Kiwis make a brave bid but Aussies preavail
Agence France Presse

Dunedin, New Zealand, Feb 23: Australia held off a spirited challenge from New Zealand to win an entertaining third One-day cricket international by 50 runs on Wednesday.

New Zealand were on track to go close to Australia's mammoth total of 310 for four after a quick-fire third-wicket partnership of 121 off 112 balls between Nathan Astle and Roger Twose.

But both were dismissed at crucial times and the rest of the batsmen could not maintain the momentum, being dismissed for 260 off the last ball of the 45th over.

Astle top scored for New Zealand with 81 off 83 balls before being bowled by legspinner Shane Warne, while Twose scored 62 off 62 balls before part-timer Damien Martyn trapped him leg before wicket.

When Astle was out it was 187 for four in the 29th over, but New Zealand lost their next six wickets for 73 runs.

The game was marred by a period of can and bottle throwing after Adam Parore's dismissal in the 40th over to a very fast, short delivery from Lee.

The crowd and Parore believed the ball -- which knocked his helmet on to the stumps -- was a no ball but the umpires didn't agree, provoking a hail of rubbish from the crowd of 11,500.

There were no centuries scored in the game but the tone was set by a 114-run opening stand by Australian pair Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh after their team was invited to bat by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.

They scored the runs off 125 balls, with Gilchrist ending on 77 and Waugh on 75. Michael Bevan and Steve Waugh then added 85 off 61 balls before Waugh was hit by a Chris Cairns full toss and twisted his ankle, forcing him to retire hurt.

The Australian total was their highest against New Zealand, the previous best being 302 for eight in Melbourne in 1982-83. Waugh later took the field with his teammates but left after four overs, leaving Warne to take over the captaincy. He said he hoped to be back for the next game in Christchurch on Saturday.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who was guilty of throwing his wicket away after scoring 24 off 15 balls, said the chase was always going to be tough. ``We created opportunities with the bat but we had a bad period and lost crucial wickets,'' Fleming said.

Australia: A Gilchrist c Cairns b Vettori 77, M Waugh b Cairns 75, M Hayden c Cairns b Harris 20, M Bevan c Harris b Cairns 52, S Waugh retd hurt 43, A Symonds not out 34, D Martyn not out 1. Extras (lb2, nb5, w1): 8.

Total (for 4 wkts, 50 overs): 310

Fall of wickets: 1-114, 2-166, 3-185, 4-291.

Bowling: Cairns 10-0-61-2, Wisneski 8-0-58-0, Styris 6-0-56-0, Vettori 10-0-48-1, Harris 10-0-37-1, Astle 6-0-48-0.

New Zealand: C Spearman lbw Fleming 2, N Astle b Warne 81, S Fleming c Hayden b Fleming 24, R Twose lbw Martyn 62, C Cairns c Gilchrist b Martyn 13, C McMillan c Harvey (Sub) b Warne 1, C Harris not out 25, A Parore hit wicket b Lee 8, S Styris c Symonds b Lee 19, D Vettori c Symonds b McGrath 0, W Wisneski c M Waugh b McGrath 6. Extras (b4 lb5 nb8 w2): 19

Total (all out, 45 overs): 260

Fall of wickets: 1-13 2-48 3-169 4-187 5-197 6-199 7-223 8-246 9-247 10-260.

Bowling: McGrath 9-1-35-2 (nb2), Fleming 6-0-42-2 (nb2), Lee 9-0-51-2 (nb3), Symonds 3-0-39-0 (nb1), Warne 10-1-50-2 (w2), Martyn 8-0-34-2.

Result: Australia win by 50 runs, lead shortened five-match series 2-0.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.