Kiwis flatten OZ, win series

Hamilton, February 5

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Ross Taylor equalled Nathan Astle’s record for the most ODI hundreds for New Zealand and Trent Boult returned career best figures of 6/33 as they regained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with a 24-run win over Australia in the third match on Sunday.

Australia only needed to square the series to retain the trophy but were dismissed for 257 on the last ball of the 47th over as they chased New Zealand’s 281/9 at Seddon Park.

The home side’s innings had been built on Taylor’s 16th ODI century with Dean Brownlie adding his maiden half-century in his first ODI innings in more than two years. Stand-in captain Aaron Finch (56) and Travis Head (53) had put Australia on track for a win but the visitors lost wickets in a heap before Boult returned to run through the tail.

The hosts won the first game at Eden Park by six runs but the second in Napier on Thursday was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield. Marcus Stoinis, whose 146 not out in the first rubber almost clinched victory for the Aussies, looked like being the key wicket again on Sunday when he was well-set on 42 with his side 198/6 in the 40th over.

The 27-year-old, however, holed out to Jimmy Neesham at long-on off spinner Mitchell Santner. Pat Cummins (27) and Mitchell Starc (29 not out) looked to do the job for the visitors with a 51-run stand in five overs before Boult scalped three wickets.

Earlier, Taylor’s 107 and Brownlie’s 63 got New Zealand off to a good start. The latter’s dismissal sparked a middle order collapse. The hosts at one stage were looking down the barrel at 209/6 in the 41st over. Santner then provided a valuable 38 runs, including two fours and a six, to end the 50th over, which started with Starc taking two wickets from the first two balls.  — IANS

Brief scores: New Zealand: 281/9 in 50 overs (Taylor 107, Brownlie 63, Faulkner 3/59, Starc 3/63); Australia: 257 all out in 47 overs (Finch 56, Head 53, Boult 6/33).