Australia comes back from the brink

There is presently one immutable rule that you must bear in mind when watching cricket - never dismiss the Australians, no matter how precarious their position. In a match that brought back some memories of Steve Waugh's team in the 1999 World Cup, Australia beat New Zealand by 69 runs at De Soysa Park, Moratuwa.

In a low scoring but exciting match, Australia were dismissed for 122 after winning the toss and electing to bat on a wicket that got dramatically slower and lower as the day progressed. In reply the Kiwis were skittled out for just 53 in 27 overs.

When CRICINFO asked Rod Marsh, the Australian captain whether he had felt his side could win after being bowled out for 122 he replied, 'I always thought we had a big chance of winning it but never expected it to be that easy. It wasn't a good pitch for one-day cricket - far too low and far too slow, it was impossible for the boys to play their shots. We just concentrated on bowling stump to stump and if they miss, you hit.'

Marsh however was disappointed with the batting again. 'I can use bowling other sides out but just hope that someone can get some runs. Luckily if we go through, we don?t have to play at Premadasa again.'

New Zealand must be devastated to lose this game after such a fine performance in the field. Their bowling was accurate and the ground fielding electric. James Franklin was particularly impressive. A tall left arm pace bowler with a slingy action, he finished with 4-18 off his 8.2 overs. Nathan McCullum, who took over the captaincy in this game, was also impressive. His flat but accurate offspin being instrumental in reducing the Australian scoring rate and increasing the pressure on their batsmen. He finished with 2-16 off his 10 overs.

Shaun Marsh (5) and Edward Cowan (28) started the innings well for the Aussies, putting on 29 for the first wicket. Amazingly the partnership was the highest of the match. However in the 6th over Franklin trapped Marsh LBW - The first of a staggering 11 leg before decisions in the match. In his next over he cleaned bowled Michael Clarke (4).

Edward Cowan and Andrew McDonald (13) compiled 28 for the third wicket before the economical McCullum bowled McDonald. The runs now started to dry up for the Australians and Cowan was LBW to Taraia Robin whilst trying to manufacture some runs through the leg-side.

When Gareth Hayne was brought into the attack in the 25th over he appeared to release the pressure with a couple of short balls in his first over. However Watson (4), perhaps lulled into a false sense of security, top edged a full toss in his second over and was caught at mid-wicket.

Wickets now fell at regular intervals until Tim Welsford (30), who had scored 70 against the Kiwis in their practice game, was joined by Hartley (6). They put on 21 for the eighth wicket.

His morale boosted by being Australia?s top scorer, Welsford, then dismantled the New Zealand batting in quite spectacular fashion. Bowling his medium pace wicket to wicket with a ring of fielders in front of the wicket, he claimed 5-22 off his allotted ten overs. Four of these were LBW?s, a testament to the straightness of his bowling and the inadequacy of the pitch.

New Zealand asked to bat for 25 minutes before lunch were immediately in trouble, slipping to 3-4 in the 4th over. They never looked like recovering. The highest partnership of the innings was a paltry 15 between Leighton Morgan (11) and Jamie Franklin (5).