For a team which had been graded invincible for a considerable long span of time, it was devastating to went down continuously for five times in the ODIs and Cricket360 was expecting a come back, though struggled it would definitely, in the 3rd match of the Chappell-Hadlee Series. Ultimately, Aussies could come out of the dark patch of humiliating defeats and they kept the 5 ODI Series alive ahead by changing the equation somewhat hopeful at 2-1. Haddin who could make some sparks in the recent IPL auction was conferred with the role of opener and he rose to the need of the time and managed to score his first ODI century (109) studded with 8 boundaries and 3 sixes. His opening partnership along with Carke could last till they score 135 runs and the latter then fell before Elliot for 64 and the hosts were looking pretty sure to make a big total then.

But Australia once again faced with the devil of middle order collapse as they kept on losing Ponting, David Hussy and White without adding much to the total cricket score and in between Haddin too got run out. Further it was Mike Hussey and Ferguson who handled the rescue act well as they could add a valuable 62 runs for the sixth wicket. Hussey was instrumental and could stroke the ball well to score a fast track 51 off just 38 balls while his companion too willowed a sporty 28 off 23 balls. Vettori got rid of that partnership by sending Ferguson back and Hussey too had to depart at a score of 297 with 5 balls left to the end of their innings. However Aussies managed to make the score looking psychologically advantageous at 301/9 after the allotted overs. O’Brien topped the bowling side with 3 wickets while Elliot and Mills shared two each.

The chase to scalp a series win by the Kiwis was not so smooth. The visiting side lost Guptill and Taylor even before they could settle with the live score offering a sympathetic figure of 2/16 within the 6th over. To add to their grieve they had an injured McCulum who had a miserable time keeping a Mills delivery earlier in the first half of the match. Elliot and Fulton didn’t allow the hosts to grasp the match very early itself and they kept on scoring cautiously and managed an 80 runs stand for the third wicket. Even after Fulton lost concentration before a Hopes delivery and went back for 40, Elliot did not lose his nerves and found another partner in Broom in developing another half century partnership as thee duo added 53 runs for the 4th wicket. Elliot was inching towards his career maiden ODI ton with great caution and at the same time he never allowed the required run rate to soar high to an impossible level.

Once Broom departed the scenario went out of control of the New Zealand and Mills, Vettori and Southee failed to score as required and the score was trembling at 7/183 after 36 overs. Recalling the brave attempt by Smith to come forward to bat at 9 down to save a match in the recent RSA tour of Australia; McCullum came out there to bat brilliantly as the ninth man with the help of a pain killing injection. He has been suffering from a shoulder injury caused by a Mills delivery earlier in the match and that did not prevent the great bat to search for a series winning victory in the afternoon out there. It was amazing to see him propelling the ball several times to the fence on route to his 36 runs off just 27 balls.

The 69 runs stand between him and Elliot but failed to convert the result in favour of the Kiwis though it smelt of a miracle at several moments of their partnership. Elliot surrendered to Hopes 50 runs short of the target though he could score his career best 115 and the ray of hope for the visitors ended with the fall of McCullum when 40 more runs were needed to keep the Australian side at bay. New Zealand innings’ curtain were down with Patel watching a Bracken delivery grassing his stumps at a score of 269 serving the Aussies team the much needed solace win after a long streak humiliating losses.

Cricket360.com foresees some close fight in the last two matches of the ODI Series as the hosts are relieved with a comfortable performance from their bowling contingent after a long gap of bad patch and are eying to retain the 2nd ranking in ODI.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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