Ross Taylor was fluent throughout his innings of 101 balls, striking 13 fours © Getty Images
Ross Taylor scored his 16th ODI century, equalling Nathan Astle’s record for most one-day hundreds for New Zealand, but overall the hosts failed to fully capitalise on a strong start in the deciding Chappell-Hadlee match in Hamilton. New Zealand had been 162 for 2 at the 30-over mark after Taylor and Dean Brownlie built a strong platform, but a steady flow of wickets limited them to 119 runs from the final 20 overs.
Australia’s fightback was could have been even more effective had they not allowed Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee to plunder 30 runs from the final two overs to lift the total to 281 for 9. Australia will retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy if they win this match and thus secure a 1-1 series draw; should New Zealand’s bowlers successfully defend their total, New Zealand will claim the trophy and the series 2-0.
The key man for New Zealand was Taylor, who walked to the crease in the 15th over with opener Brownlie already on 36; Taylor scored his own runs so freely that he beat Brownlie to the half-century. Taylor was particularly strong on the cut shot and brought up his fifty from 44 deliveries; in the next over, Brownlie raised his half-century – his first in ODI cricket – from his 65th ball.
Brownlie, playing his first international since 2014, had proven a very effective replacement for the injured Martin Guptill, but on 63 he fell when he drove at a fullish, wide ball from James Faulkner and was adjudged caught-behind on review. That began a difficult period for New Zealand, who lost Neil Broom to another edge behind off Faulkner for 8, and then Colin Munro, who couldn’t find his rhythm, drove a catch to mid-off for 3.
The middle-order problems continued as James Neesham chopped on off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for 1, and New Zealand by this stage were wobbling at 209 for 6 in the 41st over. But Santner managed to keep his wicket intact and allowed Taylor to move to a 96-ball hundred with a thick edge through third man for four off Mitchell Starc, though he was caught swiping to leg off Faulkner in the next over for 107.
Santner struck a few important late boundaries, including a six off the last ball of the innings from Starc, to finish with an unbeaten 38 off 34 deliveries. It lifted New Zealand to a competitive total, though a 300-plus score seemed to be on the cards earlier in the day.
Although the innings had started poorly for New Zealand when Tom Latham, in the third over, flicked a leg-side delivery from Starc straight into the hands of Hazlewood at fine leg for an eight-ball duck, the next two partnerships steadied New Zealand well. Kane Williamson (37) put on 70 with Brownlie before the Taylor-Brownlie stand, which was worth 100.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo