Auckland, Feb 28 (IANS) In a cricket World Cup match between the co-hosts, New Zealand registered a thrilling one-wicket victory over Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in a Pool A encounter at the Eden Park here Saturday.
Pacer Trent Boult (5/27) helped New Zealand bowl Australia out for 151 after the latter opted to bat first.
In the New Zealand innings, skipper Brendon McCullum (24-ball 50) provided a sparkling start but left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (6/28) helped the Australians pull things back.
However, young batsman Kane Williamson (not out 45) and Corey Anderson (26) helped New Zealand cross the line with one wicket and 26.5 overs to spare.
With this win, New Zealand recorded their fourth straight win in the World Cup. They have won against Sri Lanka, Scotland and England in their previous matches.
Earlier, Australian skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and decided to bat. His decision proved to be correct till the initial few overs but after that they fell apart losing wickets at regular intervals.
Pacer Tim Southee broke Aaron Finch's (14) defence in the third over. David Warner (34) and under-firing Shane Watson (23) then forged a 50-run stand -- but veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori broke the partnership dismissing Watson with the score at 80/2 in 13 overs.
In the first ball of the next over, Southee then removed Warner who was looking settled. And after losing the third wicket, Australia failed to recover.
Vettori compounded their problem as he dismissed in-form Steven Smith (4) before Boult dealt a double-blow in the form of Glenn Maxwell (1) and Mitchell Marsh (0).
Skipper clark (12), playing his first match after recovering from an ankle injury, could not contribute much as he offered a catch to Williamson off Boult to leave the team reeling at 104/7.
Left-armer Boult removed Mitchell Johnson (1) and Starc (0) to take his first five-wicket haul in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. Brad Haddin (43) waged a lone battle for Australia but they were dismissed for 151 in 32.2 overs.
While defending the small target, Australian bowlers were belted all around the park by the 33-year-old McCullum. With the help of three sixes and seven fours, he raced to his 28th half-century.
Pat Cummins removed the McCullum threat with the batsman offering an easy catch to Starc at mid-off when New Zealand were 78/2 in 7.4 overs.
After dismissing opener Martin Guptill (11), Starc ran through the middle order. He scalped experienced Ross Taylor (1) and seasoned Grant Elliot (0) to leave the home-side reeling at 79/4 in 8.2 overs.
Young all-rounder Anderson joined Williamson in the middle and the duo stitched a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket before off-spinner Maxwell accounted for the former. Cummins, meanwhile, took the wicket of Vettori (2).
Still needing 21 runs, New Zealand batsmen fell to the pace and swing generated by Starc. Wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi (6), Adam Milne (0) and Southee (0) perished against Starc and the hosts tottered at 146/9.
However, the 24-year-old Williamson, playing in his 69th ODI, mixed caution with aggression to see the New Zealand home.
Brief scores: Australia 151 all out in 32.2 overs (Brad Haddin 43; Trent Boult 5/21, Daniel Vettori 2-41), New Zealand 152/9 in 23.1 overs (Brendon McCullum 50, Kane Williamson not out 45; Mitchell Starc 6/28, Pat Cummins 2/38). New Zealand win by one wicket.
Delhi: Less than 1000 new Corona cases surfaced in 24 hours, Kejriwal said - will slowly unlock
Chief Minister Kejriwal, who arrived at the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi to inaugurate the Government Drive-Through Vaccination Center starting today, has once again requested the Center that the
Pakistan: Finally Pakistan bowed before IMF for a loan, the bill passed to meet demands
To avoid bankruptcy, Pakistan was finally forced to bow down to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Today the National Assembly of Pakistan unanimously passed a money bill to meet the demands set
Britain took steps after Black Lives Matter: Children will read lessons related to the contribution of blacks in a British school, a debate broke out about it
The 'Black Lives Matter movement started in America about two years ago to end apartheid. Research revealed that the new generation is not even aware of the atrocities committed against blacks. So now
Alive is Afghanistan's Lady Governor Salima Mazari; In Taliban has not imprisoned, Reach America came out of the mouth of death
Governor Salima Mazari, the brave lady of Afghanistan, who took up arms to combat the Taliban, is still alive and has left Afghanistan. It is being told that she is currently living in an unknown
Consequences of blasphemy Murder: Kishan of Gujarat and Kanhaiya of Udaipur, name one - crime one, the pattern of murder and day also one...Tuesday!
One in Gujarat and the other in Udaipur. The meaning of the name of both is the same. One Kishan, the other Kanhaiya. Both made a joke. The first told Krishna of Hindus more than the Prophet of
PM Modi Greece Visit: The PM reached Greece after the BRICS summit, The Indian Prime Minister visits this country after 40 years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Greece on a one-day visit after the BRICS summit. Significantly, after almost 40 years, an Indian Prime Minister is visiting Greece. Indira Gandhi had gone to
Chanting Mahamrityunjay Mantra for Modi's long life: CM Shivraj reached Bhopal's cave temple, BJP state president worshiped Mahakal
BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh are chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra in temples to pray for the long life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a security lapse in Punjab. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
In one day more than 69 thousand infected were found and 62,858 people were cured, Maharashtra got maximum 14 thousand cases; 29.73 lakh patients in the country
The country reported 69,028 cases of infection with coronavirus on Friday. 62,858 people were recovered, while 953 people died. At the same time, Maharashtra had the highest number of 14,160 cases.
Suicide Bomber: Suicide terrorist of IS caught in Russia, there was a conspiracy to attack top BJP leader
The Russian Security Agency (FSB) has captured a suicide bomber of the terrorist organization IS (Islamic organization). He was on the verge of a suicide attack in India. FSB officials said that this
Will India be able to play the WTC final: 6 Tests left for Team India, and know 8 ways to reach the title match
After the defeat in the ODI series, Team India is going to play a two-Test series against Bangladesh today. Both these matches are very important for India to reach the final of the World Test
