Australia vs New Zealand – Shane Watson and Brad Haddin help Australia dismantle the Kiwis
The Aussies had no problems chasing a mediocre target of 207 runs set by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 batsmen in the first inning. The Australians achieved the target in only 34 overs with seven wickets in hand. The runs came thanks to a stunning opening partnership
between Shane Watson and Brad Haddin which took the game away from the Black Caps. The Kiwi cricketers looked off-color today maybe because their country faced a huge disaster in shape of the earthquake in Christchurch a few days back. This might have been
a reason behind their poor performance today.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and Haddin scored their runs at more than a run a ball from the beginning of the innings to devastate the Kiwi bowlers. Both of them played their shots at will and scored 133 runs for the first wicket partnership in only 18 overs before the two openers
were dismissed in the same over by Hamish Bennett. Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke and Cameron White combined together for the fourth wicket partnership of 40 runs which saw http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 home.
Watson remained the top scorer for the Kangaroos as he scored 62 runs off 61 balls with the help of 6 fours and a massive six. Wicketkeeper Haddin used up only 50 balls for his 55 runs and struck eight boundaries in his knock. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and White remained unbeaten
on 24 and 22 runs respectively. Ponting was the only batsman to have missed out as he was beautifully stumped by Brendon McCullum on the bowling of Tim Southee, who as it happens is more than a medium pacer.
Kiwi bowling lacked the fire-power on the flat tracks of Nagpur and failed to make any kind of an impression on the Australian batsmen. Bennet took a couple wickets but not before giving away 63 runs in his seven overs. Southee picked up the only other wicket
to have fallen in the Australian innings.
Mitchell Johnson was named as the Player of the Match for his outstanding spell which turned out to be a match-winning one. Johnson has had an inconsistent last 12 months in international cricket but his return to form is a great sign for the Aussies as
he is a genuine match-winner, which he spectacularly proved today.
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