Australia on top as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 demolished by Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson at Nagpur
New Zealand had a terrible day with the bat in the ICC World Cup 2011 match against Australia, played at Nagpur in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. The Kiwis were bowled-out for just 206 runs in 45.1 overs.
Ricky Ponting won the toss for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and elected to field first considering the overnight rain at the venue. However, there wasn’t much assistance for the bowlers in the wicket. Fortunately for Australia, the Kiwi batsmen were unable to make the most of the good batting conditions and gave up their wickets without posing much resistance.
Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill started the innings for the black-caps, but failed to provide a solid platform to their team. McCullum gifted his wicket away after making 16 runs off 12 balls as he fished at a short and wide ball, which ended straight into the hands of the third man.
Guptill was undone by uneven bounce, bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 in the 9th over after scoring just 10 runs. The fall of his wicket marked a chaotic collapse of the Kiwis.
Jesse Ryder was joined by Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 in the middle, but the pair failed to make an impression. Ryder scored 25 runs before edging a ball from Mitchell Johnson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Scott Styris and James Franklin didn’t trouble the scorers and followed in quick succession, getting out for ducks. Taylor followed soon after and was cleaned-up by Shaun Tait after just managing 7 runs from 22 balls in the 16th over.
Jamie How and Nathan McCullum constructed a 48-run partnership for the 7th wicket to give some hope to their team. How failed to capitalise on a promising start, getting out after adding 22 runs off 47 balls to the total.
Captain of the Kiwi team Daniel Vettori supported McCullum and the pair amassed a 54-run stand for their team. McCullum reached his third half-century in four innings and top scored the innings with 52 runs off 76 balls.
Vettori played well for his 44 off 43 balls, but failed to bat out the complete overs for his team. New Zealand were all-out in the 46th over.
Mitchell Johnson was superb with the ball as he grabbed 4 wickets in the match. He got good support from Tait, who ended-up with 3 wickets. Australia will be eying an easy victory as the conditions are conducive for batting.
New Zealand will be looking to expose Australia's weakness against spin bowling. Kiwi captain, Vettori will b expected to play a crucial part, if they are to stand a chance against defending an easy total.
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