Kane Williamson slams hundred, Josh Hazlewood claims 6-for, Australia restrict New Zealand to 291 in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Group A clash

Josh Hazlewood, with 6 for 52, registered the second-best figures in ICC Champions Trophy history as Australia bowled out New Zealand for 291 in 45 overs in the rain-curtailed Group A match at Edgbaston. Kane Williamson’s maiden ODI century against Australia seemed to have been powering New Zealand to total in excess of 320. New Zealand lost their last 7 wickets for 37 runs off 37 balls after Williamson fell in the 40th over with the score on 254. Since New Zealand were bowled out, there will be no adjustments in score due to DLS method. Australia have to chase 292 — provided there is no further stoppage of play. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs New Zealand, ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Match 2

Hazlewood claimed the wickets of Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult with his last 4 deliveries. New Zealand will be disappointed with the total after the start they got off to. It was a brisk start to be precise despite the overcast conditions. As many as 7 boundaries were struck in the first 6 overs. Martin Guptill looked in ominous touch until a ball from Josh Hazlewood stopped on him and he got a leading edge to Glenn Maxwell at gully. New Zealand had raced to 41 by then, halfway through sixth over. Kane Williamson and Luke Ronchi kept the momentum going till the skies opened and nearly two hours of play was lost. The game was revised to a 46-over contest, which meant only one bowler could bowl 10 overs. Live Updates from Match 2 of Champions Trophy

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Ronchi’s fireworks against his former team helped New Zealand’s case. He was particularly harsh on Pat Cummins. He belted 41 runs from the 17 deliveries he faced from Cummins, smacking him for 5 fours and 3 sixes. The extra pace generated by Cummins helped the New Zealand wicketkeeper.  His innings ended in the 16th over when he found Maxwell at gully. His 65 from 43 balls was his first fifty against Australia, his first as an opener and first since January 2015.

For years, Williamson and Ross Taylor have been the fulcrum of New Zealand’s middle-order. Taylor looked at ease and played the the supporting role to the New Zealand skipper. The duo added 99 for the third wicket before Taylor perished trying to up the tempo.

Williamson carried on and as usual made batting look poetry in motion. There were booming drives, deft touches and clubbed strokes. Hasn’t this Champions Trophy been a display of supreme batsmanship? Williamson’s knock seemed an extension of Joe Root’s exploits at The Oval on Thursday. He was unfortunate to get run out for 101 in the 40th over and there triggered the collapse. To New Zealand’s dismay, Williamson does not enjoy backing of the strong English middle-order that a Root does.

While Williamson got his maiden ODI ton against Australia, Hazlewood’s spell now stands only behind Farveez Mahroof’s 6 for 14 against West Indies in the 2006 Champions Trophy. The other highlight of the innings was Maxwell’s 4 catches. He now has equalled the Champions Trophy record for most catches in an innings jointly with Nathan McCullum.

Earlier, New Zealand had surprised all by electing to bat on a wicket that looked fresh and under overcast conditions. To accommodate Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham into the XI, they left out Colin de Grandhomme and Jeetan Patel.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 291 all out in 45 overs (46 overs maximum) (Luke Ronchi 65, Kane Williamson 101; Josh Hazlewood 6 for 52) vs Australia

Full Scorecard