02 February, 2009

New Zealand has produced a dramatic two-wicket victory over Australia off the final ball in the first Commonwealth Bank Series match at the WACA.

A brilliant performance by the Black Caps in the field saw the home side bowled out for 181 but New Zealand made hard work of overtaking the meagre total.

Needing five off Nathan Bracken's last over to win the match, New Zealand lost Tim Southee (three) with the second ball, a slower delivery from the New South Welshmen who claimed 3-35 from his 10 overs.

But skipper Daniel Vettori (seven not out) held his nerve to slip the final delivery of the innings through a packed infield, seeing New Zealand finish with 8-182 as Australia slumped to its fourth consecutive one-day international loss.

To make matters worse for the hosts, opener Shaun Marsh appeared to badly injure his left hamstring chasing a ball in the outfield, the Perth local slipping to the ground in agony.

Despite the loss of Marsh, Australia's attack continued to press and the combined effort of Bracken, Shaun Tait (2-40) and Michael Clarke (1-18 from six overs) reduced the Black Caps to 5-105 in the 38th over.

But a match-winning half-century from Ross Taylor (64) in a 62-run stand with Kyle Mills (26) steadied the ship and all-but saw the Black Caps home before Mills was bowled by Tait in the 47th over.

While his team-mates didn't have much luck, Taylor enjoyed a life on 15, dropped by Mitchell Johnson in the 17th over off James Hopes (1-23) bowling, the ball slipping through Johnson's hands as he stared into the setting sun.

As Tait and Bracken claimed five wickets between them, they were ably supported by Hopes, Clarke and Johnson (1-34), who took one of the catches of the summer to dismiss Peter Fulton caught and bowled in the 14th over for seven.

Mills, though, walked away with the Man of the Match award, having taken 4-35 for New Zealand as Australia struggled to impose itself on the contest with the bat.

The bowler opened his account early on, claiming the wicket of Marsh (15) in the seventh over and David Warner (seven) 11 deliveries later. Both openers were dismissed in identical circumstances, sharply caught at short cover by the towering Fulton as they attempted to drive on the rise.

Mills also claimed Haddin's (31) wicket just as he and Australian top scorer Michael Hussey (49) had compiled a 61-run stand that looked set to blossom into a solid partnership for the hosts.

Michael Hussey led the resistance with the bat as his team-mates departed around him.


After Marsh and Warner fell, Australia lost skipper Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke to unnecessary run-outs, both players falling victim to exceptional throws by Broom and Martin Guptill in the outfield.

Johnson (20) and the unbeaten Tait (nine) produced a late flurry at the end of Australia's innings after Bracken lasted four balls for his duck but their efforts weren't enough to give Australia a confidence-restoring win.