Related Links : World Cup 2007 : Scorecard
New Zealand have been beaten black and blue in their high profile Super Eights Match against the World Champs at St George’s. The Kangaroos came hard at the Black Caps to hand them over their worst ever defeat in their history which was by a massive margin of 215 runs! It was the perfect revenge taken by the Aussies who lost 0-3 in the Chappell-Hadlee Series recently. Matthew Hayden was once again the batting star, he made his third century in this tournament!
This Australian victory has made it clear about who is going to play who in the two Semi Finals. The Aussies will have to face South Africa at Gros Islet while Sri Lanka takes on New Zealand in the first Semis at Kingston on the 24th. On ideal batting conditions, Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first with all rounder Shane Watson returning back to replace Brad Hodge. The Kiwis were without Jacob Oram (heel injury) and Shane Bond (stomach bug). With that the New Zealand bowling attack looked paper thin and the Aussies took complete advantage of that as they piled up 348 for 6. Adam Gilchrist did depart early for just 1 but there was no let off for the bowlers with Matt Hayden in supreme form along with Skipper Ponting.
Hayden and Ponting put on a wonderful 137-run partnership for the second wicket which came at more than run-a-ball. Ponting made 66 from 70 with 7 fours before he was dismissed by Jeetan Patel. Michael Clarke then joined Hayden to get 72 for the third wicket to put their side in a commanding position of 216 for 3 in the 33rd over. Hayden’s innings was cut short to 103 from 100 (10 fours and two sixes) by a return catch from Scott Styris. Clarke soon followed him back to the pavilion having made 49 from 46 with 7 fours. Michael Hussey and Shane Watson then finished things in style to get the Aussies to 348 for 6. Watson had a memorable day, equaling the fastest fifty scored by an Australian in World Cup. Like Tom Moody in the 1999 World Cup, Watson got his fifty in 28 balls. Hussey was unlucky to be dismissed in the final over having made 37 from 44 while Watson plundered 65 from 32 with as many as four boundaries and four sixes which included some innovative lap shots over fine leg.
Off Spinner Jeetan Patel was the most outstanding bowler conceding only 48 runs in his 10 besides picking up the wickets of Ponting and Symonds (11). Franklin was the most successful with 3 wickets but that came at a cost of 74 runs in 8 overs! The two right arm pacers Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie were terribly expensive with figures of 0-27 in 3 overs and 0 for 67 in 6 overs respectively.
New Zealand started off their chase in a positive fashion but they were dented by a bad umpiring decision that saw Fleming given caught off the arm. Fleming was just warming up having played a terrific flick shot for a six off Bracken. It was Tait the lucky bowler to get his wicket. Glenn McGrath struck gold with his very first ball of the match taking the wicket of Ross Taylor. McGrath was the one change bowler who had replaced Tait. He went onto add another wicket that of the inform Scott Styris, out slogging to mid on. Styris looked good for his brief knock of 27 from 22 with 5 fours. The Kiwis were going at a fast clip with Peter Fulton always looking promising with his backfoot game. But Tait returned back for his second spell to have McMillan rapped up infront of offsump and that was almost game over at 80 for 4. Watson made that 89 for 5 with a slower one that induced an inside edge off Franklin. Brad Hogg did the clean up job with his googlies taking four wickets including the wickets of McCullum, Vettori (both caught playing the slog sweep) and the last wicket to fall that of Fulton, who was bowled round his legs by a wrong one. Fulton did play well though getting his fourth half century, he made 62 from 72 with 5 fours.
The Kangaroos took just 25.5 overs to take their 10 wickets which was a ruthless performance against a top side. This defeat will seriously hamper New Zealand’s confidence for the Semi Final. Coming to the Australian bowling, Shaun Tait for a change wasn’t erratic at all and like always was amongst the wickets, this time with 3 for 32 in 6. Brad Hogg was too difficult to handle for the Kiwis, none of the batsmen were picking what he was bowling and the result was there to be seen with four for 29 in just 6.5 overs. Nathan Bracken had an insignificant day as he failed to pick up even a single wicket. Matt Hayden deservingly took the Man of the Match award.