14 February, 2009

Australia has retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after a stop-start game five was finally abandoned due to heavy rain with the game delicately poised at the Gabba.

Chasing a revised total of 156 from 20 overs in the series decider after Brad Haddin and Callum Ferguson struck unbeaten half-centuries to propel the hosts to 4-168 off 22 overs, the Black Caps progressed to 6-123 through 14 overs before rain intervened.

The Kiwis, who still had their two-over batting power-play up their sleeves, needed a further 33 runs off 36 deliveries to claim a rare series win on home soil.

Opener Martin Guptill was the star with the bat smashing an unbeaten 64 from 34 balls to put the Kiwis within sight of a famous victory.

Debutant Brendon Diamanti provided solid support with a timely 26 off 22 as the pair put on an unbeaten 50-run stand.

The series finished all tied up at two apiece after the Australians clawed their way back from a 2-0 deficit to set up the decider.

New Zealand made the worst possible start to their pursuit when Ben Hilfenhaus (1-28) bowled Brendon McCullum for two with the second ball of the innings.

But Guptill made his intentions clear depositing Nathan Bracken (2-33) over the mid-wicket fence before Peter Fulton chimed in with consecutive boundaries.

The onslaught continued when Hilfenhaus conceded 21 runs from his second over but Fulton's luck ran out on 22 when he skied Bracken to Callum Ferguson.

Guptill welcomed Mitchell Johnson (1-28) into the attack with a massive six behind square but Johnson soon had reason to smile when he removed the dangerous Ross Taylor for four.

The lanky opener continued to plunder the attack but the wickets kept falling as Grant Elliott (0), Neil Broom (0) and Kyle Mills (1) all went cheaply.

Guptill continued to score freely and finally found support in Diamanti as the Kiwis took the ascendancy before the weather spoiled their party.


Earlier Haddin continued his fine series blasting an unbeaten 88 off 65 deliveries to guide the hosts to a respectable total.

The in-form gloveman appeared in total control throughout striking five boundaries and three sixes, but his patience under pressure defined his knock.

Haddin didn't do it all on his own, however, with Ferguson continuing the dream start to his international career with a brilliant 55 not out off 35 balls.

Having joined Haddin at the crease at 4-70, the pair added an unbeaten 98-run-stand to steal the upper hand at the midway point.

James Hopes (5) got the Australian innings going with a boundary in the second over but his aggression soon cost him his wicket.

Mills (2-22) kept the pressure on the home side when he removed captain Ricky Ponting (2) caught behind with a well directed out swinger, and when game-four hero David Hussey fell for six the hosts were in early trouble.

Diamanti (0-25) was unlucky not to remove Haddin with his first ODI delivery but the in-form right hander put things right with a boundary from the next delivery.

Haddin continued to plunder the new-comer but Vettori (1-24) halted Australia's momentum when Hussey (9) hit a long-hop straight to Diamanti at mid wicket.

Ferguson was lucky not to depart for two when Grant Elliott failed to throw down the stumps in his follow through, and the South Australian made the visitors pay hitting Tim Southee (0-49) for three-consecutive boundaries in the first over of the batting power-play before Haddin took 14 runs off the final over.