Husseys do it for Aussies:
David Hussey's 79 was the top score as Australia cantered to a six-wicket victory in the fourth match of their one-day series against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
The hosts had been set a target of 245 by Daniel Vettori's men, but Hussey, aided by brother Mike's unbeaten 75, ensured they hunted it down with ease.
There were still 10 balls remaining when a crunching six from Mike Hussey brought up the winning runs.
The series is now level at two apiece ahead of Friday's decider in Brisbane.
Bucking the trend of the series, New Zealand decided to bat for the first time, but their innings only really picked up pace towards the end of their 50 overs.
Openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill were steady rather than spectacular, scoring 33 and 45 before falling to Michael Clarke and Nathan Bracken respectively.
The middle order looked tentative and, Ross Taylor apart, failed to impose themselves on the Australian attack.
Peter Fulton's departure for five off the bowling of James Hopes brought Taylor to the crease and, he watched McCullum, Grant Elliot (26), Craig Cumming (0) and Neil Broom (11) all head back to the pavilion, during a fine innings of 76 off 71 deliveries.
Kyle Mills helped push the score along with a rapid 23 during a late powerplay, while Mitchell Johnson's pace and bounce made him the pick of the home attack with figures of three wickets for 51.
A total of 244 never looked safe on a tame Adelaide Oval pitch, but the New Zealanders briefly had a series-clinching win in sight when a mix-up with David Hussey saw Brad Haddin run out for 43.
The New South Wales right-hander scored a century in the side's previous meeting in Sydney at the weekend and had looked to be in fine form.
With Clarke (14) and Ricky Ponting (15) both falling cheaply and David Hussey struggling for form, Haddin's dismissal left Australia vulnerable on 101-3 in the 25th over.
But the Hussey brothers united for 115-run partnership that had seen their team all but home by the time an Iain O'Brien yorker cleaned up David.
There had been earlier opportunities for New Zealand to break up the family affair with Cumming spilling a presentable catch off the bowling of Elliot that would have seen Mike Hussey walk on 40.
Callum Ferguson's calm 13 helped pick off the remaining runs before Mike Hussey's crashing shot over long-on secured the win.
No comments:
Post a Comment