3rd ODI - Auckland

Gee, what is going on with New Zealand cricket? That is not for me to answer, I just know they're better than they have been playing and their shellacking in Auckland at the hand's of Australia in the 3rd ODI suggests there's much improvement required for the Blackcaps to take anything more than pride from the remaining two ODI's.

Gee, what is going on with New Zealand cricket? That is not for me to answer, I just know they're better than they have been playing and their shellacking in Auckland at the hand's of Australia in the 3rd ODI suggests there's much improvement required for the Blackcaps to take anything more than pride from the remaining two ODI's.

Eden Park has been a rewarding ground for Australia in recent years, having only lost the dead rubber 6th game in 2000, so fronting to the 'Garden', as it's regarded, held great promise for another Australian win against NZ. And to make it nicer, the weather was a treat. It has rained once during this tour and thus far the need for wet weathers and fleeces has been restricted only to Minus 5 Ice Bar down the docks in Auckland.

TVNZ contacted me last week for their current affairs program Close Up, thus a reporter and cameraman knocked on my bedroom door at 11.30am to watch me pack the bag, and lunch and ready myself for the game, and the advantage of this is that Brian and I, and with Jennifer from California, didn't have to take the bus. We jumped into the jalopy and were whizzed in the 'flashest of flashes' to Eden Park, a marvellous way to start the day.

Seated in the South Stand, we had the early afternoon sun for a couple of hours but the shade set in as Australia set about setting the Blackcaps another unassailable total after wining yet another toss and batting first. Introducing Jennifer to cricket was one thing, but trying to explain why Darryl Tuffey 16balls in his first over, after saying that each bowler has only 6 was another element I never considered. In simple terms, 4wides and 4no-balls was why he had 16deliveries in that over, but I can't say why he was so fraught with stage fright. At one point Australia were scoring at 96runs per over. It would be nice, and rather entertaining, to keep that rate for 50overs if it weren't impossible, but we settled for 16 after the first over. (Below: The Garden of Eden was in full and in fine nick!)

I was hoping Gilly would produce his masterful clean stroke play so Jennifer could see one of the game's best in full flight, but it didn't happen, and with a 68run opening stand with Kato (replacing Haydos out with his shoulder injury after that magical catch in Christchurch), Gilly was out for a tepid 18, and not long later was showering with Ricky Ponting, run out, again, for 11, Australia 2/85. Marto walked a path behind Punter being trapped LBW for 3 off Vettori's first ball, Symonds slapped one to Michael Papps on 21, then Kato was somehow fired by Aleem Dar after a lovely 58, and the Kiwis were rightly beside themselves with Australia teetering at 5/128.

Again Australia should have been on toast, alas, for the Blackcaps and the fragile crowds keen on impersonal activities not conducive to the game, it was simply warm bread, and too soft to handle for NZ. Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey came together and played as if they'd been geniuses at this level for years, and in 21 overs more than doubled Australia's score without loss. Clarke, eventual man of the match, caressed 71, and Hussey carved 65 taking Australia to 5/264 and the Blackcaps were again against the wall, the selectors firing squad already assembled for the next match, and well before the run chase began.

New Zealand opened again with Fleming and Astle and without too much trouble Brett Lee had King Flem in the shower room for 1 in the 3rd, and then took out, literally, Michael Papps. With a couple of thunderbolts, Papps was sconed twice on the noggin, retired, and watched the rest of the match from hospital, summing up NZ's day and current the state of their game. Only one batting change from Christchurch, and he's KO'd for 3 in the fifth!

New Zealand strolled along as if a training session to the 15th over when Kasper had Astle walking home, with the score a paltry 45. NZ needed resistance and an increase to the slowing run rate if they were to remain close to Australia. McMillan and Hamish Marshall created the wall as they did in Wellington taking the score to 114 in the 30th. At the same time Australia were only about 15 runs ahead, and the Blackcaps had the foundation for a charge in the final overs, as they did so well in Wellington. But what they needed was wickets in hand, and that didn't happen! (Below: South West corner of the Garden!)

McMillan tried to smash Symonds out of the park, like he did in Wellington, but holed out to Hussey, and the Marshall twins ran themselves out within 3-overs. Suddenly NZ were 5-136, and the crowd was less than excited, indicated by the increase of projectiles scattered around our seats, the number of revolutions the Mexican wave made before exhaustion, and the increase of flouro vested personnel racing tirelessly throughout the East Terrace.

As great a player Chris Cairns has been, he's not been a shadow of his glories and tonight the rapturous applause he received on arrival at the crease was the only value added to his game. He never looked like staying put and again threw his wicket, this time down the throat of Hussey with only 12 meek runs.

Vettori couldn't relive his Christchurch heroics and again was out first ball for the 2nd time this series with the score on 162. Mills came and went for an unimpressive 1, then McCullum, the last hope for New Zealand, served Hussey his 3rd catch, Hoggy his 3rd wicket, and the game and the series to Australia; an 87-run drubbing. From 2-114 to 9-177 is just not good enough for a team that's officially the 2nd best in the world. What hope has any other team got if NZ can't admirably compete against Australia? Again, not my question to answer, I just cheered loudly, rolled my flag up, and with camera crew in tow, departed Eden Park by car! Nice way to end a marvellous day!

Luke Gillian 27/02/2005 10:04:29