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Australia vs New Zealand, 5th Match at Sydney, , Jan 21 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
5th Match (D/N), Sydney, January 21, 2007, Commonwealth Bank Series
(48.4/50 ov, T:219) 224/8

Australia won by 2 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
75 (111)
michael-clarke
New
AUS
Full commentary

How many times have we seen Hussey do a Bevan now? His superb innings seals Australia's spot in the final. Credit to New Zealand for fighting as hard as they did. McMillan set the match up with a belligerent 89 but New Zealand could have done with a few more runs. Australia's chase started poorly - they lost their first three wickets for 17 but Clarke and Hussey played gritty innings to seal Australia's victory.

Thank you for tuning into Cricinfo's live coverage of today's game. We'll be back on Tuesday when England take on New Zealand at Adelaide. That will be a crucial match for New Zealand who haven't picked up any points so far. Do join us then. Cheers!

48.4
6
Astle to Hussey, SIX runs

short ball, Hussey rocks back and pulls handsomely over the square leg fence, Hussey finishes it in style

48.3
1
Astle to Clark, 1 run

worked to short fine leg and Hussey calls for the single, he's off in a flash and the single means that the scores are tied

48.2
Astle to Clark, no run

fullish length angled into middle and leg, flicked off the pads to midwicket

48.1
Astle to Clark, no run

picthes on a good length in the channel outside off stump, Clark fishes at it and misses

Stuart Clark will be on strike, Astle to bowl, two needed by Australia, two wickets needed by New Zealand. Two overs left, but that's almost irrelevant.

end of over 486 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 217/8CRR: 4.52 RRR: 1.00
Michael Hussey59 (72b 6x4)
Stuart Clark0 (0b)
Craig McMillan 6-0-28-1
Nathan Astle 2-0-15-0
47.6
McMillan to Hussey, no run

McMillan bowls the bouncer down leg side, Hussey tries to pull it but misses, the New Zealanders appeal for a catch behind but the umpire says no

Hussey will be on strike because the batsmen crossed before the catch was taken.

Stuart Clark is the new batsman.

47.5
W
McMillan to Bracken, OUT

he tries to finish it with a pull and he's the one who's finished! The short ball got big on him and Bracken top-edged the pull, Taylor ran across to short fine leg from square leg and took a smart catch

Nathan Bracken c Taylor b McMillan 14 (16b 1x4 0x6 14m) SR: 87.5
47.4
4
McMillan to Bracken, FOUR runs

full, in the slot and Bracken gives it the treatment, he frees his arms and lofts it down to long on for four, just two needed now

47.3
McMillan to Bracken, no run

defended to point on the back foot

47.2
McMillan to Bracken, no run

defended on the front foot to cover

47.1
2
McMillan to Bracken, 2 runs

short of a length outside off stump, Bracken slogs it over mid-off, he manages to clear the in field and gets two

Australia are just eight runs away from cementing a spot in the finals after just four matches.

end of over 478 runs
AUS: 211/7CRR: 4.48 RRR: 2.66
Nathan Bracken8 (11b)
Michael Hussey59 (71b 6x4)
Nathan Astle 2-0-15-0
Craig McMillan 5-0-22-0
46.6
3
Astle to Bracken, 3 runs

poor line, full and down leg side, Bracken works that off his pads behind square for three precious runs

46.5
1
Astle to Hussey, 1 run

pushed to midwicket for yet another single

46.4
1
Astle to Bracken, 1 run

whoops, Bracken tried to turn that through midwicket but closed the face early and got a leading edge, the ball lobbed safely on the off side

46.3
Astle to Bracken, no run

Pushed through quickly through the air, Bracken gets beaten outside the off stump

46.2
1
Astle to Hussey, 1 run

whipped off his pads for a single to midwicket

46.1
2
Astle to Hussey, 2 runs

cut to deep point for two runs, Hussey is mercurial between the wickets

end of over 462 runs
AUS: 203/7CRR: 4.41 RRR: 4.00
Michael Hussey55 (68b 6x4)
Nathan Bracken4 (8b)
Craig McMillan 5-0-22-0
Mark Gillespie 10-2-34-2
45.6
1
McMillan to Hussey, 1 run

Full and in the blockhole, Hussey drives it down the ground to long off for asingle and retains strike

45.5
1
McMillan to Bracken, 1 run

Fullish length drifting on to the pads, whipped down to fine leg for a single

45.4
McMillan to Bracken, no run

Defended back to the bowler

45.3
McMillan to Bracken, no run

Full ball on off stump, Bracken gets forward and plays it to point with an angled bat

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AUS871310.667
ENG83513-0.608
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