Twose, Cairns shine in Kiwis’ victory

But Twose, who was joined by Cairns, kept their wickets intact till the Kiwis were close to overhauling Aussies target.

Earlier, a good spell of left-arm seam and swing bowling by Geoff Allott restricted Australia to 213 for eight at Sophia Garden here today.

Allott ripped through the Australian batting before and after a 94-run stand between top scorer Darren Lehmann and Ricky Ponting as Steve Waugh’s decision to bat first after winning the toss seemed to backfire.

In an innings punctuated by a 40-minute break due to light rain, Australian batsmen failed to come to terms on a slow-paced pitch and some disciplined bowling by an all seam attack.

Allott, who removed openersMark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist in his first six-over burst, returned to bowl Michael Bevan (21) and Shane Warne (15) in his third spell.

It was Allott’s second four-wicket haul in a 15-match career and bettered his previous 4-47 against South Africa in Auckland early this year.

Left-hander Lehmann held the innings together with a 94-ball 76 runs with eight boundaries and was the fifth to fall at 172.

Lehmann and Ponting (47) resurrected the innings from 31 for two to 126 without further loss when the latter spooned a catch off Nathan Astle to Chris Harris at point.

New Zealand let the Australians off the hook during the third wicket stand as the pair hit 12 boundaries between them.

Just when Australia appeared to set eyes on a big score, Gavin Larsen checked the progress, conceding just 26 runs in his 10 overs.

Group B: Australia vs New Zealand

Australia inning (50 overs maximum)
M Waugh c bw b Allott 2; AC Gilchrist c Astle b Allott 14; RT Ponting c Harris b Astle 47; DS Lehmann c Astle bHarris 76; *SR Waugh c Astle b Harris 7; MG Bevan b Allott 21; S Lee run out (Nash) 2; SK Warne b Allott 15; DW Fleming not out 8; AC Dale not out 3; Extras (lb 10, w 5, nb 3) 18

Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) 213

DNB: GD McGrath.

FoW: 1-7 (ME Waugh, 2.1 ov), 2-32 (Gilchrist, 8.1 ov), 3-126 (Pointing, 30.6 ov), 4-149 (SR Waugh, 35.5 ov), 5-172 (Lehmann, 41.4 ov), 6-175 (Lee, 43.4 ov), 7-192 (Bevan, 46.2 ov), 8-204 (Warne, 48.3 ov).

Bowling: Allott 10 0 37 4 (2nd, 2w); Nash 8 1 30 0; Cairns 7 0 44 0 (Inb, 2w); Larsen 10 2 26 0 (lw); Harris 10 0 50 2; Astle 5 0 16 1

New Zealand team: MJ Horne, NJ Astle, CD McMillan, * SP Fleming, RG Twose, CL Cairns, +AC Parore, CZ Harris, DJ Nash, GR Larsen, GI Allott.

NEW ZEALAND

Target: 214 from 50 overs
MJ Horne c Gilchrist b Dale 5; NJ Astle c Ponting b Fleming 4; CD McMillan c Fleming b Warne 29; SP Fleming b McGrath 9 20; RG Twose not out 80; CL Cairns c Dale b Fleming 60; AC Parore not out 10; Extras(lb2, w11, nb4): 17

Total (for 5 wkts, 45.2 overs) 214

FoW: 1-5 (Horne, 1.2); 2-21 (Astle, 6.1); 3-47 (Fleming, 14.4); 4-49 (McMillan, 15.3 overs); 5-197 (Cairns, 43.1).

Bowling: Fleming 8.2-1-43-2 (3w); Dale 5-1-18-1 (1w); McGrath 9-0-43-1(4nb); Lee 6-0-24-0 1w); Warne 10-1-45-1 (4w); SR Waugh 4-0-25-0 (1w).