DHAKA: ICC World Cup (WC) co-host favorite New Zealand defeated another co-host mighty Australia by one-wicket in a hard-fought match in the teams’ WC Pool A game in Auckland Saturday.

Chasing the Australia-set small target of 152-run, New Zealand limped to the victory losing nine wickets after 23.1 overs at Eden Park.

New Zealand was about to loss the match as Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc neatly stole the victory. Starc sent six Kiwi batsmen back to the pavilion, spending 28 runs. However, Kane Williamson managed to take the Kiwis to the victory. He scored 45 runs off 42 balls not out.

Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill began New Zealand’s innings. The pair started well.

Mitchell Starc struck first, sending Guptill back to the pavilion when the Kiwis scored 40 runs in 3.5 overs. Guptill contributed 11 n runs off 14 balls.

McCullum continued, hitting a half century until Pat Cummins made him walked to the pavilion. McCullum scored 50 runs off 24 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

Corey Anderson also contributed 26 runs off 42 balls. Three Kiwi batsmen – Grant Elliott, Adam Milne, and Tim Southee – got ducks.

Along with Starc taking six wickets, Pat Cummins picked up two and Glenn Maxwell bagged one wicket.

Earlier Australia decided to bat first after Aussie captain Michael Clarke had won the toss. The match kicked off at 7:00am Bangladesh time.

Aaron Finch and David Warner began the Australia’s innings. New Zealand’s Tim Southee stuck first, tacking Finch’s wicket when Australia’s score was at 30 runs in just 2.2 overs. Shane Watson came in and began accompanying Warner.
However, the Aussies continued to play well, scoring 68 runs in the first ten overs - the third best in the tournament so far after New Zealand, which the Kiwis made twice against England and Sri Lanka.

But Daniel Vettori followed Southee when the Aussies scored 80 runs in 13 overs. Vettori took Watson’s wicket, leading a quick collapse for Australia. Watson scored 23 runs off 30 balls.

In next 26 runs for which Australia lost eight wickets, to slip from 80 for 1 to 106 for 9. It's their worst eight-wicket collapse in One Day Internationals (ODI)

Six Aussie batsmen walked to the pavilion before their score reached three digit in the teams’ ICC World Cup Pool A game at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.
 
The Kiwis made a combined effort. TA Boult took five wickets. Boult's figure in the game is his best in ODIs, and only his second haul of more than two wickets in 20 ODIs.

Southee and Vettori bagged two wickets each while Corey Anderson picked up one.

New Zealand, who won all their three games, played the game wit the same team which has featured from the start of the tournament.

Australia, whose second game against Bangladesh was washed out in Brisbane, brought in fit-again skipper Michael Clarke for George Bailey and fast bowler Pat Cummins for Josh Hazlewood from the line-up which beat England in the opening game two weeks ago.

Trent Boult became the Man of the Match. “We tied them down very nicely and in my mind was to come back in the second spell and take wickets, didn't think I would get five”, he said.

He added, “We pulled it back nicely and everyone chipped in to make it a chaseable total. We've been working well for the last 6-12 months and move forward to the game next Sunday to get some more wins.”

Winning New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said: “One hell of a game. Both teams showed what quality their bowlers are. Starc for them and Boult for us, both were outstanding and the support was outstanding as well. We saw some great pace and swing bowling.”

“We want to be an aggressive team with bat, ball and on the field as well. Everyone wants to see 300 scores, but 150 is great as well, with only one wicket down. Boult and Southee are outstanding in both Tests and ODIs, they have done well for a very long time, without disrespect to anyone”, he added.

Defeated Australia captain Michael Clarke said: “Very entertaining and we'd have liked it to go the other way. Our batting was horrendous to put it politely. Starc is a genius. I think both teams would say we didn't bat the way we'd have liked.”

“Credit to the groundsmen, it was a very good pitch. Credit to New Zealand the way they bowled and executed their skills very well, we let ourselves down with the bat,” he added.

BDST: 1339 HRS, FEB 28, 2015