Australia in New Zealand, 2010
Eden Park, Auckland
March 6, 2010
Australia won the toss and elected to bat
Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson brought pain and weather delivered rain to cut down the Black Caps‘ reduced run chase at Eden Park.
The visitors posted 7 for 273, but showers in Auckland, which stopped play in the ninth over as the Black Caps’ target was reduced to 266 from 45 overs, everything seemed to be too large, and the skipper came to the crease.
Vettori played a classically inspiring captain’s banks and accelerated and brought the shortfall down to a run-a-ball with 27 needed and one wicket in hand.
It came down to 13 needed from 11 balls when Vettori went over his stumps and tried a shot, he used to great result right through his innings. But this time, when he tried to flip behind square leg, Harris and his stumps were worked up, his fight back ended with 70 from 49 balls, and Australia avoided going down 2-0 with three to play.
The villain-of-the-moment Johnson took four for 51 with the ball as the public jeered him all the time, while Harris was extraordinary with three of the 34.
There were more New Zealand injury dramas, with Ross Taylor, a late extraction due to a hamstring Strain Injury suffered in the opening match in Napier.
A painful Vettori as highly doubtful, has not batted or bowled yesterday, but he bit the bullet when Taylor was scratched.
Man of Match: – Daniel Vettori
