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John Hastings' blood is worth bottling

6th February, 2016
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John Hastings led Australia's attack in South Africa. (AAP Image/David Moir)
Expert
6th February, 2016
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Veteran paceman John Hastings’ career-best 48 not out at Wellington yesterday steered Australia to a series levelling four-wicket win over New Zealand with the decider at Hamilton on Monday.

Set 282 for victory, Australia was in dire straits at 6-197 when Hastings joined Mitchell Marsh with only leggie Adam Zampa on debut, and pacemen Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland left in the order.

Having been thumped by 159 runs at Eden Park last Wednesday, only the true believers gave Australia the ghost of a chance of victory.

More cricket:
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» The Liebke Ratings: New Zealand vs Australia second ODI
» John Hastings’ blood is worth bottling
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» Scorecard: New Zealand vs Australia second ODI
» Watch: Second ODI highlights

Marsh and Hastings were superb with their 86-run stand, but for mine Hastings deserves the greater credit with an innings way above his station

Marsh is expected to score runs and take wickets, and with an unbeaten 69 off 72 with nine fours and a six after his 2-30 off six, he was named man of the match.

But there are times when the obvious isn’t necessarily the way to go – and that’s why Hastings is my man of the match.

The run chase should ave been a stroll in the park after Usman Khawaja and David Warner had added 122 for the first wicket off just 98 deliveries

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But with skipper Steve Smith (2), George Bailey a first ball duck,and Glenn Maxwell’s fourth successive single figure failure, the Australian lost 3-22, and were 4-144 as New Zealand started tightening the screws.

When Warner (98) was dismissed and Matthew Wade (2) quickly followed, it seemed all over bar the shouting.

Not so was Hastings’ reaction.

He dealt with equal aplomb with Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, and the Black Caps best bowler Trent Boult, while Marsh played one of his best digs.

But it was Hastings who fittingly had the last say, smacking successive boundaries of the world’s number one ranked ODI bower Boult to finish the job in style.

To say Hastings was pumped would be the understatement of the decade – and he thoroughly deserved to be.

Just as pleasing was to see the real Mitchell Marsh stand up to be counted.

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While the Australians snuck home against the odds, there’s still plenty of hard work to be done with the attack.

Hazlewood, Boland, and Maxwell all went for more than a run a ball, Zampa was close at 5.70, and Marsh was 5.00

The most economical was Hastings at 4.20 an over, just another bullet in the magazine to shoot for man of the match.

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