Australia Beat New Zealand To Take ODI Series

Australia Beat New Zealand To Take ODI Series

Ricky Ponting scored 50 in 35 balls as Australia clinched the Chappell-Hadlee series in Auckland.

©REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 202-4 (White 50no, Ponting 50) beat
New Zealand 238 (McCullum 61, Hauritz 3-46) by six wickets (D/L)
Fourth One-Day International, Auckland
Scorecard

Half-centuries from Ricky Ponting and Cameron White guided Australia to a series-clinching six-wicket win over New Zealand in the fourth One-Day International in Auckland.

After New Zealand were bowled out for 238, bad weather reduced Australia's target to 200 in 34 overs and with White and Ponting leading the way, they got home with 17 balls to spare.

Brendon McCullum (61) starred again for the Black Caps, hitting three fours and four sixes before their innings fell away, spinner Nathan Hauritz taking three for 48 and pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson and James Hopes also grabbing two wickets.

A late blast of 34 in 17 balls from Daryl Tuffey boosted the New Zealand score but not by enough to set them on the path to victory.

Although Shane Bond struck with the third ball of Australia's innings to have Brad Haddin caught by Scott Styris for a golden duck, partnerships of 82 between Watson (32) and Ponting (50) and then 65 between White (50 not out) and Adam Voges (34) got the innings back on track.

White faced 57 balls and Australia were then hurried to victory by Mike Hussey, who smashed an unbeaten 28 in 17 balls.

Ponting's innings was a fine display of aggressive batting, the captain leading by example by hammering eight fours and one six in just 35 balls.

The fifth and final match is in Wellington on Saturday (13th March).

© Cricket World 2010

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