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Johnson, Harris help Australia win Auckland ODI

March 06, 2010 15:00 IST

Scorecard:

Australia registered a tense 12-run win over New Zealand in the second one-day international at Auckland.

Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson took seven wickets between them to bowl Australia to a tense victory.

Chasing a revised target of 266 from 45 overs in a rain-interrupted match, Australia bowled New Zealand out for 253 in 43.2 overs after last-wicket pair of Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee added 14 runs.

There were some very nervous moments for Australia as they let New Zealand recover from 131 for 6 to almost reach their goal of 266.

The run chase came down to 13 required from 11 balls when Vettori walked across his stumps and attempted a shot he had used to great effect throughout his innings. However, this time when he tried to flick Harris behind square leg his stumps were rattled.

Johnson took 4-51 from nine overs and Harris grabbed 3-34 from 8.2 overs as Australia leveled the five-game series at one-all, FOX Sports reports.

"I'm proud of the way the guys hung in there tonight. The game could have gone either way right towards the end. Our bowlers stuck to their guns stuck to their guns pretty well today," captain Ricky Ponting said.

Scott Styris (46) continued his personal battle with Johnson, who was so fired-up he bowled a first-ball bouncer to Styris that went over wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's head for five wides in the 11th over.

Mike Hussey was the best of the Australia batsmen for the second successive match, hitting 56 in a total of 7-273. Hussey fell in the 46th over.

Hussey shared a 101-run stand with Cameron White (54) after Australia had slumped to 4-116 in the 24th over.

The third game is in Hamilton on Tuesday.

Source: ANI