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Monday, Jan 29, 2007
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Australia continues its winning streak

Ted Corbett

Oram produces a brilliant hundred

PHOTO: AFP

SPARKLING KNOCK: Jacob Oram led the Kiwi reply and notched up his maiden one-day hundred.

PERTH: Same old story. Australia had all the luck, won the eighth match in the tri-series despite another bulldozing innings from the giant Kiwi Jacob Oram who personified the spirit of a New Zealand team which had its run chase interrupted by rain at a vital moment.

He made his first one-day international hundred off 71 balls with six sixes and almost guided New Zealand to a breathtaking success. Instead it lost by eight runs. Still, New Zealand had only itself to blame. It dropped three catches — to add to its numerous fielding errors so far — and enabled Matthew Hayden to score a century that is likely to re-establish his reputation.

New Zealand also allowed Australia to set a WACA ground record of 343 for five. Its own 335 for five was its highest total in a lost match and its best against Australia.

Charmed life

Hayden, who began hesitantly and finished with blazing strokes, was dropped in the second over by Daniel Vettori at mid-off, off a skier to Ross Taylor who could not lay a finger on the dropping ball and by the substitute Hamish Marshall as he neared his century.

When he galloped for the single that gave him the score, which may guide him into the World Cup squad, Hayden celebrated extravagantly. In truth it was a very ordinary innings, full of error, underscoring the belief that his time for Australia is almost done.

Ponting made his 21st one-day hundred with aplomb as he and Hayden shared a second wicket stand of 200. He looked the coolest cricketer in the WACA where the temperature peaked at 42 degrees and never fell below 37 while the seven Kiwi bowlers bowled short spells that allowed the Australians to seize runs at will.

It was neither a day for bowling quick nor for running threes. The Australians completed just three threes even though Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey and Cameron White all had cameo knocks as they passed the score of 309 set by West Indies against Sri Lanka in 1985. The temperature dropped slightly in the evening and New Zealand made a gallant attempt.

Appalling decision

The captain Stephen Fleming showed what was needed, Lou Vincent brought into the side for the retired Nathan Astle and Oram hit 17 off an over from Michael Clarke who had just been given an lbw decision so outrageous that the match referee ought to have summoned all those responsible — the principal appealers Clarke and Adam Gilchrist as well as the umpire Asad Rauf — to explain their reasoning. The numerous ironies in the last few overs — as Oram scored his hundred — will not be lost on any cricket lover.

With two overs left and a nigh impossible 35 needed, Ponting called for Glenn McGrath. Brendon McCullum lashed the third ball into the stand behind mid off but 25 were still needed off the last over by Nathan Bracken. One, six, two and a TV replay; two for his hundred, one, four; not a victory but a magnificent fight.

* * *

Australia: A. Gilchrist c Patel b Mills 13, M. Hayden b Vettori 117, R. Ponting c Fulton b McMillan 111, M. Clarke c (sub) b Patel 7, A. Symonds b Gillespie 24, M. Hussey (not out) 29, C. White (not out) 20; Extras (lb-2, w-18, nb-2) 22; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs) 343.

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-228, 3-254, 4-275, 5-293.

New Zealand bowling: Mills 10-1-72-1, Gillespie 10-1-76-1, Oram 5-0-50-0, Vettori 10-0-34-1, Patel 10-0-67-1, McMillan 3-0-26-1, Taylor 2-0-16-0.

New Zealand: L. Vincent lbw b Clarke 66, S. Fleming c Gilchrist b McGrath 28, P. Fulton c Hayden b Johnson 23, R. Taylor b Clarke 39, C. McMillan (run out) 5, J. Oram (not out) 101, B. McCullum (not out) 46; Extras (b-2, lb-5, w-18, nb-2) 27; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs) 335.

Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-107, 3-142, 4-150, 5-198.

Australia bowling: Lee 10-0-53-0, Bracken 10-1-75-0, McGrath 10-0-72-1, Johnson 6-0-48-1, Clarke 9-0-48-2, Symonds 5-0-32-0.

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