The Black Caps have put themselves in an almost unassailable position in the VB one-day international tri-series in Australia, with their victory over the host country at the Adelaide Oval last evening.
New Zealand's margin of victory in this, the eighth match of the VB international one-day series this summer, was
a comfortable 77 runs.
After New Zealand amassed a total of 242-5 in their fifty overs earlier yesterday, the Australians were dismissed for 165.
The host country were behind the 8-ball right from the start of their run chase.
Mark Waugh had another dismally brief appearance in this series. His duck was closely followed by Ricky Ponting's.
At 8-2, the writing was on the wall early for Steve Waugh's team.
In the end, they never even got close.
Their target soon became not the 243 required for victory, but the 193 (ie, within 50 runs of New Zealand's score) which would deny the Black Caps a bonus point.
In the finish, even that proved beyond them, and the Australians, who seemed to be emerging from their slump in this VB series over the past week, were left ruing what might have been.
New Zealand outplayed them in every department. Stephen Fleming's captaincy in the field shone out once again, with clever field settings for each individual batsman demonstrating the depth of homework the kiwi management team have done on their opposition.
Shane Bond was once again the pick of the bowlers. He returned final figures of 5 for 25 off 9.2 overs.
The Black Caps' batting effort in the afternoon was once again a well-planned and executed innings.
Nathan Astle top-scored for the kiwis with 95, scored from 135 deliveries. He was strong early, but tired in the latter stages of his innings and was eventually clean bowled by a reverse-swinging ball from Glenn McGrath.
It was a sunny, hot day in Adelaide and the heat sapped Astle's energy as his time at the crease went on.
Lou Vincent was another major contributor, with 55 runs.
Chris Cairns scored freely at the end, getting 39 runs from just 23 deliveries, including three sixes.
The day started disastrously for the Black Caps, when new opener Brendan McCullum was caught behind off just the third ball of the innings.
Astle and Vincent then added 128 runs for the second wicket.
The final total of 242-5 turned out to be more than enough.
New Zealand now play South Africa on the same ground today.
Points Table – VB Series (matches played in brackets):
New Zealand 17 (5)
Australia 9 (6)
South Africa 8 (5)
Cricket: Black Caps lord it over Australia once again
The Black Caps have put themselves in an almost unassailable position in the VB one-day international tri-series in Australia, with their victory over the host country at the Adelaide Oval last evening.
New Zealand's margin of victory in this, the eighth match of the VB international one-day series this summer, was
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