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New Zealand bowlers help thrash Australia by 55 runs in 3rd ODI at Hamilton; Take series 2-1

Australia, who were chasing 247 to win, were bowled out for 191 with Scott Boland getting run out on the fourth delivery of the 44th over.

© Getty Images
New Zealand gave a fitting farewell to their outgoing captain © Getty Images

New Zealand thrashed Australia by 55 runs in the third One-Day International (ODI) at Hamilton on Monday, giving a farewell to their captain Brendon McCullum and taking the series 2-1. Australia, who were chasing 247 to win,  were bowled out for 191 with Scott Boland getting run out on the fourth delivery of the 44th over. This win meant, they retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 2015-16 and successfully gave a happy farewell to skipper McCullum who played his final ODI on Monday. Australia suffered a batting collapse after restricting New Zealand to a modest total of 246 in the first innings. Barring grant Grant Elliot, every New Zealand bowler picked a wicket and the collective effort won them the game which looked certain in Australia’s grip at the innings break . Ish Sodhi, who was adjudged Man of the Match, and Matt Henry made crucial breakthroughs removing the set batsmen, were the top performers for the Kiwis. FULL  SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Australia 2015-16, 3rd ODI at Hamilton

Towards the end of the innings, the job was finished by Corey Anderson, who dismissed the tail-enders. John Hastings and Adam Zampa were his victims when Australia still needed 63 from 60 balls. For a batting line-up like Australia, it was chaseable, however, the Black Caps did not let them settle as wickets kept falling.

Sodhi’s spell in the 19th over happened to be the game changer in this match. Sodhi went on to dismiss set batsman Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell in a span of three balls. Smith reviewed the LBW decision given by the umpire, the hot spot showed no inside edge and the ball hitting the stumps straight. That wicket brought in Maxwell, who left the first ball. While he went for a big shot in the second delivery he had faced, he just managed a thick outside edge that flew into the save hands of McCullum in the first slip.

It was then George Bailey and Mitchell Marsh’s partnership for fifth wicket that helped Australia recover somewhat from the double blows. A win looked difficult until Matt Henry came in for his second spell to dismiss Bailey in the 30th over. The duo shared a stand of 59 runs, almost taking away the match from the hosts. However, the Australians still looked in control as Marsh brought in runs freely with occasional boundaries. He managed to convert the singles into double or triples and that frustrated the Black Caps. That wicket made Henry the fourth fastest to 50 ODI wickets after Ajantha Mendis, Ajit Agarkar and teammate Mitchell McClenaghan.

The victory was on the cards just when Henry was brought in again and this time he removed the dangerous Marsh in the 34th over, when Australia still needed 81 runs off 16 overs.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and put New Zealand to bat first. The hosts struggled after the dismissals of their openers before Elliot had taken charge with a good half-century. Marsh performed well even with the ball before contributing with 41 runs in the second innings.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 246 in 45.3 overs (Martin Guptill 59; Mitchell Marsh 3 for 34) beat Australia 191 in 43.4 overs (Mitchell Marsh 41; Matt Henry 3 for 60) by 55 runs.

Man of the match: Ish Sodhi

 

FULL SCORECARD

 

(Sakshi Gupta, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a sports fanatic whose mantra in life is “do only what you enjoy.” Her Twitter handle is @sakshi2929)

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