David And Michael Hussey Force ODI Decider

Australia 247-4 (D Hussey 79, M Hussey 75no) beat
New Zealand 244-8 (Taylor 76, Johnson 3-51) by six wickets
Scorecard
4th One Day International, Adelaide Oval; series level at 2-2
By John Pennington

New Zealand and Australia will go to Brisbane on Friday with the five-match ODI series level after brothers Michael and David Hussey scored half-centuries to guide Australia to a six-wicket win in game four at the Adelaide Oval.

Michael was unbeaten on 75 and David made 79 as Australia closed on 247 for four after they restricted New Zealand to 244 for eight.

Their run chase was marshalled at the start by Brad Haddin (43) who followed up a century in game three with another fluent knock although he lost Michael Clarke (14) and Ricky Ponting (15) cheaply before putting on 44 with David Hussey for the fourth wicket.

Haddin was run out when Hussey called him for a second run only to change his mind, leaving the wicket-keeper stranded as Craig Cumming's throw left him well short.

David combined with brother Michael to put on 115 for the fourth wicket with both men looking in supreme touch. Michael scored his fourth half-century in his last five innings and David beat the field with frustrating ease for the Black Caps.

He was unable to see the innings through though, bowled by Iain O'Brien, who was again New Zealand's most impressive bowler with two for 54, leaving Callum Ferguson to help Michael home with an unbeaten 13 in 11 balls.

Hussey, dropped on 40, won the match with a six off of Kyle Mills.

Earlier, Ross Taylor scored 76 in 71 balls as New Zealand made steady progress to score 244 for eight after they chose to bat first.

Taylor was the only man to reach a half-century as New Zealand lost wickets regularly having chosen to bat with Mitchell Johnson picking up three for 51.

Johnson made the first breakthrough to dismiss Martin Guptill for 45, ending a stand of 69 for the first wicket with Brendon McCullum (33).

Johnson later had Grant Elliot (26) caught by David Hussey and Taylor caught behind in the 48th over.

He hit six fours and two sixes and the only other contribution came from Mills, who made a useful 23 in 27 balls down the order with a four and a six.

Cumming registered a six-ball duck on his return to the side after replacing Jeetan Patel while Peter Fulton managed just five and Neil Broom 11.

James Hopes bowled impressively once again, taking two for 37 and there was a wicket apiece for Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus and Clarke.

© Cricket World 2009

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