that's the victory! Hodge drives through point and shouts "wait", once he sees the ball beat the infield he sets off for the double, he finishes on 99, pity he didn't get his hundred but I doubt he'll care too much, it's been a fantastic innings from him
Australia vs New Zealand, 11th Match at Melbourne, Feb 04 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Australia won by 5 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)
Hodge leaves the ground to massive cheers. He had scores of 0 and 1 in the series before this and has put his hand up with an outstanding hundred at his home ground.
Vincent and Fulton set up the game nicely by powering New Zealand to 290. During the chase the asking-rate crept up to seven an over by the half-way stage but not once did Ponting or Hodge panic. Ponting led from the front with an super-cool century and Hodge overcame a nervy start to see Australia through to the target.
This defeat means that New Zealand and England are on equal points heading into the final group match at Brisbane on Tuesday. That match is a virtual semi-final and make sure you tune in for it. I've enjoyed bringing this game to you, thanks for all your emails. Cheers!
Australia need two, Hodge needs three.
testing data
White pulls it down to fine leg for the single, Hodge has his chance
White could possibly take a single off the first ball and then Hodge could hit a boundary to get his hundred, what a fairytale that would be!
Hodge drives and beats the fielder at cover, he runs two to the man in the deep, he's on 97 but will not be on strike, Australia need just three more
Hodge steers it down to third man for two more, he is on 95 and Australia need just five more
full toss outside off stump and a no-ball to boot, terrible stuff from Oram, Hodge drives through covers and find sthe gap, four more
Cameron White is the new batsman but Hodge will be on strike. Australia need 12 off 14 balls.
Hussey is run-out, Hussey drove that into the deep cover region, he called for the second and took off from the non-striker's end, Hodge sent him back, the throw was flat and powerful from Vincent in the deep and Oram broke the stumps with Hussey just short
full toss on off stump, Hussey lofts it over cover and places it to perfection, he splits the gap in the deep
fullish length outside off stump, Hodge powers it down the gorund to long off for a single
chipped down to long-on for a single, that got to the fielder on one bounce
Australia need 19 off 18 balls. They have plenty of wickets in hand. Oram has the ball once again. Hodge is on 88 but Hussey is on strike. Oram comes round the wicket to the left-hander.
full ball drifting on to the pads once again, Hussey flicks behind square for another single
full and nearly in the blockhole, Hodge clips it off his pads for a single to deep square leg
Gillespie fires it into the blockhole, Hussey pushes to long-on for a single
Hussey prepares to face his first ball.
Hodge walks out of his crease and thumps it through cover, just the single this time
full outside off stump, Hodge drives through covers and calls for two, he gets them as well, he moves on to 86
Hussey walks out to replace Ponting, 25 needed off 23 and New Zealand have a chance to fight back.
Big big wicket for New Zealand. Is there another twist at this late stage?
caught in the deep! Ponting slams it down the ground to long-off, he hit that right out of the screws, Vincent sprinted in from the fence, dived forward and took an excellent low catch
Australia need 25 to win, Hodge needs 16 for his maiden ODI hundred.
Mirza is awestruck. "Australia isn't just a mere cricket team, it is an ever-evolving, totipotent genetically-engineered cyborg, slowly devouring all who dare to stand up to it, in an orgy of willow-encrusted destruction."
played with soft hands down to long-off for a single
defended on the front foot to point, what's that? A dot ball?
pushed to midwicket for one more run
Can Hodge get his 100?
pushed to cover on the front foot for yet another single
driven to, long-on for one more