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Fri, 25 February 2011
Australia thrash NZ by seven wickets

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16:30  
Scorecard:

Australia thrashed neighbours New Zealand by seven wickets at the VCA stadium in Jamtha on Friday to register their second successive win of this World Cup.

The three-time defending champions achieved their modest target (207) with a whopping 16. 2 overs to spare.

The win stretched Australia's unbeaten run in the World Cup to 31 matches – 30 wins and a tie (against South Africa in 1999).

It also extended their unbeaten streak over their neighbours on Indian soil to eight matches.

It was also the team from Down Under's ninth win in the last 10 ODIs that they have featured in, clearly underlining their top status in the format.

Besides, it helped them retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

That's it for the day folks!

Thanks for being with us.
16:25  
Scorecard:

Michael Clarke and Cameron White took closer to their second successive win in this edition of the World Cup.

The 33rd over, bowled by Bennett, ensured Australia 15 runs including a boundary for White and two for Clarke.

Only five runs is required now.
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16:17  

Scorecard:

A boundary to deep square leg (off Ryder) helped Michael Clarke reach 6, 000 ODI runs.

He and Cameron White ensured Australia a smooth progression towards their target.

Image: Ponting walks off field after he was stumped by McCullum off the bowling of Southee (Reuters)

15:53  
Scorecard:

The bowling powerplay was taken in the 20th over.

And Australia managed to score only 20 runs in that period. Surprising considering the pace in which their innings had moved till that point.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they lost both the openers in quick succession.

Ponting and Clarke made slow progress towards the eventual target, before Southee cleaned up the latter.

It was a sweet revenge for Southee. The Australian captain made 12.

The openers had in any case ensured their was plenty of time left for the remaining batsmen.
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15:51  

Scorecard:

Ricky Ponting survived a huge appeal for caught behind off Southee.

The decision went up for review but the replays proved inconclusive.

And the Australian captain survived.

The next ball Southee appealed for a leg before decision. However, despite the replays suffesting the ball was in line, New Zealand never went for the review.

Image:New Zealand's Hamish Bennett is congratulated by teammates after taking Haddin

15:15  
Scorecard:

Shane Watson is dropped on 59 by substitute Kane Williamson (off Vettori).

And such blemishes is something the New Zealand can ill-afford. However, in this case they were lucky enough.

For in the next over Bennett had Haddin caught by Franklin.

Haddin made 55, his 50-ball knock inclusive of eight hits to the fence.

Watson was cleaned up three balls later. His 61-ball 62 included six boundaries and a six.
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15:06  
Scorecard:

Shane Watson soon reached his 21st ODI fifty.

He reached it in style, with three boundaries in a Vettori over.

It was his third half-century in the World Cup.

14:45  
Scorecard:

Brad Haddin has registered his 12th ODI fifty as Australia remain on course for a comprehensive win.

Haddin's landmark has come in quick time, 39 balls to be precise, and it is inclusive of eight hits to the fence.

Meanwhile, Watson has opted to change his bat. The first shot from the new bat has gone to the deep point boundary.

And he has followed it up with a six. What does he have in mind?


14:34  
Scorecard:

Haddin's showing no signs of slowing down.

The stumper has smashed a couple of boundaries in Southee's fifth over and McCullum's ploy to stand upto the stumps - the Kiwi stumper asked for the helmet ahead of the ninth over - to stop the latter's movement has boomeranged.

This opening wicket partnership for Australia has doused any hopes that New Zealand might have had of an improbable result.

The Australian aggression has been such that their opponents have not taken the bowling powerplay after the 10th over, as is the norm.
14:21  
Scorecard:

Apologies, it was Watson who survived the leg before appeal, not Haddin.

Hamish Bennett is introduced into the attack in the sixth over, replacing Vettori.

It is imperative to mention here that Bennett's four-wicket haul broke the backbone of the Kenyan batting.

Australia has crossed the 50-run mark in quick time (less than eight overs).
14:06  
Scorecard:

Brad Haddin seems to be in a hurry.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has made an aggressive start and raced to 22 in quick time.

He has been particularly severe on Tim Southee, hitting the young bowler for three boundaries in his first three overs.

He also helped himself to a sweetly-timed boundary over mid-off off Vettori.

Southee looked to have him out leg before. The decision went for a review and the ruling is in Haddin's favour.
13:52  
Scorecard:

Chasing a modest target, Australia has got off to a good start.

Nine runs in the first over, with Brad Haddin finding his way to the extra cover boundary.

Daniel Vettori has brought himself into the attack in the second over.
13:40  
We're back.

The second innings is going to start soon.

And Australia look set to extend their unbeaten run in the World Cup to 30 matches.

To prevent that from happening, the New Zealand bowlers need to bowl an immaculate line and focus on taking wickets, rather than containing the batsmen.
13:15  
The Australian innings resumes in some time.

See you all after lunch.
13:04  
Scorecard:

Mitchell Johnson has Tim Southee (6) caught by Ponting to wrap up the New Zealand innings.

The Black Caps have scored 206 in 45.1 overs.

Southee's wicket is Johnson's fourth of the innings. Tait has three and Lee one.

The Australian pace battery has vindicated their captain's decision.

The defending champions now need just 207 runs to register their 30th straight win in the World Cup.

13:00  
Scorecard:

A reverse sweep from Vettori, off Smith, finds its way to the fence.

There is a roar from the crowd.

There is considerable support for New Zealand out here in Nagpur.

Vettori follows it up with a second successive boundary.

Batting powerplay has been taken in the 44th over.

And Vettori makes it count, scoring a boundary each of Johnson and Lee.

However, the latter has him caught behind to take his first wicket.
12:45  
Scorecard:

Nathan McCullum (52) and Daniel Vettori have put together a 54-run partnership for the eighth wicket to steady things for New Zealand.

It is palpably the highest partnership in this Black Caps innings.

Johnson returns to bowl in the 42nd over and makes an immediate impact.

McCullum is out leg before, the decision to go for the review doesn't help in this case.

It is the third wicket for Johnson.
12:35  
Scorecard:

Nathan McCullum registered an impressive half-century to take the New Zealand total to a semblance of respectability.

It is his third ODI fifty.

He and Vettori have put in a good little partnership for the eighth wicket.

And Krejza has been disappointing to say the least.

12:26  
Scorecard:

Smith and Tait have managed to keep things tight for Australia.

McCullum continues to battle for the Kiwi cause, with a little help from his captain Daniel Vettori.

After two overs from Tait, Ponting has brought Krejza back into the attack.

And the latter has made a loud leg before appeal in his very first ball.

The umpire says no. Ponting is not convinced. Decision goes for a review.

Vettori heaves a sigh of relief, the decison has gone in his favour.

McCullum eases the pressure with a splendid boundary through midwicket.
12:12  
Scorecard:

Nathan McCullum continues scoring at a steady pace. But New Zealand are running out of batting options.

Ponting, to his credit, has managed to rotate his bowlers very well.

12:07  
Scorecard:

Jamie How and Nathan McCullum have put together the highest partnership for New Zealand on the day.

The duo have so far put on 46 runs.

Two spinners are operating now. Steven Smith has been introduced into the attack in the 27th over.


12:01  
Jamie How (22) and Nathan McCullum have put together a 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket to

However, just when things looked good for the Black Caps, Smith struck getting How out leg before.

Not convinced, How asked for a review of the umpire's decision. However, the decision went against him.

Australia has struck back just when things seemed to settle down for New Zealand.
11:34  
Scorecard:

Brett Lee has replaced Shaun Tait.

Tait's five overs, three in the second spell, has ensured Australia three wickets.

Lee has been the best Australian bowler thus far. He is yet to be among the wickets though.

A brilliant attempt from Lee to run out How at the bowler's end. Lee runs to the batsman's end, picks up the ball and hit the stumps at the opposite end.

How has made his ground. But a great effort nonetheless.
11:19  
Scorecard:

Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson have crippled the New Zealand batting with frequent strikes and there is no way the Black Caps could contemplate a big score
now with most of their batsmen back in the pavilion.

Jason Krejza has been introduced into the attack in the 20th over. Let's see what he has in store for us.

Remember, this is the venue where he took 12 wickets on Test debut against India in 2008.
11:06  
Tait inflicted more misery on New Zealand when he cleaned up Ross Taylor in his fourth over, second in the second spell.

Taylor made only seven, taking 22 balls to score the same.
10:56  
Scott Styris (0) didn't survive long either.

Shaun Tait, brought back by Ponting in the 15th over to keep the pressure on New Zealand, had him caught behind.

It was a poor shot from Styris to put it bluntly.
10:49  
Scorecard:

Jesse Ryder frittered away a good start.

The southpaw looked convincing in his 31-ball 25, that included six boundaries, and dominated Johnson in particular.

However, the bowler had his revenge in the second ball after drinks, getting him caught behind.

Three balls later, James Franklin (0) is dismissed in a similar manner.

New Zealand in trouble now, having lost four frontline batsmen without much on the board.

The pensive look on coach John Wright's face is all the more palpable.
10:39  
Ryder hit a couple of more boundaries in Johnson's fifth over.

Ross Taylor joined the party with a couple of boundaries off Watson, both towards the fine leg..
10:38  
Scorecard:

Ryder hit a couple of more boundaries in Johnson's fifth over.

Ross Taylor joined the party with a boundary off Watson.




10:29  
Jesse Ryder though has eased the pressure a bit with successive boundaries of Johnson.

The first was a pull and the second past the fine leg fielder.


10:20  
Shane Watson has been introduced into the attack in the ninth over.

Australia has now used four bowlers inside the first 9 overs, Mitchell Johnson having replaced Tait in the sixth.

It is a good start for Watson, Guptill having dispatched him to the mid-on boundary is cleaned up three balls later.

Guptill scored 10 runs.
10:14  
Scorecard:

Guptill didn't score a run for 18 balls.

The 19th and 20th ball he faced, off Lee, went for a couple and a boundary respectively.

Ryder has made a confident start though.

10:00  
Brendon McCullum made 16, his 12-ball knock comprising three hits to the fence.

He was caught at third man by Jason Krejza, Tait being the beneficiary.

And apologies. It wasn't McCullum who demanded a review but the umpires.

The latter wanted to check if Tait had overstepped.

Meanwhile, Lee continues to impress. He has given away just one run in his three overs thus far.

It is nice to see a fast bowler spewing venom, a rarity these days.


09:53  
Scorecard:

Brett Lee is breathing fire early on.

He is giving Guptill, in particular, a tough time.

The Black Caps seem happy with Tait though, the latter being generous with his extra deliveries.

McCullum, already taking advantage of the wayward bowler, has however gifted away his wicket.

There's some confusion though - the batsman has asked for a referral.

And the decision has gone against him.


09:43  
New Zealand have made a sedate start.

Brett Lee's first has been a trademark over - with searing pace. It is a maiden.

The fact that the Black Caps haven't yet beaten their neighboursin seven matches on Indian soil is probably playing in their minds.

Two wide balls from Shaun Tait to begin with put the first runs on the NZ scoreboard.

Brendon McCullum adds to it with a boundary and a three.
09:21  
Scorecard:

The match is of added importance considering the winner will get the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, an annual fixture between the neighbours since 2004-05.

This is the first time that the bilateral series is being held outside either Australia or New Zealand.

There was some rain last night but nothing to worry about.

The match has not been affected in any way.

The Teams:

Australia:

Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, David Hussey, Cameron White, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, Jason Krejza.

New Zealand:

Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jamie How, James Franklin, Hamish Bennett, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee.
09:11  
Australia have opted to go with the same squad that helped them beat Zimbabwe convincingly in their opening encounter at Motera.

There is one change in the New Zealand squad though, with Jamie How coming in place of Jacob Oram.


09:03  
Ricky Ponting called correctly and had no hesitation in opting to bowl first in overcast conditions in the World Cup Group A game against New Zealand in Nagpur on Friday.

His Kiwi counterpart, Daniel Vettori, said he would have opted to bat in any case.

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