Kiwis win fiery clash against Australia
By Greg Buckle, 4 Mar 2010 Greg Buckle is a Roar Pro
Australia’s one-day series against New Zealand began in explosive fashion on Wednesday with pace bowler Mitchell Johnson appearing to clash heads with Kiwi batsman Scott Styris in a mid-pitch confrontation.
A furious Johnson was led away from the equally fiery Styris by Australian players after the pair clashed at the end of the 46th over of the New Zealand innings, in which Styris had slogged two boundaries off Johnson’s bowling.
Chasing Australia’s 8-275 at Napier’s McLean Park in front of 8,257 fans, Styris was the hero with an unbeaten 49 from 34 balls to guide the Black Caps to a two-wicket win with four deliveries to spare.
A pumped-up Styris, who was recalled for the injured Daniel Vettori, hit Doug Bollinger (2-58) for six to clinch the win.
Man-of-the-match Ross Taylor, who was acting captain with Vettori absent because of a neck strain, top-scored with a fine 70.
New Zealand’s innings began in fine fashion with Peter Ingram (41) and Brendon McCullum adding 76.
It took a brilliant catch by Mike Hussey running with the flight of the ball at mid-off to remove Ingram in the 12th over.
Bollinger struck a key blow when he had McCullum playing onto his stumps for 45.
When James Hopes removed Martin Guptill for nine, Australia had pegged back the early onslaught and the Kiwis were 3-106 in the 21st over.
Spinner Nathan Hauritz made a key breakthrough when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin juggled an outside edge to remove James Franklin (12) at 4-175.
Taylor’s dismissal to Shane Watson’s bowling as Hussey claimed another outfield catch sent the Kiwis into the final 10 overs needing 71 to win with five wickets in hand.
Bollinger soon had Neil Broom (19) heading back to the sheds and Daryl Tuffey (12) was bowled by Ryan Harris while Tim Southee was run out for two.
But New Zealand’s tail wagged all the way to victory with the crowd roaring.
Australia’s 8-275 came after the tourists peeled off 82 runs in the last 10 overs.
Hussey top-scored with a run-a-ball 59, falling in the 48th over when he was bowled by Kiwi pace spearhead Shane Bond (2-50).
Australia’s innings was built around a sixth-wicket partnership of 82 between Hussey and Hopes (33).
Opener Shane Watson continued his fabulous season with 45 off 31 balls and Ponting (33) and Cameron White (33) also got starts.
Game two is in Auckland on Saturday.
“I saw it, yeah. I was watching it from where I was fielding,” Ponting said of the Johnson-Styris clash.
“I’m not sure what led to it. I didn’t see any build-up.
“There was obviously something that happened.
“I rushed in as quickly as I could and separated them as quick as I could and we just tried to finish off the game well from there.”
Asked if the pair could face fines or possible suspensions from match referee Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka, Ponting said he wasn’t sure.
“I’m sure they’ll be talking about it though,” Ponting added.
Styris said hitting the winning runs against Australia was a great feeling.
Asked if he had been head-butted by Johnson, Styris said: “He might have come quite close, I don’t know. He may have done.
“It was just a bit of friendly banter. He was trying to get into my head to get me out and I was trying to win the battle over him.
“There was nothing that you don’t see in most other international games.
“The Australians play good competitive cricket and I’d like to think that we will match them in that competitiveness.
“There wasn’t anything untoward I think out there. They were trying to win, we were trying to win.”
Styris confirmed that all-rounder Jacob Oram, who injured his knee while fielding during Australia’s innings, was padded up to bat at No.11 if required.
“Hopefully Dan’s back for the next game. I think Jacob (Oram) is having a scan tomorrow,” a jubilant skipper Taylor said.
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MarkR said | March 4th 2010 @ 9:21am | Report comment
A bowler headbutting a batsman wearing a helmet, there’s a box somewhere missing it’s ‘not the sharpest’ tool…..
Hammer said | March 4th 2010 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Well he is from Queenland after all …. but in saying that perhaps he was trying to knock it off – Styris appeared to have picked up the wrong lid – it was about 2 sizes to big ….
great game last night – and finally some bloody competition … it’s like the summer’s only just started …
Ziontrain said | March 4th 2010 @ 11:34am | Report comment
Typical Australian sportmanship there, Johnson a massive tool. So so good to beat em. Well done Piggy Styris. Bledisloe check, RL World cup check, Chappel- Haddlee….
Antagonist said | March 4th 2010 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Dole cheque, check
Campbell Watts said | March 4th 2010 @ 5:25pm | Report comment
True to you name there!
Ouch
formeropenside said | March 4th 2010 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
You do know Styris is actually a Queenslander, born in Brisbane, don’t you?
Jameswm said | March 4th 2010 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
By the way – Steve Smith just scored 177 for NSW against Tasmania – in a 4-day game.
Brett McKay said | March 4th 2010 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
I’ve noticed this Jameswm, and I thought for sure my prediction of Smith staying in NZ for the ODIs would come through when Marsh was ruled out, but they decided to stay with a squad of 13. Surely it couldn’t hurt to blood another young player??
JamesB said | March 4th 2010 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
It’s always interesting to see how the Aussies react when under pressure – under arm, verbal abuse, over appealing and now head butts! Never have been very good losers. 2 from 2!
formeropenside said | March 4th 2010 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
It was nearly 30 years ago, and well within the laws of cricket at the time.
Campbell Watts said | March 4th 2010 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
doesn’t mean it was sporting!!
Whiteline said | March 4th 2010 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
I’m with Hammer – let’s hope it continues in the tests.
Whiteline said | March 4th 2010 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
James
The boy looks like he can bat but I guess we already knew that. Not bad in the field either. Can he complete the hat trick?
jake said | March 4th 2010 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Go Blackcaps!!!!!!
Spiro Zavos said | March 4th 2010 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Several things came out of the New Zealand victory in the ODI on Wednesday. First, the Australian team is poorly selected – again. James Hopes is too much of a journey man with the ball and bat to deserve a place in the side. The selectors should pick someone who is excellent at batting or bowling, and who can turn his hand to the other skill. This should be Cameron White but he doesn’t bowl now and it is a luxury to have Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Cameron in the side as out and out batsmen.
Brad Haddin is wasted as an opener. Someone like Phillip Hughes or Cameron perhaps promoted for the position.
Hauritz is also wasted in the ODI sphere. A better selection would be someone like David Hussey to do the slow bowling.
The Australians have got to learn to accept losses. They put too much pressure on themselves when things go against them by resorting to sledging. This backfires when someone like Styris returns the sledging with his own sledging.
Finally, the Australian cricket teams on all level of international play seem to be behind other teams when it comes to tactics and selections.
formeropenside said | March 4th 2010 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
The problem is (and has been for some years) that the Australians simply do not adapt to the small grounds in NZ. It is generally easier, it appears, to hit a 6 than a 4 on a ground the size of a pocket handkerchief, and yet the Australians (as a rule) persist in trying to hit the ball along the ground when going for quick runs.
dunc said | March 4th 2010 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
Great win for the Black Caps – not too many Aussie posts here.
I think the aggressive and controlled batting from the Kiwis showed up a few other matters on the Australian bowling front – that Harris, Bollinger, Watson are not quite as good as they think they are – when they meet real quality opposition – Taylor, McCullum and Styris proved that.
Still expect the Aussies to take out the series though. Hopefully more tight contests!