SYDNEY: I say this through gritted teeth, but it is difficult not to admire the Australians for all their boastful ways. They are good cricketers who can also put up a fight and now they are so full of their own right to be on top of the world it hurts. Besides the luck is running their way.

Just to prove Australia's invincibility it nervously snatched the most exciting win of its tri-series over New Zealand by two wickets even though it lost three wickets for 17 in reply to 218 and might have been six down for not many more. It was not a glamorous win but it showed the gods are on its side.

Sloppy fielding

The New Zealanders threw victory away with some of the sloppiest fielding you will ever see. James Franklin dropped Michael Clarke in the deep, Daniel Vettori lost control of the ball as he attempted to run out Michael Hussey and Brendon McCullum was standing up to Franklin and unable to catch an inside edge from Clarke.

At one time it looked as if the Australians might get what they deserved. On Friday night, disastrously for England, Hussey was given not out by the Australian umpire Darrell Harper when he was clearly caught behind on 19 and made 46 that won the game. Hussey has spent the weekend telling everyone he does not walk as if it were the only honourable action to take.

In this game Craig McMillan was just as plainly caught by Adam Gilchrist when New Zealand was in trouble and he was only one. He went on to bludgeon 89 off 87 balls, which enabled it to score 218 and lifted the spirits of anyone who hopes that there is a natural sporting justice still.

New Zealand batted — the right choice in 38 degrees — on a pitch with a shallow green channel running towards the off stump. It may have been the channel that encouraged Brett Lee to bowl above 150 kph and had Nathan Astle and Hamish Marshall caught behind. It was one of the best spells of his career.

Wild shots

Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor played wild shots, leaving New Zealand 53 for four. Until McMillan began his brave innings it looked as if New Zealand might not reach 150. McMillan grew bolder as his score increased, hit two lofted drives into the crowd and, even when he was caught 11 short of his century, stood fast hoping that the ball had been above waist high.

After seven overs Australia had lost Gilchrist caught slashing at a wide ball, Hayden, driving to short extra cover and Ponting lbw for 17, which, considering that Shane Bond, New Zealand's equivalent of Lee, was missing from the side with a back trouble, was astonishing.

Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds followed their instincts and attacked but when Clarke mishit a pull shot off Gillespie, Franklin dropped it. Daniel Vettori bowled Symonds with a slower ball but by the 24th over Clarke and Hussey had brought up 100.

Clarke was out for 75 with 52 needed, four wickets fell for 50 but Australia won with eight balls remaining. Once again Hussey the finisher proved he is the right successor to Michael Bevan with an unbeaten 65, which he completed with a six.

The Aussies are in the final already even though seven preliminary matches have to be played.

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