Chappell-Hadlee series won by Oz
Mar 11 2010 - 09:58:06
Australia wrapped up the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand with a game still to play thanks to a comfortable six-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis method in Auckland.
After being put in to bat by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, a re-jigged New Zealand line-up struggled to a below-par total of 238 as they were bowled out in just 44.1 overs.
But with rain delaying the start of the Australians' run-chase they were set a revised target of 200 in 34 overs and when play finally resumed and the tourists reached it with 17 balls to spare to take an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
Not even the early loss of Hamilton century-maker Brad Haddin for a first-ball duck could knock the visitors off their stride as Ponting and Shane Watson added 82 runs for the second wicket.
Ponting was lucky not to be given out leg before wicket in Daryl Tuffey's first over and the pair then launched a blistering attack on Tim Southee (none for 55 off 5.1 overs) and Tuffey (none for 38 off five) in the overs immediately following taking 39 runs off just 18 deliveries.
That prompted Daniel Vettori (two for 29 off seven) to bring himself into the attack and it proved to be a masterstroke as the New Zealand skipper got Watson (32) and Ponting (50) lbw in successive overs to leave the visitors at 85 for three.
Cameron White (50 not out) and Adam Voges (34) then put on a stand of 65 to get Australia to within 50 runs of victory before White, whose excellent form in the series shows no sign of fading, and Michael Hussey (28 not) combined to get their side across the line.
Aside from 61 from Brendon McCullum, 30 from Martin Guptill, who moved up the order to open, and a quickfire 34 off 17 balls from Tuffey at the death the New Zealanders barely fired a shot as they slumped from 120 for one to be all out for 238.
Nathan Hauritz picked up three wickets, including McCullum's, while there were two apiece to Watson, James Hopes and Mitchell Johnson.