Kiwis register a thumping win over Australia in the 1st ODI: A bowling analysis of 0.2 – 0 – 0 – 2 is a rare sight. However, this precisely was achieved by the New Zealand left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner at Auckland in the first of the three-match series against Australia.
Called in to bowl the 25th over, with Australia struggling at 148 runs for the loss of 8 wickets, chasing a target of 308 runs, Santner bowled the first delivery to Kane Richardson (19), who tamely lofted it in the air only to be taken by Kane Williamson who ran from mid-off to the cover region.
The second delivery was bowled to John Hastings, who had crossed over in the meanwhile. Hastings slogged but had a mishit and the ball ballooned over long-on. Martin Guptill ran in and took a well-judged catch. It was all over for Australia. Their innings folded up with 148 runs in 24.2 overs.
This feat of Mitchell Santner should be an unique one in cricketing history. Santner also contributed with the bat. Batting lower down the order, he remained unbeaten on 35* runs off 39 deliveries with 1 four and 2 sixes.
Earlier, winning the toss, Aussies decided to put in New Zealand.
The openers, Martin Guptill and skipper Brendon McCullum (44) gave a reasonably good start, putting up 79 runs on the board for the first wicket.
The third-wicket partnership of 100 runs in 12.1 overs between Guptill and Henry Nicholls took the score to 181 runs for the loss of 3 wickets when Guptill departed after scoring 90 runs off just 76 deliveries with 8 fours and 5 huge sixes. His half-century came in 47 deliveries with 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Nicholls carried on the good work but fell in the second delivery of the 35th over after notching up 61 runs off 67 deliveries with 6 fours and a six. His second ODI half century in his seventh innings came in 51 deliveries with 6 fours and a six off Mitchell Marsh, which he hit, when he moved from 27 runs to 33 runs.
New Zealand finished their inning with 307 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs.
For the Aussies, Hazlewood, Faulkner and Marsh claimed 2 wickets each.
Chasing 38 runs for a win, Aussies neither had a good partnership going nor did any significant contribution come in from any batsmen. But for the 79-run partnership in 11.1 overs for the 7th wicket between James Faulkner (36) and the wicket-keeper Mathew Wade (37), nothing fruitful happened for them.
Their innings ended with 148 runs in 25.2 overs, giving New Zea;and, a victory by a margin of 159 runs.
Trent Boult (7-0-38-3) and Matt Henry (6-9-41-3) were the chief wicket takers for New Zealand.
For his exploits with the bat, Martin Guptill was awarded the Player of the Match.
New Zealand go 1-0 up in the series and take on the Aussies in the second encounter on 6th February, 2016, at Wellington.