Tri-Series 2007 Game 8: Australia win by 8 runs in high scorer
I don't ask much as an Australian cricket fan. Just tight, competitive, see-sawing cricket that goes right to the wire (with Australia winning at the end, of course). And preferably 600+ runs scored in a day (or even 800+ on a good day). Finally we got to witness a high scoring, competitive game of one day cricket as Australia posted 343 which New Zealand just missed out on by 8 runs.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and the gusting Fremantle Doctor was outblown by the collective sigh of relief from the crowd, Cricket Australia and the WACA beer vendors. New Zealand continued their poor fielding from Game 5, dropping Matt Hayden on 0, 4 and 79. The errors proved to be crucial, perhaps the difference in the game, as Haydos took full opportunity to notch 117 off 111 balls. He just about booked his seat to the World Cup although one wonders if Hayden would've kept his spot if Vettori had held that initial catch. It's a funny game, cricket.
Power plays were introduced to bring unpredictability to what had become a stale 50 over format. Usually all they do is extend the initial 15 over field limitations to 20 overs. Occasionally, a fielding captain will get creative and delay the power plays until wickets fall. It backfired badly for Fleming today as Ponting (111 off 122 balls) and Hayden's partnership lasted 200 runs and his second power play came when the batsmen were well and truly set. What impressed me about Hayden's innings was his uncharacteristically unselfish batting. When New Zealand began the second power play, Hayden was in the 80's. Rather than nurdle towards a century, he went the tonk, striking 3 boundaries in one over to bring up 100. In the next over, he struck another 3 boundaries. It took Daniel Vettori (who else) to dismiss him, clean bowling him trying to smash during the power play. Vettori finished with 1 for 34 off 10 overs - impressive considering Australia's run rate approached 7 per over.
After some lackluster batting last week, Australia's innings today was executed as smoothly as one of Buchanan's power point presentations. The top order laid a strong foundation (at last) then big hitters Symonds, White and Hussey smashed 101 runs off the last 10 overs. I still marvel at the versatility of Hussey. Last week, he came in with Australia in dire trouble and batted like an opener, cautiously edging us home. Tonight, he went the tonk hitting 3 sixes and blasted 29 off 16 balls (pipping his ODI average over 80 again). Australia reached 343, the highest ever ODI total at the WACA.
New Zealand came out and had a good, hard crack at the imposing run chase. They struck boundaries and ran between the wickets smartly - it's hard to believe this was the same side that was rolled by Sri Lanka for 73 not long ago. They put pressure on the Australia fieldsmen who started dropping catches and misfielding. Fleming and Vincent started well, notching 46 runs for no loss in the first 9 overs. Vincent hit Glenn McGrath for six over long off which doesn't happen that often (his final figures were 1 for 72 off 10 overs). But inevitably when Pigeon gets tonked, he strikes back having Fleming caught behind in the next over.
Fleming's wicket didn't slow things down though. Fulton and Vincent took advantage of the power plays, putting on 60 runs off 54 balls when the partnership was broken by Johnson, having Fulton caught by a floating slip. Johnson's ability to induce edges from right handers will hold him in good stead when the selectors decide on a new Test bowler next summer. In came Ross Taylor who seems to be a hyperchondriac in the Shane Watson mould. He passed out against Sri Lanka, he's had cramps in earlier ODI matches and batted with a sore hand today. The boy has talent though, striking 41 off 49 until he was dismissed in the most unlikely manner - bowled around his legs by Michael Clarke. Is Pup the next Warnie? Nah...
Lou Vincent was unlucky to be given LBW sweeping when the ball hit him on the gloves, not even striking the pads. It was poor umpiring and unlucky for New Zealand as McMillan fell shortly afterwards, run out by a fantastic direct hit from Mitchell Johnson. At that point, Jacob Oram began an extraordinary innings. He hit Clarke for consecutive sixes followed by a four that brought back memories of Gilchrist in the 3rd Test (hitting the ball into the same WACA areas). Next over, he hit McGrath for a six so cleanly, the sound of ball on bat was like a rifle shot. He brought up his century in the final over off a mere 72 balls and while he faced a 10+ run rate from the moment he came in, his big hitting always had you feeling they could just make it. In the end, it wasn't to be - they needed 25 runs off the last over but valiantly managed 16 runs.
New Zealand's innings showed character and backbone - something England have utterly failed to display. Buck should be happy - his bowlers finally got the workout he'd been craving for. It reminded me of game 2 and game 3 in last year's Chappell Hadlee series. Each time, New Zealand were chasing impossibly large 300+ totals and whenever a wicket fell, you thought they were dead. But somehow, they kept putting partnerships together and scrapped their way towards the total. I can't imagine England are looking forward to playing them on Tuesday.
| Posted by JC on Mon 29 Jan |  13 comments |
Nothing I'd rather do on a boiling hot afternoon in Perth than watch a good cricket contest.
The Australian bastmen put on a real show in what were truly oppressive conditions. It was hot and humid enough sitting in my flat just a few kms from the WACA. Of course it was tough out there for the New Zealand fielders, too.
Set such a total, the current England team would have shattered from the psychological pressure before they'd faced a ball. The Kiwis just went out there and did what they had to do. Of course, any team should do the same, but England this tour have caused me to lower my expectations of the opposition. The Kiwis aren't afraid of Australia, and are willing to compete and be creative.
Posted by Lliam on 2007-01-29 04:01:39
The Australian bastmen put on a real show in what were truly oppressive conditions. It was hot and humid enough sitting in my flat just a few kms from the WACA. Of course it was tough out there for the New Zealand fielders, too.
Set such a total, the current England team would have shattered from the psychological pressure before they'd faced a ball. The Kiwis just went out there and did what they had to do. Of course, any team should do the same, but England this tour have caused me to lower my expectations of the opposition. The Kiwis aren't afraid of Australia, and are willing to compete and be creative.
Posted by Lliam on 2007-01-29 04:01:39
Plus the kiwis still have Styris and Bond to come back in which will further strengthen the squad (hasn't the addition to Oram made a huge difference, the guy is on fire). Meanwhile, England seem to lose a player every match - they'll run through the entire county system by the end of the series.
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 10:13:42
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 10:13:42
Nice write-up -- I wouldn't be that happy if I was Australia. White dropped a sitter too.
No mention of Astle's shock retirement from international cricket JC?
Posted by TA on 2007-01-29 11:20:24
No mention of Astle's shock retirement from international cricket JC?
Posted by TA on 2007-01-29 11:20:24
I had said so much already in last night's post, it was just too much to talk about Astle too. It was one of those shock mid-series retirements like Damien Martyn's. Like Damien Martyn, it seems he won't be missed at all either - judging by Lou Vincent's useful if somewhat unorthodox innings.
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 12:17:47
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 12:17:47
Nice comment about Hayden I thought. Vettori had Haydos' fate in his hands: instead of retirement from one day cricket he will now head to the WI with his spirits up.
Posted by TA on 2007-01-29 13:01:28
Posted by TA on 2007-01-29 13:01:28
Agreed, great game!! We want more of those this summer yes please.
SO glad we finally got to bat first and set a decent total.
I kinda wish Gilly had hit a few more, it was a brilliant catch that took him out though.
Posted by Timbo on 2007-01-29 14:13:11
SO glad we finally got to bat first and set a decent total.
I kinda wish Gilly had hit a few more, it was a brilliant catch that took him out though.
Posted by Timbo on 2007-01-29 14:13:11
Why couldn't they have dropped Gilly and hung onto that Hayden catch. And it always seems Gilly gets a rough umpire decision (or walks) and a lesser batsman gets a reprieve. It's just not fair!
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 14:22:52
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 14:22:52
Looks like getting a score over 300 is Australia's biggest weakness.
Posted by Tony.T on 2007-01-29 15:10:42
Posted by Tony.T on 2007-01-29 15:10:42
Ricky does have trouble defending large scores - NZ chased 300+ and SA chased 430 a few months later. Then last night. I think Glenn McGrath upon retirement should become a specialty 'at the death' bowling coach and teach them how to bowl 6 consecutive yorkers like he did last night. Oram said it was the best death bowling he'd ever faced.
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 15:50:35
Posted by JC on 2007-01-29 15:50:35
Agree about McGrath. I found it interesting when on the podium at the end Ponting said that he wasn't at all happy with the death bowling efforts of his bowlers. I can only assume he was referring to Johnson and Bracken, as McGrath put the ball in exactly the right place in all but a couple of deliveries.
Posted by Lliam on 2007-01-30 05:02:48
Posted by Lliam on 2007-01-30 05:02:48
Also I'm pleased that Hayden muddled himself into some sort of form. I'm pleased for Gilchrist's sake. And for my sake, too. And for the sake of everyone who loves to watch Gilchrist at his best. Because I think Hayden is a good foil for Gilchrist.
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