New Zealand made to work hard for Australia win

Auckland, February 27

New Zealand pace bowler Trent Boult destroyed a powerful Australia batting lineup with an astonishing display of left-arm swing bowling to set up a one-wicket World Cup victory with more than 26 overs to spare on Saturday.

Boult captured five wickets for one run during his second spell to help reduce Australia to 151 all out from 32.2 overs before a noisy capacity crowd of 40,000 on a glorious summer's day at Eden Park.

Unlike in their previous Pool A match against England, however, the Black Caps were made to work mighty hard for their victory by Australia's bowlers after skipper Brendon McCullum had started the chase with a quickfire 50.

Left-armer Mitchell Starc led the way with six for 28 and struck terror into the hearts of the New Zealanders with back-to-back wickets in the penultimate over.

It was therefore more with relief than triumph that the crowd celebrated the straight six with which Kane Williamson (45) took his side to 152 for nine and secured the victory.

Boult was named man of the match for after finishing his 10 overs with 5-27, his first five-wicket haul in a one-day international.

There was no hint of what was to follow when Tim Southee conceded 15 runs off the first over of the day after Michael Clarke, returning from injury, had won the toss and opted to bat.

David Warner slashed a six off Southee's second over the short third man boundary and Aaron Finch struck the pace bowler over mid-on into the stands off the third.

With his next ball Southee knocked Finch's off stump out of the ground after he had scored 14.

Warner and Shane Watson took the score to 80 when Brendon McCullum introduced Daniel Vettori into the attack.

Bowling with his accustomed flight and guile, the left-arm spinner put a brake on the scoring and the frustrated Watson (23) perished when he pulled a short delivery straight to Southee at mid-wicket.

Southee switched ends and was rewarded with the wicket of Warner lbw for 34 to a full delivery that thudded on to his pads.

Wickets began to tumble in quick succession with Steve Smith (4) falling caught behind by Luke Ronchi off Vettori from a thick inside edge, while Glenn Maxwell (1) and Mitchell Marsh (0) both dragged deliveries from Boult on to their stumps.

Clarke (12) and Michell Johnson (1) fell to simple catches by Kane Wiliamson off Boult who then bowled Mitchell Starc for a duck.

Brad Haddin took a four and a six off Vettori's final over and showed the pitch had not suddenly become a minefield by reaching the top score of 43.

The experienced wicketkeeper hit four boundaries and two sixes before he sliced Corey Anderson's second ball to substitute fielder Tom Latham at short third man after hitting the first over the boundary.   — Reuters