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Outstanding Aussies too good for Black Caps

Published:Saturday | February 26, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Australia's Brad Haddin plays a shot during the ICC Cricket World Cup Group A match against New Zealand in Nagpur, India, yesterday. Haddin made 55 as Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets.- AP

NAGPUR, India (CMC): Shane Watson scored a run-a-ball 62, and Brad Haddin followed suit with 55 to formalise a seven-wicket victory for Australia over Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in the World Cup yesterday.

Watson and Haddin put on 133 for the first wicket to put Australia firmly on track to successfully chase 207 for victory in their Group A match at the VCA Stadium.

Watson struck six fours and one six from 61 balls, and Haddin struck eight fours from 50 balls before they both fell to fast-medium bowler Hamish Bennett, whose two wickets for 63 runs from seven overs made him New Zealand's most successful bowler.

After Australia captain Ricky Ponting was smartly stumped down the leg-side off Tim Southee for 12, Cameron White joined Michael Clarke and put on 40 unbroken for the fourth wicket to walk Australia over the finish line with 96 balls remaining.

Australia have now won 31 straight matches in the World Cup.

For the second consecutive match, Australia's three frontline fast bowlers, led by Mitchell Johnson, set things up, as New Zealand were dismissed for 206 in 45.1 overs.

Man of the Match

Johnson was the pick of Australia's bowlers with four for 33 from 9.1 overs to earn the man-of-the-match award, and Shaun Tait took three for 35 from seven overs.

Nathan McCullum hit three fours in the top score of 52 from 76 balls for the Black Caps, whose captain Daniel Vettori made 44 from 43 balls to add some beef to his side's total.

McCullum and Vettori added 54 for the eighth wicket, after the New Zealanders wobbled to 121 for seven in the 29th over.

third match

Australia face Sri Lanka in their third match of the competition at the Premadasa Stadium next Saturday in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo in a repeat of the 2007 final, which took place in the Caribbean.

New Zealand meet Zimbabwe the day before at the Sardar Patel Stadium in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.

The World Cup continues today with Sri Lanka hosting Asian rivals Pakistan at the Premadasa Stadium.