The New Zealand bowlers dominated day one of the second Test against Australia at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee were the chief destroyers, taking four wickets apiece to have Australia bundled out for 231 in 74.3 overs.

The home team were rewarded for their patient approach early in the day, picking up wickets at key moments before pouncing in the final session to run through the middle and lower order.

What made the day even more special for Vettori was the fact he took the field for the 100th time in Test cricket.

The team honoured Vettori at the traditional captain’s meeting on the evening before the Test with a number of presentations. Vettori’s family was present and in a moving ceremony his father, Renzo, presented him with his 100th cap.

The omens didn’t look good early the next day though, when Vettori lost yet another toss to Ricky Ponting with the Australian captain having little hesitation in choosing to bat first.

The wicket had looked decidedly green after recent bad weather forced the covers to be left on for four days but that didn’t faze the New Zealand selectors who went with two spinners, handing Jeetan Patel a starting spot.

The Australians were made to graft during the first session with the pitch playing low and slightly favouring the bowlers. It seemed that the decision to include two spinners would pay off, with both employed before lunch.

Honours were slightly in favour of the home side at the end of the first session, with the score at 83 for two. Tim Southee made the early breakthrough, taking the wicket of Shane Watson for 12.

Ricky Ponting was the next to go for 22 and in the process became the most run-out batsman in Test Cricket with his 13th dismissal. It was Test centurion Vettori who removed his counterpart with his slick pick up and throw hitting the stumps to leave Ponting just short.

After lunch the New Zealand bowling unit kept plugging away and kept building pressure on the Australian batsmen who were battling to score.

Southee was rewarded with his second as Michael Hussey edged on to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum to have the tourists teetering at 129 for three.

Michael Clarke was next to go for 28 when he chipped a well flighted Patel delivery to long one and that is when the wheels really fell off for Australia.

Vettori had anchor Simon Katich caught in close for 88 to have his team on firmly on top at tea with the scoreboard reading 180 for five.

The last session of the day was all New Zealand with Southee trapping Marcus North LBW for nine and then catching Brad Haddin off his own bowling for 12.

Vettori mopped up the tail when he removed Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger cheaply as Australia added only 51 runs for the last six wickets.

It was a superb bowling partnership with Southee finishing with four for 61 and Vettori four for 36.

Australia managed to get an early breakthrough with Tim McIntosh choosing to leave Bollinger delivery that went on to hit off stump. Recalled Mathew Sinclair and BJ Watling safely negotiated the remaining overs and will resume tomorrow with the score on 19 for one.

Source: New Zealand Cricket

Rain interrupted a desperate fightback from New Zealand to end day four shortly before 6pm (NZ time) in its Test against Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Australia had a big breakthrough after lunch but will have another pestering New Zealand partnership to break on the final day of the Test with the home side stranded on 6-369, 67 runs ahead of the visitor’s first innings total (after New Zealand’s first innings 157).

Australia broke a fighting 126-run partnership between Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum when Nathan Hauritz bowled the skipper out for 77, leaving New Zealand battling at 6-309.

However, McCullum (96 not out) took responsibility in the fightback and, along with Daryl Tuffey (23 not out), carried New Zealand through to 6-363 at tea. After much stopping and starting, first with bad light and then with rain, play resumed briefly before the weather packed in.
Conditions were about as bad as they get in cricket with gusting nor-westerly winds, occasional rain and bad light in the middle of the day. However, New Zealand had somehow managed to lose only one wicket on a day that should have really decided the outcome of the match.

A big discussion had taken place on the pitch after lunch when, due to the gusting winds, the technology was unable to be used during a video review of a potential McCullum dismissal. Australian captain Ricky Ponting quickly approached umpire Asad Rauf and made sure that New Zealand also wouldn’t be able to the technology when it was its turn with the ball.

Starting the day at 5-187, New Zealand desperately needed to reach lunch without losing a wicket and did so thanks to some stubborn play from Vettori and McCullum who helped the home side through to 5-266 at the break.

Vettori, as in the first New Zealand innings, was looking strong leading into the break and earlier reached his half century off 64 balls, his third against Australia.

It was a much more relaxed and easy-going McCullum down the other end who was providing excellent support for Vettori who was the more attacking of the two and finally reached his 50 off 110 balls.

New Zealand had earlier been forced to follow-on after its disappointing first innings total of 157 and, after a reasonably solid start, started to fall apart in its second stand with the bat.

Once again it was Australian seamer Doug Bollinger, who took a five-wicket haul in the first innings, that had ripped through New Zealand’s top-order to have them staring down the barrel of another poor innings with the bat.

Source: Australia Cricket

New Zealand has made a poor start with the bat in reply to Australia’s imposing first-innings total to end on a disappointing 4-108 at stumps on day two of the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

After Australia declared on 5-459, the home side struggled to find any rhythm and lost a string of cheap wickets to put enormous pressure on captain Daniel Vettori (42 not out) and Martin Guptill (19 not out).

The pair survived through to the end of the day and forged a decent 65-run partnership to help the Black Caps fight back somewhat.
Doug Bollinger was the best of the Australian bowlers, picking up 2-21 off 10 overs.

He claimed his first in the opening over of the innings when he trapped BJ Watling lbw for a golden duck.

With Peter Ingram and Tim McIntosh struggling to get their innings underway, the Australians struck again through some individual brilliance from Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson kicked a ball that was hit off his own bowling into the stumps to run Ingram out for five in the 13th over to leave New Zealand desperate for an early partnership.

McInstosh (nine) and Ross Taylor (21) were soon both caught in the slips and left New Zealand struggling on 3-44 before Vettori and Guptill began to resurrect their side’s innings.

Australia had earlier declared an hour after lunch, leaving Marcus North unbeaten on a well-hit 112 with Brad Haddin down the other end on 11.

With Australia sitting in the box seat at 4-405 at lunch, it took a lapse of concentration from Michael Clarke for New Zealand to make the much-needed breakthrough.

Clarke, on 168, charged and missed a clever delivery from Vettori that drifted down leg into the gloves of Brendon McCullum who whipped of the bails to dismiss the vice-captain for his highest Test score.

Clarke had reached 150, his highest score against New Zealand, shortly before the break.

He got to the milestone in 228 balls and hit 19 fours and two sixes.

Meanwhile, North had flown under the radar but was equally as impressive during the morning’s play and reached his fourth century, and his first against New Zealand, off 192 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

The pair had also notched a record fifth-wicket partnership against New Zealand, passing the old record of 214 to reach 253 between them before Clarke’s dismissal.

Daryl Tuffey bowled conservatively and allowed just 49 runs to be scored off his 22 overs.

But it was debutant Brent Arnel that proved the deadliest of the Kiwi bowlers, claiming 2-89 off 26 overs.

Vettori and Chris Martin each picked up one wicket but it was an innings dominated by the Australian batsmen who used the slowly drying pitch, and older balls, expertly to put New Zealand under enormous pressure.

Source: Australia Cricket

Michael Clarke’s 14th Test century has put Australian in a strong position at the end of day one.

It was a big day for the Basin Reserve today, celebrating 400th first class match and 51st Test match.

Stunning weather and a much-anticipated first day against Australia was the draw-card for a large crowd that grew steadily throughout the day.

Daniel Vettori continued his rotten run of luck with the toss this tour, losing his sixth on the trot against Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Ponting was quick to put the BLACKCAPS into the field, electing to bat first on a seamer-friendly Basin wicket.

New Zealand chose a four-man pace attack and were quickly rewarded. Debutant Brent Arnel removed replacement Aussie opener Phil Hughes in his first Test over, caught behind for 20.

The arrival of Ponting steadied things for the visitors, and he and Simon Katich took Australia to the end of the first session and lunch with the score on 93 for one.

If the Australians had the better of the first session, the BLACKCAPS soon erased the advantage with two quick wickets after lunch. A sharp piece of fielding from B.J. Watling ran out Ponting for 41 with the score on 105, heralding a much anticipated return to the crease for Michael Clarke.

Watling was in the action again shortly afterwards, taking a sharp catch to his right at second slip to dismiss Michael Hussey for four to have the visitors teetering on 115 for three.

At tea Australia had nudged their way to 163 for three with the New Zealand bowling attack doing a good job of containing the Australians.

Arnel struck again in the final session, trapping Katich in front for a well-compiled 79. But wickets were few and hard to come by as the Australian pair of Clarke and Marcus North slowly wrestled the initiative in favour of Australia.

By the end of play on day one Australia have the game firmly in their control.

Clarke and North were patient and the start of their innings and managed wear down the New Zealand attack. After the drinks break in the final session they flicked the switch and started plundering the BLACKCAPS bowlers.

By stumps the pair had taken the score through to 316 for four with Clarke unbeaten on 100 and North on 52.

New Zealand will be left wondering how they are going to break this ominous looking 140 runs partnership.

Source: New Zealand Cricket.

Australia secured the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy on Thursday with a six-wicket win against New Zealand in the fourth one-day international played here.

Credit for the win went to skipper Ricky Ponting and Cameron White, who helped their team reach the revised score of 200 (Duckworth-Lewis). The Australians had earlier dismissed New Zealand for 238 and had been set a target of 239 for victory.

Thursday’s win ensured that the Kangaroos nailed the trophy with a 3-1 series scoreline.

Australia found their way home with 17 balls to spare. Cameron White and Michael Hussey completed the chase, which was set up by Ponting and Shane Watson, and despite a couple of quick wickets in the middle from Daniel Vettori the visitors were on track for most of the evening.

The Man of the Match, White was cool with an unbeaten 50 and Hussey finished on 28, easing any tension the Australians felt when Adam Voges (34) was caught at midwicket with 50 runs still required. Shane Bond had kicked things off well for New Zealand with Brad Haddin caught at slip in the first over but Ponting and Watson cruised from there.

Ponting was powerful with back-foot drives and pulls and, although he should have been lbw for 19, he reached his fifty from 34 balls before being trapped in front by Vettori from his next delivery. Watson (32) was also lbw to Vettori, hurried by an arm ball, but in the reduced contest New Zealand needed a bigger run of wickets to have a good chance.

New Zealand were dismissed for 238 off just 44.1 overs after being sent into bat by Australia.

After Brendon McCullum got the hosts off to a flying start with 61, the New Zealand middle order collapsed as they were dismissed inside the 50-over mark for a second consecutive match.

Only a late flurry from No 9 Daryl Tuffey, who hit four sixes in his 34 off 17 balls, saved New Zealand from total embarrassment.

All the Australian bowlers chipped in, with spinner Nathan Hauritz taking three for 46 off eight overs after Tuffey hit him for three consecutive sixes.

Mitchell Johnson, James Hopes and Shane Watson took two wickets each.

A superb match needed a Super Over to split the teams and New Zealand prevailed to repay Brendon McCullum for his amazing century. McCullum became the second-highest scorer in a Twenty20 international with an unbeaten 116, but after Michael Clarke and Cameron White exploded in the reply the scores were tied at 214 after 40 overs.

A six-ball tiebreaker was required and the calm Tim Southee delivered another tight over to allow only six runs for White, David Warner and Brad Haddin. Shaun Tait’s waywardness, including two wides, assisted the locals and Martin Guptill finished the game with a four over point from the third legitimate delivery.

The hosts were upset by a meek performance in Friday’s one-sided defeat, but McCullum showed his might with an unforgettable 56-ball demolition on a small ground that was rocking at the start and the end. Things were much quieter as Clarke organised the chase with 67 from 45 and White provided some much-needed muscle with 64 off 26 in a pursuit that was almost perfectly timed. However, Clarke and White could only scurry two from the final ball when three were required, with Clarke run out well short of his ground.

Needing two off almost every delivery throughout the second innings, the Australians managed to stay on track after Warner departed for a McCullum-style 20 off 10. Haddin (47 off 37) and Clarke, who was travelling much quicker than his usual pace, were able to stay close to the rate so they required 125 from the final 60 balls.

James Franklin slowed things down briefly with the wickets of Haddin and David Hussey (10) before White’s brute force arrived. White warmed up with a six over cover off Daniel Vettori, then caressed an inside-out clearance in the same area and was dropped on the boundary attempting a third.

He then powered two fours and a six off Franklin before flicking Shane Bond into the spectators at square leg. The 13 that came from Bond’s final over left Australia wanting 36 off 18 deliveries, but the first of three magically controlled Southee efforts made it 30 from 12.

White survived a run-out and found two boundaries and a six down the ground off Jacob Oram to cut the margin to 12. In Southee’s final over the bowler showed the maturity of a 30-year-old, not a boy who is 21, by delivering more pin-point yorkers to keep his side in the game.

And he proved it wasn’t a fluke by doing it again in the Super Over. The result levelled the series and delivered Australia their first loss of their summer while setting up an intriguing five-match one-day contest beginning on Wednesday.

Despite the flurry of absorbing action at the end, it was McCullum’s fireworks over the first half of the match that were the highlight. He showered boundaries around the tiny stadium and the change in attitude left the Australians, who had rested Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson, wondering if there was any way to stop the run avalanche. They were able to slow it a couple of times, but McCullum carried his team through the loss of six wickets and achieved the side’s highest total.

His hundred came up in 50 balls, equalling the record of Chris Gayle, the only other century-maker in this format. It was achieved with a single to deep cover, at which point the batsman ripped off his helmet to take in the applause, but he was not finished and carried his bat. Nathan McCullum joined his brother at the end, getting 14 in a 50-run stand in 3.2 overs on an afternoon that stunned everyone.

The big crowd of 26,148 was sprinkled by McCullum’s eight sixes and he backed up with a dozen fours during the barrage. Four of the boundaries came with “McScoops” past or over the wicketkeeper, but that was nothing compared to the two sixes he managed to shovel behind himself off Tait. It was brave and brutal – one of the clearances off Tait came from a 155kph thunderbolt.

McCullum proved he wouldn’t be intimidated by Australia’s quick bowlers when he charged the third ball of the day from Tait (2 for 40) and bashed him for four through cover. There were 10 runs from the eventful over, which also contained the ugly bowled of the out-classed Peter Ingram for 0 and Tait sending a finger signal to McCullum.

In the second over McCullum planted a six through cover off Dirk Nannes’ opening delivery, was almost caught next ball top edging a pull, and quickly flicked him to fine leg for a boundary. The new-ball bowlers couldn’t match Friday’s performance as they gave up 42 in the first four overs.

McCullum ended up on his back after his first attempt to scoop Nannes over the wicketkeeper, but he managed it the second time, with the ball just missing Haddin on the way to the boundary. He followed up by unleashing a huge six to midwicket to show he could mix the unorthodox and the traditional. Nannes returned for the 16th over and McCullum enjoyed swinging him twice into the stands on the legside as the bowler went for 51 off four.

After losing the strike in the middle stages when some of his team-mates disappeared, McCullum focused by blasting a fierce straight four off Steven Smith and brought up his half-century in the same over when he pulled to midwicket. He dusted off the scoop to surprise Daniel Christian and then pulled him for six behind square – 57 of his runs came in that segment.

Gareth Hopkins (36 off 17) was the perfect ally for McCullum as they put on 68 in five overs to regain their explosive momentum. McCullum kept going till the end and had a chance to seal the game in the Super Over, but he was as happy as every other local when Guptill squared the series.

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo.

It was a different country but the same result for Australia as they breezed to a six-wicket win over an out-classed New Zealand in the first Twenty20 in Wellington. After an unbeaten home summer the visitors started their tour with another convincing display built on very fast bowling and powerful opening batting.

New Zealand were knocked over for 118 by the speed of Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson and their chances of defending the small total were basically extinguished as soon as David Warner and Shane Watson blasted 28 from the first two overs. The openers were dismissed quickly and Johnson’s promotion to No. 4 failed, dropping the visitors to 39 for 3, but the small target allowed them to take their time and the win came with 24 balls to spare.

David Hussey, who hit Nathan McCullum for three fours in a row, was the aggressor in the 67-run partnership with Michael Clarke, who accumulated calmly for 18 off 26. Hussey finished with 46 from 36 balls and left shortly before the end when he drove McCullum to cover. Cameron White ended the game with a four and a straight six off Martin Guptill in a strong sign-off.

Warner didn’t have a chance to try batting right handed, but he made an impact with his usual stance by introducing himself to Shane Bond with a lofted straight four and a six to square leg in the first six balls. The situation was worse in the next over for Daryl Tuffey, who was taken for 18 by Watson’s four fours and a two.

They both left with 19 – and strike-rates of more than 150 – after Warner was bowled trying to slog another six from Bond and Watson was lbw to Daniel Vettori, who brought himself on in the fourth over. Vettori is always a threat against Australia and they got a sign of what life will be like over the next month as he allowed 1 for 13 from four. Bond touched 150kph in his opening spell to join the pace party and finished with 2 for 32.

Johnson’s three early wickets left New Zealand at an uncomfortable 54 for 4 and the intervention of James Franklin, who collected a composed 43 off 42, was required to get them past 100. Only two other batsmen, Guptill (30) and Gareth Hopkins (21), reached double figures as the hosts were over-run.

Johnson, who finished with 3 for 19, joined in a frightening partnership with Tait and Nannes as the trio operated around 150kph. Tait and Nannes collected two wickets while Watson also chipped in with a couple of victims in a comprehensive performance from the attack.

Brad Haddin began the day in spectacular style when he dived to his right for a one-handed catch to remove the dangerous Brendon McCullum from the fourth ball. Johnson, the first-change, bowled Peter Ingram with his opening delivery to have the hosts 13 for 2 in the fifth over and he was also involved when Ross Taylor (9) was unlucky to be given out lbw by Billy Bowden. Taylor, a player who is so important to his side, was hit on the foot well outside off stump and departed at 3 for 33.

Finding the boundary was the hard thing for the home side and Australia’s tight bowling prevented a quick start and a competitive score. Guptill broke free a handful of times but was taken by Johnson after Watson ran back to claim a top edge at midwicket.

A quick stand of 50 in 5.1 overs between Franklin and Hopkins was crucial in gaining some momentum for the hosts, but they quickly fell back and were dismissed on the final ball of the 20th over. They will need to improve dramatically for the second match in Christchurch on Sunday if they are going to end Australia’s winning streak.

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo.

Australia followed the lead of their senior team as they shut down Pakistan’s challenge to claim their third Under-19 World Cup trophy. Pakistan’s top side has lost seven matches in a row in Australia recently and Azeem Ghumman’s boys had a chance to give the country some cheer when they held their opponents to 207 for 9. It proved to be too many as Josh Hazlewood and Australia’s spinners took control to dismiss Pakistan for 182 to end a nervy chase.

When Hazlewood finished the match with his fourth wicket Australia added the prize to their triumphs at home in 1987-88 and in New Zealand in 2001-02. They had relied on Luke Doran’s impressive 3 for 32 and Hazlewood’s 4 for 30 to stop Pakistan’s unbeaten run, while Jason Floros’ 1 for 19 off eight was also important.

Ahmed Shehzad and Ghumman threatened to take their team to victory but both fell after solid displays to allow Australia the advantage. Ghumman had accumulated cleverly with 41 off 90, willing his team to victory over the second half of the innings, but when he was bowled by the offspinner Floros in the 43rd over the end was near.

Shehzad, who has played six limited-overs games for the senior outfit, showed his class with some smart boundaries early in the chase, but he was slow to leave with 38 off 48 after pushing forward to the left-arm spinner Doran and being given out lbw. Babar Azam, the 15-year-old opener, followed for 28 two overs later with an under-edge to give Doran his second and bring the Australians back into the contest. Babar was also unhappy and Pakistan were edgy at 74 for 3, adding five runs in five overs.

Rameez Azis, who was mostly cautious in his 23, danced down to Doran and launched him for a six to long off, but grew over-confident and was bowled cutting in the same over. Doran was just as impressive as his slow-bowling opponents, who caused regular doubt for Australia’s batsmen.

The fast bowler Hazlewood, who collected the opening wicket, was called back in the middle and had success almost immediately when he dismissed Hammad Azam for 0, the first time he has been out in the tournament. Pakistan were 111 for 5 and had a further concern in the changing weather, with the wind starting to blow hard and disrupting play on a handful of occasions.

With Pakistan needing 75 off 15 overs, Mitchell Marsh brought on the medium-pacer Alex Keath and he struck with his third ball when Mohammad Waqas (13) edged behind and the ball deflected from the wicketkeeper’s gloves to Hazlewood at short third man. Pakistan could claim to be unlucky at times but ultimately their batsmen were unable to follow the strong work of their bowlers.

After winning the toss, the Pakistani fast men struck some key blows before the spinners suffocated the middle order. Kane Richardson muscled a run-a-ball 44 and Tim Armstrong compiled 37 as they were able to escape towards the end of the innings to post a respectable total that allowed them to take the main prize.

Richardson, who was called in to play instead of Nick Buchanan, showed his power with two sixes and three fours, including 16 off five balls from Hammad, before he holed out to long-on. Sarmad Bhatti followed up by bowling Armstrong next ball, missing the hat-trick but picking up 3 for 33.

Under sunny skies, Australia fell to 23 for 3 on a brown surface and were relieved when Floros and Keath combined for 57, but those two departed quickly to leave the side at 82 for 5. The spinners were superb as they tied down the middle order, with Raza Hasan, the left-arm orthodox, allowing only six runs from his first six overs on the way to 1 for 21 from 10 as he remained a threat at the death.

The legspinners Usman Qadir, who had 0 for 35 off 10, and Shehzad (0 for 22 off seven) added to the confusion before the offspiner Babar was brought on. Babar picked up Tom Triffitt (21) with an edge from an attempted cut, dropping Australia to 127 for 6, but gave up 12 in the last of his six overs when taken for a six and a four by Richardson. In all the slow men delivered 33 overs for 112 runs.

Pakistan made an excellent start when Nic Maddinson was lbw to Fayyaz Butt on the fifth ball and in the next over Tom Beaton glided Sarmad straight to Babar, who took a sharp catch above his head at second slip. Australia soon had even more problems following the departure of the captain Marsh (7) after he prodded defensively to a Fayyaz outswinger and was caught behind by Waqas. Each time they were able to hit back and will leave New Zealand weighed down by a coveted trophy.

Peter English is the Australia editor of Cricinfo

Captain Ricky Ponting struck his third half-century of the series and Cameron White hit 62 as Australia were bowled out for 250 in the fourth one-dayer against India on Monday.

Ponting made a chanceless 52 and put on 64 for the second wicket with opener Shane Watson (49) after top-ranked Australia, 2-1 down in the seven-match series, were asked to bat first in the day/night game.

The dismissal of Ponting, run out by a direct hit from Ravindra Jadeja, after Watson had fallen to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh represented a double setback for the visitors.

White and the in-form Michael Hussey (40) put on 73 for the fourth wicket in quick time but part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh struck another big blow by having the left-hander caught in the deep.

All-rounder White was then run out before India went on to bowl out Australia in the final over.

Left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra was the pick of the attack with three for 37.

Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni shared a serene 148-run stand to help India win a battle of attrition on a sluggish track at the Feroz Shah Kotla and take a 2-1 lead in the seven-ODI series. Australia would perhaps rue the fact that they settled for 229 when they batted after winning an important toss.

“A total of 220 should be a good score on this pitch,” Ponting had said and Australia’s approach while batting reflected his mindset. Their bowlers did pick up three quick top-order wickets to leave India wobbling at 53 for 3 but Yuvraj and Dhoni batted with the knowledge that sufficient time spent at the crease would ensure a risk-free victory. The pitch was slow and not conducive to stroke making but it did not spin treacherously, despite the visibly dramatic wear and tear.

The game was evenly balanced mid way during the chase with India in consolidation mode at 101 for 3, but Yuvraj and Dhoni slowly and surely pulled India ahead. They batted with restraint while settling in on this track because, as Michael Hussey proved earlier during an unbeaten 81, batting got easier with more time spent on it.

They scored largely in singles and twos before Yuvraj attacked in the 34th over with 94 needed in 17 overs. He flicked for six and hit an extra-cover drive off Moises Henriques before he repeated the sequence next over with a bludgeoned six over long-on and a square-driven boundary against Adam Voges. The momentum shifted permanently after that and Yuvraj played several exquisite drives. He fell 29 runs short of the target but Dhoni struck a couple of boundaries to ward off any hiccups.

Australia had tried their best to apply the squeeze in the middle overs of the chase with the spin-seam combo of Nathan Hauritz and Doug Bollinger. The fast-improving Hauritz slowed his pace and punctuated his offbreaks with the one that went on with the arm. Dhoni chose to play Hauritz off the back foot while Yuvraj pressed forward. Bollinger, who replaced Ben Hilfenhaus, bowled a nagging line and length to strangle the batsmen. Peter Siddle, too, was economical and Australia’s bowling, in the absence of Brett Lee and a quality spinner, was as tight as Ponting could hope for but perhaps they had erred in their conservative estimate of a total on this sluggish track.

Once Australia decided not to play specialist opener Shaun Marsh, and possessing a thin middle-order inexperienced in such conditions, they were going to depend heavily on Ponting, Hussey and Shane Watson to reach a competitive total. Their approach seemed to indicate wariness that a collapse was never too far away on a demanding surface. Ponting, who opened only for the second time in his 327-ODI career in Tim Paine’s absence, and Watson didn’t try anything fancy during a sedate but solid start before Hussey took charge of seeing Australia through to the finish.

Hussey’s innings was tailored to the situation. He played numerous little dabs and nudges, cut and swept whenever he could, and never got ahead of himself at any stage. He did play a reverse sweep against Yuvraj but it wasn’t a shot of flamboyance but one that exploited the gap in the field. He only hit three more boundaries – the first was a result of a misfield, the second came in the 48th over when he finally heaved one across the line and the highlight was the last, when he charged out to clatter Ashish Nehra over long-on in the 50th over.

Before Hussey played his characteristic innings, Ponting and Watson played uncharacteristic ones to give the innings a steady start. With swing out of the question, the Indian seamers tried to win lbw decisions by bowling as straight as possible and the spinners slowed their pace and kept to an off and middle stump line. Ponting began cautiously, taking care to get his bat in front of the pads, and dealt in singles. Watson also batted in a similar vein and just when he was beginning to cut loose, he fell to Yuvraj after he was beaten by flight and turn and dragged his back foot out of the crease. Hussey came to Australia’s rescue with an assured knock but it wasn’t enough to stop India from going ahead in the series.

Sriram Veera is a staff writer at Cricinfo