Michael Clarke has been left lamenting Australia’s “horrendous” batting after New Zealand triumphed by one wicket in a dramatic tale of two collapses.
Monster totals may have been everyone’s pre-match prediction for the World Cup cricket clash on Saturday, given the unique dimensions of Eden Park.
Instead, a monstrous collapse defined the game, with the visitors rolled for 151 in 32.2 overs.
Australia slipped from 1-80 to 9-106 in 45 minutes and nine scarcely believable overs.
Man of the match Trent Boult was chief destroyer, claiming five wickets in three overs at a cost of one run.
However, there were nervous moments among the crowd of 40,053 when the hosts fell from 1-78 to 9-146.
Mitchell Starc was twice on a hat-trick, but Boult kept him out for two balls and Kane Williamson hammered a six off Pat Cummins to bring up the winning runs in the 24th over.
Clarke conceded Australia’s total proved almost defendable, but was far from defensible.
“Our batting was horrendous,” he said.
“They bowled really well, swung the ball nicely.
“But our shot selection was very poor.
“Our defence … was a lot poorer than we would have liked.”
Brad Haddin top-scored with 43, putting on a final-wicket stand of 45 runs with Pat Cummins to ensure it was not a record low for Australian cricket.
Clarke backed his side to recover from the slip-up, starting with Wednesday’s game with Afghanistan in Perth.
“There’s never a good time to bat the way we batted. The advantage we have is we’re not knocked out of the tournament,” the returning captain said.
“This is certainly not the end of the world for us.
“I’m still confident we can come out and play our best cricket and turn this around quickly.”
Brendon McCullum was struck on the arm by a 147km/h delivery from Mitchell Johnson in the third over.
But the Blackcaps captain powered past 50 in 21 balls – equalling the mark he set last week against England for the fastest World Cup half-century.
First drop Williamson then kept his cool as the wickets tumbled, finishing 45 not out.
The result is likely to decide the top spot in Pool A, in which case New Zealand will be assured of a home semi-final.
The opening over went for 15 runs, starting with a nervous wide from Tim Southee.
Australia raced to 50 in the sixth over, when McCullum threw the ball to veteran tweaker Daniel Vettori.
It proved a masterstroke.
Vettori and Boult dried up the runs, building the pressure that resulted in Shane Watson picking out Southee on the rope.
Chaos ensued.
David Warner and Steve Smith fell quickly before Boult breezed through the middle order with minimal fuss and marvellous swing.
Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh chopped balls from Boult onto their stumps in the 18th over, while Williamson claimed catches to dismiss Clarke and Johnson.
Starc was undone by arguably Boult’s best delivery, which held its line to clatter into middle stump.
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