New Zealand’s emotion-charged efforts to upset Australia came to little
as the world champions cruised to a seven-wicket win in their World Cup
clash.
Mitchell Johnson (4-33) and Shaun Tait (3-35) bowled New
Zealand out for 206 in 45.1 overs after Australia captain Ricky Ponting
won the toss in overcast conditions in Nagpur.
Australia extended their unbeaten streak in World Cup games to 31 after scoring 3-207 in reply with 16 overs to spare.
Australia’s Shane Watson followed his 79 in the opening game against Zimbabwe with 62 on Friday.
Brad Haddin (55) and Watson fell in the 19th over to the bowling of seamer Hamish Bennett after a first-wicket stand of 133.
Ricky
Ponting was stumped off seamer Tim Southee’s bowling for 12 at 3-167,
while Cameron White (22 not out) and Michael Clarke (24 not out) steered
Australia home.
Earlier, New Zealand had lost four wickets for
seven runs to be 6-73 but Nathan McCullum led the lower-order fightback
with a gritty 52.
The plucky No.8 shared in a 48-run partnership
with Jamie How (22) and another 54-run stand with Daniel Vettori (44) to
help lift the tally over 200.
With the total on 66, Johnson had Jesse Ryder (25) and James Franklin (0) caught behind in the space of four balls.
However,
Australia’s pace-bowling stocks have been reduced with reserve quick
Doug Bollinger to be sent home because of an injury to his left ankle
which may require surgery.
“If surgery’s what’s recommended we’ll
discuss the consequences of that with Doug and see where we go,” team
physio Alex Kountouris told reporters in Nagpur on Friday.
“Sometimes
you can rest them for three or four weeks and then have another go (at
bowling) at that time but if you’re sore again at that time then you’ve
lost another three or four weeks (of healing time).
“It depends on what opinion we get from the specialist and what the scans show.”
