Williamson, Hazlewood sparkle in washout

45 overs New Zealand 291 (Williamson 100, Ronchi 65, Hazlewood 6-52) v Australia
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Kane Williamson steered New Zealand after the rain break © Getty Images

Looks like a good pitch to bat on, Kane Williamson said when he won the toss. We would have bowled anyway, Steven Smith said in response. For much of the innings it seemed that Williamson had made the better assessment as he amassed his first ODI century against Australia and a hefty total loomed, but a late collapse and a six-for from Josh Hazlewood kept Australia firmly in the contest in a rain-reduced match at Edgbaston.

Williamson was run out for an even 100 and it sparked a period of rapid decline for New Zealand, who lost their last seven wickets for 37 in the space of six overs. Josh Hazlewood mopped up the lower order in emphatic fashion, finishing with a career-best 6 for 52 as New Zealand failed by an over to last their reduced allotment of 46 overs.

It was quite the turnaround after Australia were first mauled by a man who used to be one of their own. Luke Ronchi blasted his way to a 33-ball half-century to justify his inclusion ahead of Tom Latham, before Williamson and Ross Taylor combined for a 99-run partnership that kept New Zealand on the right path.

The Australians were rusty in the field – Ronchi was dropped by Mitchell Starc at mid-on and also survived when Australia muffed what should have been a straightforward run-out – and looked like a side that had not played ODI cricket for several months. Smith said at the toss that he was pleased his fast bowlers would have first use of the conditions, but they were not helped by an almost total lack of swing.

In fact, the only thing swinging in the early overs was Ronchi’s bat, as he thumped boundaries all around the ground. He lost his opening partner, Martin Guptill, whose leading edge was caught at point off Josh Hazlewood for 26, and almost lost his own wicket when he gave up on an attempted single only to see the throw miss, and Matthew Wade fail to gather the ball cleanly, allowing Ronchi to make his ground.

A lengthy rain delay in the tenth over reduced the contest to 46 overs per side, and Ronchi scored quickly upon the resumption. Australia knew what he could do – he had smashed a 22-ball ODI fifty for Australia against West Indies back in 2008, but this time they were on the receiving end. To add to their frustration, after Ronchi was dropped by Starc at mid-on off Pat Cummins, he crunched the next two balls for a four and a six.

His stay ended on 65 off 43 balls when he was caught at point off John Hastings, but New Zealand by that stage were 117 for 2 and had more than 30 overs remaining to build on their total. That was precisely what Williamson and Taylor set out to do, two of the most level-headed of international batsmen compiling a common-sense partnership that by just a single run failed to become their fourth consecutive ODI century stand in England.

John Hastings managed to deceive Taylor (46) with a slower cross-seamer that was skied to cover, but if the hundred partnership was not to eventuate then a personal century for New Zealand’s captain would have to suffice. Williamson brought up his hundred from his 96th delivery but perished soon afterwards, run out with eight fours and three sixes to his name.

And then came the carnage. Neil Broom was caught in the deep off Hazlewood, Corey Anderson skied a catch off Cummins in the next over, James Neesham whacked a catch to mid-on off Hazlewood in the next. And Hazlewood finished things quickly in his next over with three wickets in four balls, running through Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult. It left the Australians needing 292 from 46 overs, which was then revised to 235 from 33 overs after further rain during the innings break. It was a far from insurmountable task compared to what might have been.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Source: ESPN Crickinfo