Never in Australia’s history have they been dismissed in an ODI by a team using only three bowlers. It nearly happened at Eden Park, where – backed by a relentlessly attacking captain and an intensely supportive, partisan crowd – Daniel Vettori, Trent Boult and Tim Southee had Australia at 128 for 9 in 27 overs before Brendon McCullum turned to a fourth bowler. If New Zealand chase 152 to win their fourth consecutive group game, and secure their quarter-final in Wellington, the 2015 World Cup will have a new favourite.
After New Zealand had routed England for 123 in 33.2 overs in Wellington with a breathtaking aggressive performance, it remained to be seen what the World Cup’s most in-form side could do against the pre-tournament favourites. Southee brought aggression – if sometimes uncontrolled – at the top, Daniel Vettori provided calm when New Zealand could have unraveled, and Trent Boult smashed through the middle and lower order. Australia were shot out in 32.2 overs and New Zealand were going to bat before the scheduled dinner break.
The week leading up to this hugely anticipated contest between the co-hosts had drummed up excitement levels in Auckland. Most of the build-up had centered around the Australian team slightly playing down New Zealand’s demolition of England, and the fans that packed Eden Park on a radiant day were bristling from the onset. As loudly as they cheered on New Zealand at every chance, they booed Australia. And not just David Warner, who sometimes asks for it, but even Michael Clarke, who had spoken so genially about McCullum’s team and country on the eve of the game. They booed incoming batsmen, and send-offs were severe. It was stark contrast to how their team plays its cricket. If New Zealand make it to the MCG on
March 29, they should expect retribution.
The match had a high-octane start. Both teams looked nervous. Southee’s first ball was wide outside off stump and yet Aaron Finch chased after it wildly. Southee was then leg-glanced for four and he ended the opening over with a bouncer that sailed over wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi for four byes. Warner top-edged a pull off Boult over third man for six, and Finch deposited Southee into the stands beyond long-on. Though Southee bowled Finch next ball, Australia, in their aggressive gambit to control the game, had racked up 47 in 4.3 overs.
To bring calm, McCullum turned to Vettori in the seventh over and he was the iceman to their new-ball mavericks. Bowling with a slip and leg slip inside the fielding restrictions, Vettori varied pace and flight to restrain Australia. Before this game he had conceded only two boundaries in 25.2 overs in this World Cup. Despite the tiny dimensions of Eden Park, Vettori got hit for only two more during a spell of 10-0-41-2.
Australia’s second-wicket partnership had just reached 50, but with momentum flagging Shane Watson heaved Vettori towards one of Eden Park’s longer boundaries to be caught by Southee at deep square leg off the last ball of the 13th over. McCullum brought back Southee from a different end and he immediately pinned Warner lbw. The crowed booed when Warner reviewed the decision and they went ballistic when it was unsuccessful. Two wickets of successive balls that left Australia 80 for 3 was New Zealand’s opening, and they broke the door down.
Vettori had Australia’s future captain Steven Smith caught behind, and the returning current captain Michael Clarke was held by Kane Williamson at short cover off Boult. It was reward for McCullum who had placed two slips and two catchers at cover for Clarke as soon as he came to bat.
It was just before Clarke’s dismissal, however, that Boult had ripped out the middle order. Returning for his second spell in the 18th over, he had both Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh playing on, leaving Australia 97 for 6. Clarke’s dismissal reduced them to 104 for 7 in the 20th over. Boult ran through his left-arm counterparts Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in a hurry, and Australia got as far as 151 only because Pat Cummins hung around with Brad Haddin for a last-wicket stand of 45.
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