Breaking/Brief news
April 21, 2007
All-conquering Aussies reduce Kiwis to minnows
Australia 348 New Zealand 133
At least the West Indies didn't lose to Australia this bad. Not even Scotland lost to them this bad.
Australia firmly stamped their authority on the tournament and especially on the Kiwis today. In a ruthlessly efficient performance the Australians blasted the Kiwis for a 215 run defeat. This was the sixth victory of over 200 runs at this tournament, the other 5 by minnows Scotland, Holland and Bermuda. On this day, New Zealand firmly belonged in that company as they were outclassed on every level. It must have been sweet revenge for the Aussies, who suffered a rare sweep just 2 months ago against these same Kiwis.
After the early loss of Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden blasted the New Zealand attack around the park in Grenada. The Kiwis were noticeably missing their best bowler in Shane Bond, said to be ill, and opening bowlers Michael Mason and James Franklin had no answer for Ponting and Hayden as they both went at 9+ runs per over. After Hayden was third out for 103 off 100 balls in the 33rd over, New Zealand gained a measure of control over the innings as the slow bowling of Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel and Scott Styris limited the run feast. It was then that Shane Watson, in his first match back from injury clobbered the Kiwis for 50 off 28 balls taking Australia's total to 348/6.
New Zealand got off to a promising reply at 21 in the 4th over, but captain Stephen Fleming was given out caught behind off Tait when the ball clearly brushed his arm and missed the bat. From there, the Kiwis lost wickets regularly as only Peter Fulton (62) offered any resistance to Tait, McGrath and Hogg. When Fulton was last out, bowled behind his legs by Hogg, the Kiwis had succomed to their largest ever ODI defeat.
Australia have now won 21 straight World Cup matches. They haven't had much resistance at this World Cup, with only England briefly threatening to put up a challenging score against them. I wonder what would happen if a team, like South Africa, batted first and put over 300 on the board? What would happen then if a team refused to fold meekly before the Aussies?
(Cross-Posted from Rain, No Play)
Labels: 2007 world cup, australia, new zealand, world cup
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