Published: Feb 04, 2017, 10:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 03, 2017, 11:35 PM (IST)
New Zealand and Australia head into the third and final ODI of their ongoing series with a great deal at stake. The winner, at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, will have a lot to take away from the final ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 2016-17. While Australia will pack their bags for a flight straight to India for a four-Test series, the Kiwis will be pulling up their socks to face a rampant South Africa, who had belittled them a few months ago in an away series. The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 2016-17 is currently in favour of New Zealand, who are 1-0 ahead, and a win in the final ODI will help them regain the trophy.
On the other hand, Australia will not want to make any more mistakes, for they made more than enough of their share for the entire series in the first ODI itself. Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb (replacing the injured Matthew Wade as wicketkeeper) spilled two catches each to give lifelines to the Kiwi batsmen at crucial moments. With the bat, Australia had a horror run as they were reduced to 67 for 6, but a whirlwind knock from Marcus Stoinis took them on the brink of a famous win. New Zealand won the first ODI by 6 runs, but a washed-out second ODI has kept them awaiting a chance to clinch the series.
Let us take a look at the key battles for the third and final ODI between New Zealand and Australia:
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Martin Guptill vs Mitchell Starc: The Kiwi opener was off to a flying start in the first ODI at Auckland. Guptill has been scoring runs heavily ever since he has returned from the India tour, and the Kiwis will want him to find same rhythm in the final ODI. Up against him will be the leader of the Australian pace attack, who looked ordinary throughout the first game. Starc had good memories of playing at Auckland, but this time around he was battered by the Kiwi batsmen. Early on, Guptill versus Starc will be an interesting battle that may shape the outcome of the game.
Neil Broom vs Josh Hazlewood: Broom is one of the late bloomers, and he is making full use of the form and opportunities that he has been getting. Broom top scored for New Zealand with a 75-ball 73 in the first ODI, which resurrected the Kiwi innings after they had stumbled in the middle overs. Broom was belligerent in his strokeplay, and did not show any mercy, at a small Eden Park, to the disciplined Hazlewood. However, with the change in venues, Hazlewood will be itching to have a go at the New Zealand batsmen once again — a line-up in which Broom carries a great importance.
Kane Williamson vs Marcus Stoinis: The Australian all-rounder had a good day at Auckland, as he bowled unchanged for all his 10 overs to snaffle 3 for 49. Stoinis began by claiming the wicket of Kane Williamson, foxing the New Zealand captain with a slightly slow delivery against which he was early into his stroke. Later in the contest, with his splendid innings of 146 not out, Stoinis nearly stole away a win from Williamson’s New Zealand. Williamson and team would definitely have revisited their plans against Stoinis, who seems to be a clean hitter of the ball.
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Stoinis vs Trent Boult: Stoinis played once-in-a-lifetime kind of an innings in the first ODI. From 67 for 6, he took Australia agonisingly close to a win. He was brutal against every New Zealand bowler, and showed no nerves in only his second ODI and that too against a bowler who had wrecked Australia’s batting early on. Stoinis clobbered 11 sixes and 9 boundaries to smash a 117-ball 146 not out, sparing no New Zealand bowler whatsoever. On his part, Boult will like to improvise from the few tight overs that he bowled later in the Australian innings, and will be responsible to contain the hard-hitting Stoinis by angling the ball across the right-hander coming over the wicket.
Glenn Maxwell vs Mitchell Santner: In a battle between two quality all-rounders, Maxwell has an edge since his recent exploits with the bat have paved way for his team to register victories. Maxwell showed aggressive intent throughout the home series against Pakistan, even unleashing the reverse-sweep shot for boundaries very early in his innings. Santner, on the other hand, had an ordinary outing in the first game. As a spinner, his role will be to contain the Australian batsmen in the middle overs, and this is where he will get to face Maxwell.
