Chappel-Hadlee ODI2: Australia In Disarray Against NZ

New Zealand could not have made it more comprehensive than the victory at the MCG against their Trans Tasmanian rivals, beating them more mentally than by the six wickets.
It may have appeared a close game but New Zealand had the chase in their control all along. It did take a tremendous amount of presence of mind from South African native Grant Elliot and Neil Broom in a fashioned half century partnership that got New Zealand across the finish line with an over a ball to spare.
Australia did not really put forth a challenging target, this despite stand in skipper Michael Clarke scoring a defiant ninety-eight with Michael Hussey who made seventy-five himself in a partnership that consolidated after Australia were reduced to three down for sixty-three. 222 was always going to be tough to defend but New Zealand showed some nerves in the first game in the chase which would have encouraged the cocky talking Clarke.
For New Zealand, it was opener cum wicket keeper Brendon McCullum and established middle order man, Ross Taylor, who both ensured New Zealand remained on target even when equations got too close for comfort and New Zealand still had a relatively inexperienced batting line up to follow. Both men missed their half centuries and with Taylor’s dismissal with 176 on board, Australia looked to rein in the relative newcomers.
But Elliot and Broom were not be denied. Steady minds and some scintillating shots that put New Zealand in command when the runs per ball equation still slightly favoured New Zealand while Australia tried to close in, meant that the unlikely pairing of Elliot and Broom sealed a rather impressive victory for the visitors.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori admitted that while New Zealand always had plans, that this was perhaps the first time that the New Zealand team actually executed it as well as they did. Now New Zealand will take a great deal from the skipper’s comments and also, from this early wins in the series to try and close Australia out in a couple of days time for the Chappell Hadlee trophy.

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