New Zealand v Australia, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first ODI, New Zealand v Australia, 2015-16
15-Apr-2017
At Auckland, February 3, 2016 (day/night). New Zealand won by 159 runs. Toss: Australia.
Eden Park may be small, but when - from the first ball of the fourth over, bowled by Richardson - Guptill hit his patented golf shot on to the stadium roof beyond long-on, spectators sensed it would be New Zealand's day. McCullum had already laced 20 off the previous over from Hazlewood, and the opening pair had 79 by the time he fell in the 11th, having become the third New Zealander - after Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming - to pass 6,000 one-day international runs. Guptill went on to 90, his best score against Australia, from only 76 balls; Nicholls covered Williamson's eight-ball duck with a stylish 61; and, though the scoring slowed after Guptill was run out by Maxwell's direct hit from cover, Santner's calm intervention took the total past 300. It was more than enough, as Australia responded with the shortest completed innings in their one-day history, undercutting by six balls the 152 they faced against England at Edgbaston in 1977. Boult and Henry grabbed three wickets each, Williamson took a screaming catch to send back Maxwell for a duck, and Australia crashed to 41 for six. Wade and Faulkner put on 79, but in 24.2 overs it was done; Santner took wickets with both balls he bowled. During the World Cup a year earlier, Australia had been shot out here for 151; this time they couldn't make even that many. The Australians' mood was not improved when it emerged Faulkner would be flying home because of an injured right hamstring.
Man of the Match: M. J. Guptill.
Eden Park may be small, but when - from the first ball of the fourth over, bowled by Richardson - Guptill hit his patented golf shot on to the stadium roof beyond long-on, spectators sensed it would be New Zealand's day. McCullum had already laced 20 off the previous over from Hazlewood, and the opening pair had 79 by the time he fell in the 11th, having become the third New Zealander - after Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming - to pass 6,000 one-day international runs. Guptill went on to 90, his best score against Australia, from only 76 balls; Nicholls covered Williamson's eight-ball duck with a stylish 61; and, though the scoring slowed after Guptill was run out by Maxwell's direct hit from cover, Santner's calm intervention took the total past 300. It was more than enough, as Australia responded with the shortest completed innings in their one-day history, undercutting by six balls the 152 they faced against England at Edgbaston in 1977. Boult and Henry grabbed three wickets each, Williamson took a screaming catch to send back Maxwell for a duck, and Australia crashed to 41 for six. Wade and Faulkner put on 79, but in 24.2 overs it was done; Santner took wickets with both balls he bowled. During the World Cup a year earlier, Australia had been shot out here for 151; this time they couldn't make even that many. The Australians' mood was not improved when it emerged Faulkner would be flying home because of an injured right hamstring.
Man of the Match: M. J. Guptill.