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Australia's David Warner - Source: Photosport -
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Adam Voges took a dramatic outfield catch as Australia ended
their tough home summer on a positive note with a one-run Twenty20
triumph over New Zealand.
With Brendon McCullum (61 off 47 balls) blasting the Black Caps
towards the victory target of 151, Voges was more tightrope walker
than cricketer on the boundary in the second last over at the
SCG.
McCullum cracked a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery straight to Voges at
deep mid-on.
The West Australian caught the ball but was overbalancing and
feared going over the rope, so he threw it back in the field of
play.
In his desperation to get the ball on the full, he tripped on the
boundary rope before crawling his way and diving to catch the
ball.
The Kiwis never completely recovered from the setback and finished
up at 5-149 with Brendon McCullum's big brother Nathan hitting a
four and six off the last two balls.
With Australia flying out to South Africa on Monday morning,
skipper Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Mitchell Johnson were all
rested and Michael Clarke sat out the clash with a back
injury.
The Kiwis were missing Ross Taylor (hamstring) but looked like they
didn't need him for most of their innings.
In New Zealand's response to Australia's 7-150, paceman Peter
Siddle (2-24 off four overs) warmed up for the tour of South Africa
by trapping Martin Guptill in front for a second ball duck
and dismissing Peter Fulton for 1.
At the other end man of the match Nathan Bracken (0-16 off four
overs) turned up the pressure with the Kiwis not scoring a run
against him until his 11th ball of the innings.
At 2-27 after five overs, Brendon McCullum took matters into his
own hands by cracking a lofted cover drive that despite landing
before the rope was signalled as six.
Neil Broom (36 off 26 balls) rejuvenated the Black Caps with his
lusty hitting before McCullum started bamboozling Australian
fielders.
The spin off his reverse sweep sent Voges the wrong direction but
Voges was to end up getting his man.
The wicketkeeper enjoyed a life on 39 with David Hussey dropping a
tough caught and bowled chance and the home side paid in the 17th
over bowled by James Hopes with 20 coming off it.
That left the Kiwis needing 25 off the last three overs but Bracken
allowed just five off the next six balls.
McCullum then smashed a ball to Voges who produced a theatrical
effort to take the catch.
New Zealand needed 14 runs off the final over and James Franklin
was run out off the first ball of that over by a delighted
Haddin.
The Kiwis were just out of the hunt before the older McCullum
brother made it the smallest of wins for Australia.
David Hussey (41 off 39 balls) earlier topscored for the
Australians in their 7-150 with Kiwi spinner Daniel Vettori (1-23
off four overs) proving as difficult as ever to get away.
Moises Henriques (1) had his first bat for Australia but that
didn't last long, he was run out second ball following a mix
up.
Teams:
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon
McCullum, Martin Guptill, Peter Fulton, Grant Elliott, James
Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Tim Southee, Iain
O'Brien.
Australia: Brad Haddin (captain), David Warner,
David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Moises Henriques, Adam Voges, James
Hopes, Cameron White, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter
Siddle.
