubbling nicely.
39th over: New Zealand 178-6 (Phillips 29, Santner 2) Adam Zampa is called upon and he beats the bat a few times, Santner not picking his fellow twirler’s wrong’un. Just three off the over, including a leg-side wide.
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38th over: New Zealand 175-6 (Phillips 27, Santner 1) Mitch Santner is the new man and he is the last recognisable batter. He’s nearly gone first ball to a Cam Green yorker but just squeezes the bat down on it in time! If he can hang around with Phillips then the Kiwis are still in this. 93 needed off 12 overs.
WICKET! Neesham c Smith b Green 36 (New Zealand 173-6)
Just as Australia were starting to sweat they find a breakthrough. Neesham holles out to Steeve Smith at long-leg and Cam Green has the crucial wicket.
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37th over: New Zealand 173-5 (Phillips 27, Neesham 36) Finch tuns to Hazlewood to stem this flow of runs and try and prise a breakthrough. New Zealand haven’t won an ODI in Australia for 13 long years, so there’s plenty to play for in the next hour or so. Phillips climbs into a back of a length ball from Hazlewood and places it well, in the vacant mid-wicket region for four runs.
36th over: New Zealand 168-5 (Phillips 23, Neesham 35) Cam Green into the attack, Neesham works a length ball to long-leg for two before pulling him away powerfully for four. Fifty partnership up for Phillips and Neesham, off 48 balls. They are both timing the ball nicely with it skidding on under lights. Seven runs off the over, 15 to go – New Zealand need 100 runs to win from 14 overs. They have five wickets in the hutch.
35th over: New Zealand 161-5 (Phillips 23, Neesham 28) Big over for New Zealand as they get after Mitchell Starc! Neesham drives him powerfully down the ground for four before Glenn Phillips goes one, or two, better -with a back foot launch for six over point! Some shot that. Starc looks miffed, even more so when a thick outside edge runs away through the gap to third for four more. 16 runs off the over.
Whack! That's a SHOT from Phillips #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/vRgm9nHUHt
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
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34th over: New Zealand 145-5 (Phillips 12, Neesham 23) Neesham plays a delightful late dab (is the dab still a thing?) that runs away for four. Lovely timing. Six off the over, New Zealand quietly rebuilding.
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33rd over: New Zealand 139-5 (Phillips 11, Neesham 18) Starc back into the attack after a slurp of luminous liquid. He has 0-23 from his five overs so far. Three singles off the over don’t hurt the Aussies.
Neil Andrews emails in about stodgy overs in ODIs:
“Any thoughts on how to brighten up the middle overs of ODIs? Milking 4,5,6 singles an over not very entertaining even if it is tactically correct in the circumstances of any particular match (not just talking abt Aus v NZ).
Maybe bit of tinkering with field restrictions:
* 2 fielders in a catching position for whole match; and/or
* 1 less fielder outside the circle outside the current power play overs.”
Decent suggestions Neil, this series has seen some sluggish middle over periods - poor Jonathan had one earlier, they can be a pickle for an OBO scribe to contend with let alone the fans and dare I say players. But then, maybe we’re all gluttons for action all the time in this day and age?
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32nd over: New Zealand 136-5 (Phillips 10, Neesham 16) Another decent over for New Zealand, Neesham is looking aggressive. He gets down on his haunches and nails a reverse sweep for four off Zampa. A lofted drive over wide mid-off also brings him two. DROP! Neesham leathers the last ball of the over straight back at Zampa’s head and the bowler palms it over the bar. A tough chance but a chance all the same. There have been three return catches grassed in this innings by my reckoning. Time for a specialist training session I reckon. Anyway, drinks.
31st over: New Zealand 127-5 (Phillips 8, Neesham 9) A massive five runs taken off Abbott’s latest as this pair look to be proactive. On the tv commentary Ian Smith is doing some chin scratching over why his countrymen can’t seem to get one over their antipodean rivals. He doesn’t sound angry, just disappointed, which everyone knows is worse.
30th over: New Zealand 122-5 (Phillips 4, Neesham 4) Neesham gets off the mark with a well swept four off Maxwell. The Kiwis need more of that, so far they have just allowed Maxwell to bowl at them, even his looser balls have only been nurdled for singles. Better, eight runs from the over. At the other end Sean Abbott has 1-12 off his six overs.
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29th over: New Zealand 114-5 (Phillips 4, Neesham 0) Jimmy Neesham is the new batter, he joins Phillips at the crease with his side in something of a hole. The run rate is over seven and going up.
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WICKET! Williamson run out (Labuschagne) 27 (New Zealand 112-5)
Oh no! Disaster for New Zealand as Williamson is stitched up by Phillips, run out by a distance. Marnus with a laser precision throw from the boundary that Carey takes right next to the stumps. In fact, it seems a slight hesitation from Williamson on the turn for the second seemed to confuse Phillips and he bailed out on the run leaving his captain stranded.
28th over: New Zealand 112-5 (Phillips 3, Neesham 0)
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27th over: New Zealand 109-3 (Williamson 26, Phillips 1) Sean Abbott cuts Williamson in half with an in-swinger that just skirts over the top of the stumps too. The all-rounder has the Kiwi skipper in further trouble with a cutter that Williamson nearly leading edges to backward point. A maiden from Abbott, who is proving to be something of a specialist in that area. Pressure building, there hasn’t been a boundary in over six overs.
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26th over: New Zealand 109-3 (Williamson 26, Phillips 1) Maxwell ties down the batters, just three runs off his over. New Zealand need 159 more from 143 balls and to get ‘em you’d think Kane Williamson will have to be there at the end.
WICKET! Mitchell c Smith b Hazlewood 16
A top edge from Mitchell gifts Steve Smith a simple catch at point and Hazlewood gets the breakthrough. Mitchell was looking to get on with it but leaves his captain with even more riding on his shoulders.
Glenn Phillips is the new man and we’ve had 25 overs under lights.
25th over: New Zealand 106-3 (Williamson 24, Phillips 0)
24th over: New Zealand 101-3 (Williamson 19, Mitchell 16) Glenn Maxwell comes on to send down his useful tweakers. Eeeesht! A quick single to Steve Smith and it would have been gone gone gone with a direct hit! Smith pounds the turf in disgust at himself. Four off Maxwell’s first and the hundred comes up for the Kiwis.
23rd over: New Zealand 97-3 (Williamson 17, Mitchell 14) At the minute Williamson is tortoise and Mitchell is hare. Mitchell charges Hazlewood and ploops him for three to cow corner. Williamson is content to glide wide of point and pick up another single. Mitchell then lines up a cross bat hack but doesn’t connect, he’ll have to settle for a single. On we go.
22nd over: New Zealand 92-3 (Williamson 16, Mitchell 10) Four singles off Zampa, we’re into the stodgy overs. Can New Zealand break the shackles and the back of this chase? Can Australia pick up a couple of quick wickets and knock them well and truly off course? Josh Hazlewood is summoned by skipper Finch.
21st over: New Zealand 88-3 (Williamson 14, Mitchell 8) Shot! Mitchell lofts Starc back over his head with a wonderfully straight blade, the ball drops for a one bounce four and Mitchell holds the pose, relishing the stroke.
20th over: New Zealand 83-3 (Williamson 13, Mitchell 4) Twenty overs done and dusted, Williamson picks up a single and Mitchell is gifted a drag down by Zampa that he swivels away to the boundary to open his account.
19th over: New Zealand 78-3 (Williamson 12, Mitchell 0)Finch calls on hitman Starc to try and squeeze New Zealand still further. It works, Starc lands the ball on a handkerchief outside off and the Kiwis can only muster a single off the over. The run rate goes over six and the pressure cooker begins to hiss.
WICKET! Latham st Carey b Zampa 15
A wicket soon after the break as New Zealand are starting to get bogged down in this chase. Latham dance down the wicket but the ball ricochets off his pad and trickles to Carey who whips off the bails with the batter stranded out of his ground.
Moose Mitchell is the new batter and his side are spluttering slightly.
18th over: New Zealand 77-3 (Williamson 11, Mitchell 0)
17th over: New Zealand 75-2 (Williamson 10, Latham 9) Cam Green is back after drinks, Finch is rotating his bowlers regularly in his final dance. Just three runs come from it as the run-rate nudges up to six an over.
Marnus: Never knowingly half hearted
Marnus giving it his all in that lbw appeal 😂 #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/qJSVsrA2pH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
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16th over: New Zealand 72-2 (Williamson 9, Latham 7) Zampa returns for a twirl and is bowling a tight line, just a single managed by Latham off the over. The players are going to have drinks – the game tightly poised. Time to pad to the kitchen and stick the kettle on.
15th over: New Zealand 71-2 (Williamson 9, Latham 6) Latham looks to be positive against Abbott, using his feet and working the ball into the gaps. New Zealand just in a holding pattern here. Five off the over.
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14th over: New Zealand 66-2 (Williamson 8, Latham 2) Williamson crunches a drive back onto Green’s shoelaces but the lofty bowler cannot get down in time to pouch it, a quarter chance at best as it was absolutely laced by Williamson. Two from the over, a single to each batter.
13th over: New Zealand 64-2 (Williamson 7, Latham 1) Williamson picks up five off the miserly Abbott, a punch through the covers brings Kane his first boundary. Both teams going toe-to-toe here, honours about even.
WICKET! Allen c Hazlewood b Green 35
Gone! Perhaps frustrated by the maiden last over, Allen looks to go force things but only serves to plink the ball to Hazlewood at mid-on who takes a good low catch. Tom Latham joins his skipper at the crease and gets off the mark with a sprightly single.
12th over: New Zealand 59-2 (Williamson 2, Latham 1)
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11th over: New Zealand 56-1 (Allen 35, Williamson 0) Abbott frustrates Allen with a tidy maiden. The bowler also raps Allen on the pad but it looks high, Umpire Paul Reiffel twitches his right hand as he seems to sometimes do, crikes that would give you the willies as a batter eh? it is Not Out, despite the twitchy ump.
10th over: New Zealand 56-1 (Allen 35, Williamson 0) Adam Zampa is called upon to send down his box of fizzing spinners. Three dots played out by Finn Allen before the batter plays the shot of the match so far, balletic footwork and a beautiful lofted drive down the ground for a towering six into the black sightscreen! Next ball is whipped to long on for a single. Good contest this.
WICKET! Conway c Smith b Abbott 21 (New Zealand 49-1)
Soft signal overturned by the third umpire after numerous replays and Conway has to go. He doesn’t look that convinced but my hunch, FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, is that it was a fair catch.
Abbott starts with a wicket maiden. Captain Williamson arrives at the crease.
9th over: New Zealand 49-1 (Allen 28, Williamson 0)
We’ve got a review for a catch – Sean Abbot is into the attack and he induces a prod from Conway that goes to Steve Smith at point. Did Smith manage to get his fingers underneath this? The soft signal is not out…
8th over: New Zealand 49-0 (Allen 28, Conway 21) Allen gets in on the act, driving Hazlewood down the ground for four. The tall bowler tries a short one and Allen swats it away with disdain for four more! A mis-field from Glenn Maxwell at long-on sees Allen pick up a couple… and another boundary to finish off, a wristy flick to the square leg fence sees 14 runs plundered off Hazlewood’s over.
7th over: New Zealand 35-0 (Allen 14, Conway 21) Cam Green replaces Starc and Conway piles into his first ball and dispatches through mid-wicket for four. Will they target Green? That seems to be the plan – Conway drives classically all along the carper for four more. Glorious. Eight off the over, decent start this by New Zealand, their best of the series.
6th over: New Zealand 27-0 (Allen 14, Conway 13) The parsimonious Hazlewood continues, his first ball is driven on the up by Allen and it just squirts to the fence as a result of a half stop in the covers. Hazlewood shuts down the rest of the over though, five successive dots frustrate Allen and keep New Zealand honest.
5th over: New Zealand 23-0 (Allen 10, Conway 13) There doesn’t seem to be much swing for the Aussie bowlers, and Starc would surely find some if it was there. Conway and Allen are timing the ball nicely but keep finding the fielder. Shot! Shot again! Conway immediately puts paid to that by sweetly timing two full balls on his pads away to the mid-wicket boundary. Eight off the over.
ICYMI: This was a nice touch earlier.
Classy stuff from the Black Caps as Aaron Finch makes his way to the middle #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/LMawJThq7t
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
4th over: New Zealand 15-0 (Allen 10, Conway 5) Devon Conway is getting tied down and sucking up a few too many dots, Hazlewood is allowed to reel off his ‘binary solo’. Conway decides to charge him and manages to glide the ball past point for a single. Allen has no luck getting the miserly bowler away though so it is a solitary single off the over. “He’s put the clamps on” purrs Ian Smith.
3rd over: New Zealand 14-0 (Allen 10, Conway 4) Just a couple off the over, Allen nudges off his hip for two but can only block out the rest of Starc’s probing over.
2nd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Allen 8, Conway 4) Ian Smith calls Josh Hazlewood a “bowling robot” on the tv commentary, which raises a smirk. He suggests that New Zealand will have to upset him and not let him bowl his, well, robotic line. Allen duly top edges a pull over the keeper for four. A single brings Conway on strike and he is more watchful. The ball seems to be skidding on under lights on this fresh Cairns pitch.
Josh Hazlewood’s Robo Boogie
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1st over: New Zealand 7-0 (Allen 3, Conway 4) Decent start for the visitors, Allen is away from the get-go with a clip off the first ball for a couple. A single to long-leg brings Conway on strike and he glances a wayward ball from Starc to the fence for the first boundary of the chase. Starc adjusts his line and finishes with three dots, including a beauty that fizzes past Conway’s edge.
Praise be, the TV has reverted to Cairns under lights and the players are taking to the field. New Zealand need 268 to win. Finn Allen and Devon Conway are opening up and Mitchell Starc has the gleaming white ball in his left paw. Let’s play!
Oh and please do get in touch and keep me company, any thoughts or theories are most welcome. Deets below.
Email James Wallace or tweet @Jimbo_Cricket)
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Thanks Jonathan, top stint. Hello OBO -Jim here to call the Kiwi chase. I’m a few thousand miles away in sunny south London and my TV is currently showing a tribute to footballer Luca Modric, who would surely be a diminutive but dashing middle-order strokeplayer?
This was my favourite part of the Aussie innings:
Steve Smith launching a filthy slog over the fence because he knew it was a no-ball due to the number of fielders outside the circle 🤯#AUSvNZ #PlayOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/T3LFFjsCB8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
Australia would have taken 267 at the start of play after being invited to bat by Kane Williamson, and they would have only dreamt about such a total when they were 41-2 at the 17-over drinks break. That they reached such a healthy total was due to a gritty partnership between Steve Smith (105) and Marnus Labuschagne (52). It wasn’t pretty, and it didn’t begin with much intent, but it staunched the bleeding after two early wickets and gathered momentum as the innings wore on, setting up a late dash highlighted by Cameron Green’s 25 from just 12 balls.
While Smith’s typical busy, thoughtful knock deserves the headlines, it will be one of those two early wickets that will probably claim them. Aaron Finch, batting in his final ODI fell cheaply, opening his gate for Tim Southee to crash through.
Southee (1/57) bowled OK, but his new ball partner, Trent Boult, was outstanding, picking up 2/25 and dragging the contest the way of the Black Caps whenever he had the ball in his hands. The supporting cast were not so adept with Ferguson’s (1/56) extra pace proving a disadvantage on a pitch that began slow and tacky before speeding up as the innings wore on, and Neesham (0/65) failing to execute his variations.
James Wallace will be in the hot-seat for the run chase, so be sure to send him plenty of emails and keep him company in the far north Queensland evening. Thanks for joining me today and I’ll catch you here soon.
Australia 267-5
50th over: Australia 267-5 (Carey 42, Green 25) Neesham to bowl the final over and he begins well, restricting both Green and Carey to singles. Green, looking gigantic as the floodlights take effect in the evening then smashes a full toss for four then picks up a leg-stump half-volley for six. This has not been Neesham’s day. He retains his composure to keep Green to a single before a quickly-run couple to Carey brings the innings to a close.
49th over: Australia 252-5 (Carey 39, Green 13) Trent Boult finishes his ten overs with figures of 2/25 – what a performer. Nine from his final set of six, punctuated by one Green four. This has been an instructive knock for young Green. Twice he has failed to connect with premeditated scoops, twice he has followed up by belting stand-and-deliver boundaries.
48th over: Australia 243-5 (Carey 37, Green 7) Class from Carey to begin Southee’s final over, reverse sweeping a full delivery from around the wicket away for four. Class from Green to end the over, pulling flat and hard for six from a nothing delivery.
47th over: Australia 230-5 (Carey 31, Green 0) Six runs and a wicket from another superb Boult over. He has been exceptional today. Isn’t he always?
WICKET! Maxwell c Santner b Boult 14 (Australia 227-5)
New Zealand return to their premier performer, Trent Boult. He begins his ninth over with two singles then Maxwell slaps a hittable delivery on his pads straight to Santner in the deep. Big result for NZ.
46th over: Australia 224-4 (Carey 27, Maxwell 12) It’s at risk of unraveling for NZ now. There are overthrows following a direct hit on the stumps, four leg-byes, and Williamson fails to hold onto a very very tricky chance from a Maxwell moonshot. The skipper had the ball in his fingers but it just escaped his grasp as he landed.
“Hi Jonathan,” emails Steve Ditchburn, “if you were the Australian captain why would you not bring in Maxwell at 3rd wicket down? 30 Minutes of mayhem from him could increase the score immeasurably and if he gets out earlier what have you lost?” I completely agree. What amuses me with all-things Maxwell (of whom I am an enormous fan – he’d be my next captain) is that approaching 34 he remains a player yet to be figured out by selectors, captains, or pundits. Despite having the most prodigious talent. I would build my entire line-up around him.
45th over: Australia 214-4 (Carey 23, Maxwell 9) Brilliant. Maxwell begins with the ugliest looking reverse sweep, that was an LBW contender but for a tiny under-edge. It earns him two, then he exchanges the strike with Carey before casually smiting a six over cow corner like Tiger Woods drawing a mid-iron into a green. What a player.
WICKET! Smith b Santner 105 (Australia 203-4)
Santner ignores Waugh’s advice by clean bowling Steve Smith. The centurion walks off after a superb knock that came to an end when he stepped to leg and missed a quicker delivery trying to shovel a boundary over the covers.
44th over: Australia 203-3 (Smith 105, Carey 22) Freed from the pressure of crossing the milestone, Smith shimmys down the pitch and slaps Southee over extra cover for four. For some reason Mark Waugh on the telly then suggests Southee doesn’t want to get Smith out because the incoming Maxwell will be an even more fearsome proposition. There’s a book in Maxwell-related nonsense.
CENTURY! Smith 100 (127)
It’s been another masterclass from Steve Smith today who raises his bat for his 12th ODI century. He started slowly, understanding the conditions and the state of the game, and he’s since grown into his innings, setting up his team for a healthy total. Superb.
43rd over: Australia 193-3 (Smith 99, Carey 19) Another over begins with two dot balls. Smith gets the scoreboard moving again with a pitch for two then an easy single. Santner’s variations are proving hard to get away and Australia have to do without a boundary as Smith cruises to 99.
42nd over: Australia 188-3 (Smith 95, Carey 18) Smith is in full manic energy mode now, recognising his role in this contest. His blood pressure isn’t helped when Ferguson’s ninth over begins with two dots and two singles but his supreme focus is demonstrated with a perfectly executed fine pull for four. A century is his for the taking.
41st over: Australia 181-3 (Smith 89, Carey 17) How much can Australia pile on in the final ten overs?
Not a whole lot if Southee’s eighth over is any indication. Smith gets off strike early but then Carey soaks up a couple of dots before miscueing a massive slog that comes off the inside-edge and just misses his leg stump.
40th over: Australia 176-3 (Smith 85, Carey 16) Ferguson’s number comes up after Neesham’s travails and the speedster does well, keeping Smith to just three runs.
39th over: Australia 173-3 (Smith 82, Carey 16) Steve Smith is in the mood now. He steps to leg and carves Santner over extra-cover for a one-bounce four. Santner gets away with a wide full toss next delivery but he’s clearly rattled, as evidenced by a leg-side dart that Carey helps around the corner for two. Santner recovers well, changing his length to Carey and ending his over with three dots.
38th over: Australia 166-3 (Smith 77, Carey 14) Williamson is playing bowler roulette and the counter lands on Neesham. Smith welcomes the all-rounder to the crease with the day’s first six! Oh my – it was also a no-ball for a free-hit! The shot was an agricultural back-foot swipe high and over square leg from a length delivery outside off that just flew off the blade. Neesham does well to recover with a slower ball bouncer dot from the free-hit. The runs keep flowing though with Carey getting in on the act with his second effortless straight drive for four.
That free-hit, incidentally, was called by Steve Smith after the shot was played when he gestured dramatically to the square leg umpire that Williamson had fallen foul of the fielding restrictions. Maybe that was where the six-hit came from… Smith knowing he had a no-ball up his sleeve?
37th over: Australia 151-3 (Smith 69, Carey 8) Back to Santner, who perhaps could have been used more already, and he starts with a decent should for LBW against Carey. Some nice singles from both batters keep the scoreboard moving, before a chaotic end to the over features a wide and Smith slipping while mid-stroke but his lofted sweep lands safely towards square-leg.
36th over: Australia 142-3 (Smith 65, Carey 6) Ferguson starts his over well but Carey eases the pressure with a lovely punched drive straight back the bowler for four. That will do him the world of good and end yet another interminable conversation on commentary about how to use Glenn Maxwell. The Victorian is 34 next month and played his first ODI in 2012.
35th over: Australia 135-3 (Smith 63, Carey 1) Boult continues, perhaps surprisingly, and every delivery increases the pressure on Carey. Dot, dot, dot – with a nervy call for a sharp single that Smith declines, dot, dot, dot, maiden. Trent Boult now was 1/10 from eight overs. What a bowler.
34th over: Australia 135-3 (Smith 63, Carey 1) Carey off the mark straight away courtesy of a miss-field from Santner at midwicket. Important for the Australian wicket-keeper to keep pace with Smith at the other end, or rotate the strike to avoid getting bogged down on this surface that’s clearly difficult to time early in a knock.
WICKET! Labuschagne c Boult b Ferguson 52 (Australia 134-3)
And the drinks break works for New Zealand.
With such firepower in the sheds Australia have the platform to go for their shots and convert all their patience. Smith shows exactly that intent – again playing in the V – forcing Ferguson to the long-off boundary off the back foot. But when Labuschagne tries to pull a slower ball from outside off all he can do is toe a simple catch to mid-on. A tame end to a hard-working innings that has set his side up nicely.
33rd over: Australia 127-2 (Smith 58, Labuschagne 51) Here we go – Williamson is forced to recall Trent Boult. Six overs 1/7 off the top, but what can he do with a set partnership? Not a lot to begin with as Labuschagne forces the ball through the covers to bring up his 50. Two dots follow courtesy of some skillful bowling, the first short, drawing a forehand smash from Smith, the second full and fast. A couple more dots follow with the bowler lucky to get away with a leg-side bouncer, before finishing off his work with a length delivery played into the field. If only New Zealand had a couple more Trent Boults to call on.
Drinks.
32nd over: Australia 124-2 (Smith 58, Labuschagne 48) Smith has scored heavily straight down the pitch and for the fourth time today he finds the rope in front of the sight-screen with a beautifully timed on-drive off Neesham. Things are beginning to look ominous for the Kiwis as this pair ease the run-rate through the gears.
31st over: Australia 117-2 (Smith 54, Labuschagne 45) Smith brings up his half-century with the first reckless full-blooded shot of the day, lofting Southee over long-on – but it wasn’t well-timed and spent a long time in the air before landing and trickling over the rope. It signals the intent now in Australia’s game and how this pair at the crease recognise their ascendancy. The runs continue to flow and the century partnership is ticked off with a leg glance fine of the boundary rider. This is blossoming into something special for Smith and Labuschagne.
30th over: Australia 106-2 (Smith 44, Labuschagne 45) As expected Ferguson is pulled out of the attack and Neesham returns, but it doesn’t stop the runs flowing from that end with Smith timing a classical on-drive with a high elbow for the most handsome four of the day so far. Both batters are nearing half-centuries with New Zealand now the side searching for answers after being in total control of the opening hour.
29th over: Australia 98-2 (Smith 38, Labuschagne 43) Santner’s nice little spell is ended by the recall of Tim Southee. Australia are ready for him, pressing forward in the crease and looking to assert themselves in the V. Six singles are the result with Smith and Labuschagne looking increasingly at ease. The match feels very much like it hinges on the ability of this partnership to cash in after all their hard work.
28th over: Australia 92-2 (Smith 35, Labuschagne 40) After 62 deliveries Labuschagne has a boundary! It was a guide through the gully that Ferguson thought might have been catchable behind square, but instead it’s the first four in ten overs. And of course, one brings two, with a controlled outside edge that uses Ferguson’s pace. There’s a brief interlude to check a half-hearted appeal at point for a shot that was clearly a bump ball.
Williamson might need to put Ferguson away until the tail. He has been the only bowler Australia have been able to score off so far.
27th over: Australia 84-2 (Smith 35, Labuschagne 32) Chance! Ish… Santner bowls a beautiful over full of changes of pace and flight that goes for three, and it concludes with a leading edge from Smith that squirts just out of reach of the bowler’s dive to his left.
26th over: Australia 81-2 (Smith 34, Labuschagne 30) Williamson recognises the need to shake things up a bit and he recalls Ferguson to the attack. Australia look comfortable working a trio of dots but then a speedy yorker focuses Smith’s attention. That’s followed up with a wider slower ball that Smith does well not to chase too hard.
25th over: Australia 78-2 (Smith 33, Labuschagne 27) Santner is much loopier this over and it suits his height and the slow bounce of this pitch. Smith adjusts well though, glancing a neat two through the gully region in an over worth five.
At the halfway point honours are probably even with this partnership restoring parity after the Black Caps made such a hot start.
24th over: Australia 73-2 (Smith 30, Labuschagne 26) Labuschagne works Neesham for two wide of mid-on for the first delivery in an age that’s neither a one nor a dot. Six from another over with little jeopardy. The TV boys are talking about the NRL – not for the first time today. It’s been that kind of afternoon.
23rd over: Australia 67-2 (Smith 28, Labuschagne 22) Santner curtails Mitchell’s brief spell and his returning over has more singles than a night of speed dating. By that, I mean five singles. Which would be a pretty small speed dating event. Does speed dating even exist still? I’m trying to entertain myself here because the cricket is soporific. Can they just bring Finch back out and give us some narrative?
22nd over: Australia 62-2 (Smith 25, Labuschagne 20) A rare loose shot with Smith failing to connect with a back of the length Neesham delivery that just nipped back off the seam. The all-rounder continues to plug away at that length for a return of five dots and a single.
The middle-overs of a dead rubber, out of season, at a faraway ground on pay TV. This is not the stuff dreams are made of.
21st over: Australia 61-2 (Smith 24, Labuschagne 20) Mitchell’s changes of pace make him difficult to line up, and his awkwardness is magnified when Latham stands up the stumps. Australia collect four singles.
20th over: Australia 57-2 (Smith 22, Labuschagne 18) Five singles and a dot in the kind of over that – if you were playing on a computer game – you would simulate to save time. Neesham is struggling with his length a little.
Updated
19th over: Australia 52-2 (Smith 20, Labuschagne 15) Williamson continues to shuffle his pack with Daryl Mitchell coming into the attack to deliver more right-arm over seam-up variations. Three singles, three dots, very middle-overs areas.
18th over: Australia 49-2 (Smith 19, Labuschagne 13) Williamson recognises Ferguson’s pace suits Australia and calls on Jimmy Neesham’s heavy seamers instead. He starts brightly, and almost has Smith a couple of times with the slower pace. The first was almost a c&b but Smith’s forearm interrupted an inside-edge onto pad that threatened to loop back down the pitch. Then an attempted cut turns into a dragged inside-edge. After four deliveries of frustration Smith releases the tension with a muscular straight drive for four. A terrific forcing shot that induces an error from Neesham, who errs wide of off stump, and Smith caresses a glorious cover drive for back-to-back boundaries. This partnership is starting to gather momentum.
17th over: Australia 41-2 (Smith 11, Labuschagne 13) Australia are finally playing conventional modern ODI cricket. Labuschagne slaps another wristy slog sweep for two, then cuts through point for a single. Santner responds by sliding one low that almost traps Smith leg before, but he jams his bat down in time. Another single completes the over, heralding a drinks break.
16th over: Australia 37-2 (Smith 10, Labuschagne 10) Ferguson tries to go up top but gets his line wrong and concedes a loopy leg-side wide. Labuschagne shows his timing is starting to emerge with a nice on-drive for two. Smith then waits on Ferguson to over-pitch outside off and crunches a square drive for four! A BOUNDARY! We now have as many boundaries as wickets. Not sure Ferguson is the right man for the job right now for New Zealand.
15th over: Australia 29-2 (Smith 6, Labuschagne 7) Santner continues and after Smith pushes a single Labuschagne unfurls a wristy sweep for a couple that forces the square-leg boundary rider to work for the first time all day. A single completes an over of positive abandon worth four runs.
14th over: Australia 25-2 (Smith 5, Labuschagne 4) Australia look happier against Ferguson’s rifle straight pace, but this pitch just seems impossible to time a stroke on. After three dots Labuschagne has an opportunity to pull but he only picks up two from a miss-timed hoick. Labuschagne moves to 4 (28) with Smith 5 (27).
It shouldn’t go unmentioned that Ferguson is top to toe in black – including his spikes, making him look like a cricketing ninja, or Garry Player, or Johnny Cash, or Lev Yashin, or a buff emo etc…
13th over: Australia 23-2 (Smith 5, Labuschagne 2) A double change from Williamson and it’s an early look at spin with Mitchell Santner rolling his left-arm over. From around the wicket he finds a good line and length from the outset, angling the ball into the pads of the right-handers trying to spin the ball away. Smith interrupts a couple of dots with a push to mid-off for a single, then Labuschagne repeats the trick. Another tight over for the tourists who are well on top early.
12th over: Australia 21-2 (Smith 4, Labuschagne 1) The first change of the day for NZ, and it’s the pace of Lockie Ferguson. The speedster begins with a rank leg-side wide but he finds his radar soon afterwards. Nonetheless, Australia are keen to feast on the extra pace, with Smith extending his arms to a couple of deliveries but with no timing. A nudge to the on-side sweeper rotates the strike and Labuschagne likewise tries to force the issue, but he can’t connect with any force and the innings remains in neutral.
11th over: Australia 19-2 (Smith 3, Labuschagne 1) Boult continues into his sixth over (and with figures of 1/7, why not?) and the maidens return. Boult’s form has been a major reason why Australia have struggled in all three Powerplays at the start of their innings this series. He is bowling beautifully again today, shaping the ball out and in, finding a perfect length every time. Labuschagne is focussed only on defence, especially wary of the one that arcs back towards where a gate may have been left open.
10th over: Australia 19-2 (Smith 3, Labuschagne 1) A run! Stop the presses! There’s a been a run in Cairns! After 23 scoreless deliveries Labuschagne nurdles a single off his pads to lubricate the scoreboard. The floodgates have opened out in the middle with Smith nudging a mighty two into the leg-side.
9th over: Australia 16-2 (Smith 1, Labuschagne 0) Three maidens in a row! Boult whistles a jaffa past the shoulder of Smith’s bat to begin the ninth over. Five more line and length dots follow as Australia’s first drop takes no chances against such accurate bowling. 21 balls without scoring now for Australia.
8th over: Australia 16-2 (Smith 1, Labuschagne 0) Consecutive maidens for New Zealand. The tally of deliveries without scoring rises to 15 as Southee keeps Labuschagne honest.
7th over: Australia 16-2 (Smith 1, Labuschagne 0) Trent Boult consolidates New Zealand’s position with a maiden over to Steve Smith.
Every Australian batter so far has looked uncertain at the crease, unsure whether to take the game on or use the pace of the ball to make runs. Smith is the latest to almost perish through such clouded thinking with an angled bat held limply outside off stump to Boult that is fortunate not to collect an edge. A similar shot later in the over catches the splice but is always heading down.
6th over: Australia 16-2 (Smith 1, Labuschagne 0) A disappointing end to Finch’s final ODI innings, but an excellent piece of bowling. Australia again making a meal of their start.
WICKET! Finch b Southee 5 (Australia 16-2)
The Cairns crowd stands as one to applaud Aaron Finch as he walks from the crease for one final time in Australian ODI gold after being clean bowled through the gate by Tim Southee. The drive was optimistic but the ball seamed in, beating the inside edge and clattering the stumps.
5th over: Australia 14-1 (Finch 4, Smith 0) The ball just wasn’t there for that shot from Inglis, and it went from a miss-timed stoke to a wicket-taker courtesy of that little jag in to the right-hander off the pitch. Super bowling.
WICKET! Inglis c Latham b Boult 10 (Australia 14-1)
Inglis rotates the strike nicely with another glide to third-man, Finch then asserts himself, stepping out to meet Boult on the half-volley and forward pressing the ball for three through the covers. Boult is unperturbed, getting a slower ball to come back in a fraction off the pitch to Inglis, the opener repeats his strike-rotating glide but this time can only nick into Latham’s safe gloves.
Updated
4th over: Australia 10-0 (Inglis 9, Finch 1) Southee starts another over short and wide and this time Inglis does crack it away for four through point. Oh boy – the replay is not pretty for Glenn Philips. I say “through point” for four and that is almost literally what happened. Philips DROPS a regulation chance to his right hip that he picks up late and barely gets a fingertip to. Bad miss early on from the Black Caps.
Southee completes the over with a huge shout for LBW. Declined on-field but REVIEWED by Williamson. In real-time that looked and sounded like an inside-edge. Shows what I know, massive gap between bat and ball on the replay – but DRS saves Finch with the animation indicating the ball was tracking a few millimetres above the leg stump.
3rd over: Australia 5-0 (Inglis 4, Finch 1) Finch tips and runs into the on-side to get off the mark in his final innings. But it’s one of only two runs in the over as Boult settles into a beautiful line and length, shaping one back in that almost sneaks through Inglis’ gate, then slanting another across past the outside edge.
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Inglis 3, Finch 0) Southee opens with old mate Boult, but he begins short and wide and it takes a great diving stop from point to prevent a boundary. Southee remains back of a length and Inglis is watchful until he flicks a couple away off his pads. Gentle loosening over from the big right-arm swing bowler.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Inglis 1, Finch 0) Boult is on the money targeting the top of off for three deliveries, the third of which Inglis guides to third man to get the scoreboard ticking over. Boult then straightens to Finch, targeting the front pad, and almost has an immediate LBW shout. The line reverts back to the top of off and Finch is uncomfortable defending from the crease, then EDGING just short of the solitary slip. Excellent start from the Kiwi quick.
Trent Boult has the new ball. He’s charging in to hurl the ball over the wicket to the right-handed Josh Inglis…
Finch gets a big hug from former housemate Maxwell as he pops on his helmet and skips across the boundary rope for the final time in ODI cricket. As he nears the square the Black Caps are waiting in a guard of honour and Williamson steps out to shake his opposite number warmly by the hand.
Out strides Aaron Finch, leading the Australian XI onto the field for the final time in 50-over cricket. Both teams take the oval and stand by the boundary for a minute’s silence in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
It’s 30 degrees, bright and sunny in Cairns with a southerly breeze taking the edge off the sun’s intensity.
There was a bit of men’s international cricket overnight, and quite a lot happened, fast.
Here’s the big question facing Australia’s board in the coming days. I
s Smith worth the hassle that will accompany his appointment? I’d go for Maxy.
The next Australia men's ODI captain? So far, the public votes have Steven Smith leading the wayhttps://t.co/Fpymp3aq70 pic.twitter.com/346suNfPwY
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) September 11, 2022
In other white ball news, a couple of Australians are in demand.
Kerry O’Keeffe nails it on Finch: “he played for his team and his team played for him.”
“Very comfortable,” says Finch about his decision to walk away from 50-over cricket. “It’s the right time for someone else to take the team in a new direction.”
The Teams
Three changes for the visitors with Allen coming in for Guptill, Philips for Bracewell, and Ferguson for Henry.
Two changes for the hosts with Inglis replacing Warner and Green returning in place of Stoinis.
New Zealand: 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Tom Latham (wk), 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Glenn Philips, 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Trent Boult
Australia: 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 Josh Inglis, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschange, 5 Alex Carey (wk), 6 Cameron Green, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand win the toss and will bowl first
Kane Williamson isn’t overly decisive with his call but he wants to see how the pitch plays before his side has a bat on it. Aaron Finch says he was glad to lose his final toss as skipper.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live over-by-over coverage of the conclusion of the the Chappell-Hadlee series in Cairns. We’ll be underway at Cazalys Stadium around 2:20pm AEST/4:20pm NZST.
As far as marquee bilateral series go, this is one has been about as off broadway as you can get. Played out in the boondocks while there’s still frost in Victoria, isolated on pay TV and at the business end of the footy seasons. And the small matter of some other news dominating the front pages.
You’d be forgiven for not knowing this series was even underway, let alone all over bar the shouting with Australia two up with one to play.
But the deadest of dead rubbers was reanimated when Australia captain Aaron Finch announced he was retiring from One-day international cricket. If nothing else, today is an opportunity to salute a man who deserves his place towards the top end of Australian white-ball cricketers. He bludgeoned record-breaking scores from the top of the order, led with aplomb during a period of instability, and exuded an air of casual calm through his gum-chewing and easy smile. A fine servant.
If you have anything to add to today’s proceedings, you know the drill. Emails go here or tweet @JPHowcroft. Send me your fondest Finch memories and I’ll sprinkle them throughout the call.
