Australia powers to comfortable win over NZ

By Vic Mills

MELBOURNE (JP): In the final limited-overs game before the resumption of Test cricket, Australia eased to a comfortable six wicket win over New Zealand under the lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

Electing to bat on winning the toss, New Zealand never came to terms with the lively pitch and lost wickets steadily throughout the 50 overs.

Matthew Horne (3) was the first to fall as he edged a regulation outswinger from Adam Dale to 'keeper Adam Gilchrist. When Chris Cairns (0) was beaten and bowled off stump by a leg cutter from South Australian debutant, Paul Wilson, New Zealand were two for 9 in the 3rd over.

Captain, Stephen Fleming (6), was given little time to reflect on his decision to bat as he played around a delivery from Wilson and succeeded only to pushing a catch to Michael Bevan at square leg.

Undaunted by the early flurry of wickets, opener Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan set about putting the innings back on course. They added a patient 27 before the middle order fell apart in dramatic style with three wickets in successive balls.

Deceived in the flight by Shane Warne, McMillan's (9) attempted sweep was edged to Ian Harvey at first slip. To the first ball of Dale's next over, Astle straight drove a delivery that deflected off the bowler's hand onto the stumps with the unfortunate Roger Twose (0) run out without facing a ball.

Throwing caution to the wind, Astle (20) drove airily at the next delivery and was easily caught by Gilchrist to leave New Zealand deep in trouble at 45-6 in the 14th over.

With the temperament and technique to bat higher in the order, Chris Harris began the task of rebuilding the innings. Adam Parore (5) partnered him for a while until he too drove loosely to give Wilson his third wicket and Gilchrist a third catch.

When Michael Bevan claimed the wickets of Daniel Vettori (14) and Gavin Larsen (0) New Zealand were down and all but out at 108-9.

The resolute Harris (62) would not be denied, however, as he batted the innings into partial respectability before Shayne O'Connor (8) was run out in the last over to leave New Zealand 141 all out.

Wilson with 3-39 proved the pick of the bowlers, ably supported by Dale 2-22, Bevan 2-27 and Warne 1-25.

The Australian run chase began in precarious fashion with Cairns using the bounce to remove Michael DiVenuto (7) in his third over and the Waugh twins Mark (9) and Steve (0) caught behind by Parore in his fourth to leave the score an unflattering 22-3 in the eighth over.

New batsmen, Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan, immediately regained the initiative by taking 27 off the next three overs with a combination of crisp stroke play and intelligent running.

The young Australians added 95 for the fourth wicket before Bevan (44), man of the match for his all-round contribution, fell to Cairns. Victory came shortly after as the fleet-footed Ponting (60) saw Australia home in the 39th over.

After six games in the Carlton & United series, South Africa has 6 points, Australia 4 and New Zealand 2. The competition resumes again in mid-January after the Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney.