Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott grabbed two wickets each, as Australia recovered from 117 for 8 to boost themselves
Andrew McGlashan08-Sep-2022For the second time in three days, Australia dug themselves out of a hole – this time with both bat and ball – to clinch the Chappell-Hadlee series in Cairns as New Zealand were dismantled for 82, and left wondering where their next win against the hosts in their own backyard will come.Australia had been 117 for 8 after which the last two wickets added 78 – Josh Hazlewood made Australia’s second-highest score by a No. 11 in ODIs – before they defended the total brilliantly in the field. Mitchell Starc set the tone with a first-over wicket, and Sean Abbott started with two wickets in five balls followed by four consecutive maidens on his return to the side.Adam Zampa then preyed on the pressure created on the New Zealand batters to claim a career-best 5 for 35, although Kane Williamson missing a big full toss and getting trapped in front wouldn’t have been plan A.However, it was not all good news for Australia despite the victory. Aaron Finch’s painful form continued with a second-ball duck when he drove Matt Henry to mid-off. It was Finch’s fifth duck in ODIs this year, setting a new record for an Australia batter, with a return to form looking as far away as it ever has.He has 26 runs in five innings against Zimbabwe and New Zealand this home season, leaving him with 169 runs at 13 in 2022. A decision on his ODI career – either by himself or the selectors – may not be far away.More broadly, it was another unconvincing display from Australia’s top order as Henry and Trent Boult again caused problems after they had found themselves 72 for 5 in the first ODI and 44 for 5 in the third ODI against Zimbabwe. But in their defence, conditions were not easy for batting, and Australia’s bowlers made them look even tougher.Martin Guptill played a poor stroke in the first over of the chase, edging a wild drive to Finch at slip, and there was barely an attacking stroke from New Zealand’s top order. Abbott, who had replaced Cameron Green who couldn’t recover from the effects of cramp, struck with his second ball when Devon Conway whipped to long leg, while three deliveries later Tom Latham edged to slip.Trent Boult again troubled Australia, accounting for Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis early•Getty Images
It would be 29 balls before Abbott conceded a run as New Zealand were rendered largely scoreless: after ten overs, they had 14 runs – their lowest powerplay score since 2002 – and after 20, they were 36 for 4. By then, Williamson had departed having tried to soak up the pressure in 17 from 58 balls only to then miss a pull against a full toss from Zampa.Williamson couldn’t believe what had happened, and forlornly called for the review; and although the ball was only clipping leg stump, it was enough to confirm the decision. Zampa soon had another lbw when Daryl Mitchell missed a reverse sweep, with nothing New Zealand tried seemingly enough to break the shackles.Marcus Stoinis, the fourth seamer – and clearly a bowler New Zealand pinpointed to attack – joined the wicket-takers when Jimmy Neesham flicked to midwicket to give Finch his third catch. Michael Bracewell, who has got New Zealand home in some thrillers recently, was well caught in the gully from an inside edge into his pads before Zampa cleaned up the lower order.All that left New Zealand with one more match on this tour to get a first win across formats in Australia since 2011.The bowlers dominated from the start, with Steven Smith’s steadily-compiled 61 the only half-century of the game. After Finch’s early departure, in which almost everything looked out of sync, David Warner fell in similar fashion, also driving a catch to mid-off.Both of Boult’s early wickets also raised further questions about Australia’s use of the DRS. Marnus Labuschagne was struck on the knee roll with the subsequent review showing three reds, and in Boult’s next over, Stoinis was caught dead in front but also opted to review – seemingly prompted by Smith – with the ball smashing the middle of middle stump.Alex Carey, one of the stars of the close run chase two days ago, briefly steadied the innings alongside Smith but departed to a line-call stumping when he missed a reverse sweep against Mitchell Santner. Subsequent progress was slow against tight bowling as Smith and Glenn Maxwell tried to engineer the type of stand Carey and Green had managed on Tuesday.Maxwell cleared the leg-side boundary once off Santner, and Smith went to fifty from 83 balls. Australia’s hundred came up in the 31st over – their slowest since 2014.The loss of Maxwell in the 33rd over and Smith in the 37th appeared to leave the innings set for an early conclusion. However, after his important hand in clinching victory two days ago, Zampa again made handy runs, adding 31 with Starc, before Hazlewood joined in a partnership of 47 which included both fast bowlers launching sixes in the last two overs to enable Australia to see out the 50 overs.The initial thought was that it at least gave them to bowl at. But in the end, they had plenty.