The Hindu : Sport : Aussies register emphatic win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Sport

Sport

Aussies register emphatic win

CHRISTCHURCH, FEB. 22. Matthew Hayden overcame crises of fitness and form to score 114 and led Australia to a 106-run win over New Zealand on Tuesday in the second limited-overs cricket international.

The left-handed opener, in doubt for the New Zealand tour only days ago because of a serious illness, blazed 12 boundaries and two sixes in an immaculate innings which helped Australia to 314 for six, after being put in.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist then became the first fielder in limited-overs history to take the first five catches in an international match as Australia reduced New Zealand to 72 for five before dismissing it for 208 in reply.

The win gave Australia a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and left New Zealand seriously demoralised ahead of the pivotal third match.

Vettori's record

Only all-rounder Daniel Vettori stood against the Australian onslaught, scoring 83 to equal the record for the highest score by a player batting at No. 8 in a one-day match.

Gilchrist claimed catches from the bowling of Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Andrew Symonds to leave New Zealand's innings in disarray before Vettori, in partnerships with Brendon McCullum and Jeff Wilson, gave the home team slight respectability.

Vettori's runs came from 77 balls and he hit 10 fours to equal the record of South African Lance Klusener before holing out to substitute fielder Simon Katich in the 41st over.

He put on 62 with McCullum (20) for the seventh wicket and the same with Wilson (22) for the eighth after New Zealand had slumped to 73 for six.

Gilchrist caught Stephen Fleming (1) off Lee in the first over, Nathan Astle (3) off McGrath, Mathew Sinclair (15) off Lee, Hamish Marshall (16) off McGrath and Craig McMillan (12) off Symonds to capture a small piece of one-day history.

Majestic innings

Earlier, Hayden, who made 71 in the series opener on Saturday, obliterated any remaining concerns about his fitness and form with his majestic innings.

He faced 123 deliveries, opening the innings and batting until the 42nd over, sharing partnerships of 99 for the second wicket with captain Ricky Ponting (53) and 133 for the third wicket with Damien Martyn (58).

Ponting and Martyn both were run outs as a mediocre New Zealand bowling attack struggled to gain wickets by other means.

Hayden to be monitored

Meanwhile, Hayden will be monitored by medics after he injured his right shoulder. Hayden suffered the injury after completing a diving catch to dismiss Chris Cairns off Symonds, a Cricket Australia release said here.

Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouri diagnosed the injury as a grade one strain to Hayden's right AC-Joint.

``Whilst there is some doubt over his chances to play in the third game, he certainly hasn't been ruled out at this stage. We will just have to monitor his progress over the next 48 hours before making any decisions about his availability,'' Kountouri added. — AP & UNI

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