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Black Cap Tim Southee celebrates taking a wicket - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand climbed off the canvas to snatch a dead rubber
victory against Australia in a controversy-packed
Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day cricket finale on Saturday.
Led by pace duo Shane Bond (4-26) and Tim Southee (4-36), and
helped by a howler from home umpire Gary Baxter to remove Ricky
Ponting first ball, New Zealand scrapped their way to a 51-run
victory in game five at Westpac Stadium.
Chasing 242, Australia were dismissed for 190 off 46.1 overs with
Bond delivering the final blow as he prepares to head for the
Indian Premier League next week. For young Southee it was a zero to
hero performance after he conceded 55 off five overs in the
six-wicket defeat in Auckland.
Home skipper Daniel Vettori rotated his bowlers expertly and also
removed Australia's last hope James Hopes for 40 in the 46th
over.
The trophy was already gone after three consecutive Australian
victories but the performance before a crowd of 11,587 restored
some New Zealand confidence ahead of the two-test series starting
at the Basin reserve on Friday.
It also sealed the Cake Tin as New Zealand's favourite ODI ground
as they recorded a sixth consecutive victory there.
Defending a sub-par total, New Zealand needed a flying start and
their go-to man Bond provided it with expert help from
Baxter.
A fired-up Bond removed dangerman Brad Haddin with a lethal bouncer
then repeated the dose to captain Ricky Ponting first ball as the
whole New Zealand team roared for caught behind.
After a long deliberation, Baxter obliged and Ponting fumed as
replays showed he'd missed the ball by centimetres and it brushed
his helmet instead.
Southee then struck a double blow with umpire assistance,
dismissing Cameron White to a false pull shot then Adam Voges
caught behind.
The latter replay showed Voges missed the ball but Pakistani umpire
Asad Rauf - who denied Daryl Tuffey a certain lbw against Ponting
on Thursday - was convinced.
When the recalled Nathan McCullum snared dangerman Shane Watson for
53 it was 96 for five in the 27th.
Master finisher Michael Hussey remained the biggest hurdle, with an
average of 91.66 in New Zealand ODIs, as New Zealand took the power
play at 144 for five off 38.
Hussey was well set on 46, despite having glanced a delivery onto
his helmet, but Southee snuck a delivery past his sweep attempt and
New Zealand were on their way.
Earlier it was a familiar story as Ponting made it five correct
calls from five coin tosses and New Zealand were in early
strife.
After Brendon McCullum departed in the fifth over it was soon 32
for three before the reliable Scott Styris helped add some
respectability.
Styris topscored with 55 off 66 balls, adding 53 with Ross Taylor
and 68 with Vettori before he chopped a James Hopes delivery onto
his stumps.
Taylor (30) and Vettori (28) both perished to loose shots and with
wickets falling regularly it was again Tuffey - fresh from clouting
four sixes in Auckland - who helped New Zealand post something
defendable.
Tuffey hit a valuable 36 off 41 before he departed off the final
ball of the innings at 241 for nine. Australia's bowlers, led by
Mitchell Johnson's two for 42, assisted New Zealand's cause by
donating 19 wides and seven no-balls.
