- Australia 324-8 (50) defeat New Zealand 256 (44.2)
- Captain Steve Smith notches an SCG record innings of 164
Australia have taken this opening rubber with an impressive effort with the bat and some excellent periods with the ball. Which isn’t to say the Black Caps weren’t in this game during the chase - they had their moments. Guptill’s century wasn’t a matchwinner, but on most days it would be, a wonderful display of clean hitting after getting into the groove.
Of course, the ton that won the game was Smith’s earlier, his 164 the new highest score at the SCG. But he backed it up in the field as well, taking a sensational catch at gully to remove BJ Watling before he had a chance to potentially influence the game.
Related: Australia cruise to first ODI win as captain Steve Smith sets more records
Mitch Marsh gets the final wicket, Ferguson the man on debut bowled for a duck chopping on. The last three wickets came inside six balls once the chase was realistically beyond the tourists. Some final thoughts in a tic.
Cummins has two in the over from the slower ball. Nicely executed, Munro this time through the stroke by the time it arrived, Bailey again the man taking the catch after the ball went high, but barely outside the 30m fielding circle. Important wickets for Cummins, and a reminder that he had a bit more going on than pace alone.
A lot of pace off the ball from Cummins means Henry is through the stroke prematurely, the ball up very high but safely into the waiting hands of Bailey patrolling the long-on rope. Handy cameo from Henry, but they’re coming up short tonight. Cummins into the book, which will be good for his confidence after a shaky start.
43rd over: New Zealand 252-7 (Munro 47, Henry 27) Target 325. The NZ 250 is up with Munro slaps Marsh out for two, deep point doing the work. The bowler flirts with the wide rule twice, once with a slower ball bouncer that he got away with - and fair enough - then later with another change up well outside off stump. Umpire Mantel calls the second one. Australia still win the over, four from it. Marsh has been very good this evening. 22,502 the final crowd. Probably a fraction light on for a Sydney Sunday?
42nd over: New Zealand 248-7 (Munro 44, Henry 27) Target 325. Broken bat! Cummins back on and Munro needs a new piece of wood, snapping the one he brought out there at the splice. Immediate shots from Ch 9 to when Michael Carberry’s bat snapped during the ‘13-14 Ashes.
Okay, we’re back now, a new bat for Colin. He uses it well for the remainder of the over, getting Cummins away to fine leg for four after Marsh drags it over. Then Henry takes him to midwicket to end the over, four more scored. A good over or the Kiwis, 13 from it. They need quite a few of those though. 77 from 48 the equation.
Not ideal! #AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/1IwAWtD1vX
41st over: New Zealand 235-7 (Munro 38, Henry 21) Target 325. Zampa does the right thing and throws it up to Henry, but he’s good enough to get on the back pad and slog it over the midwicket fence. Plenty of sixes tonight, eight all up. It’s not a slog, actually. Well, it is. But it’s better than that, if you know what I mean. It isn’t filthy. Anyway, Zampa has a very good shout with the penultimate delivery after Munro attempts his second reverse sweep of the over. But he has no way to litigate the case through the third umpire because they gave away the review the previous over.
40th over: New Zealand 227-7 (Munro 37, Henry 14) Target 325. The required rate is over ten, then below it when Henry - after a series of dots - gets enough top edge on the last ball of Hazlewood’s spell to get four down to third man. The big quick isn’t thrilled, but with 3-for-49 next to his name after his shift no one will be in any doubt who set this up for Australia with the ball. Two superb limited overs spells.
39th over: New Zealand 222-7 (Munro 36, Henry 10) Target 325. We were upstairs with a review towards the end of that Zampa set, after Munro freed up the arms twice to smack him through extra cover. Fair play to him. Anyway, the review is a shocker. Zampa didn’t fancy it. Smith squired as he made the ‘T’. This is the modern age, as a genius once said.
38th over: New Zealand 211-7 (Munro 27, Henry 8) Hazlewood is ever so close to two-in-two, his first ball to Matt Henry much the same as the one that got rid of de Grandhomme. But he gets an inside edge on it, meaning he profits by four. Cricket, bless it’s quirks. Next ball though, he slays the Australian opener through cover point in a far more convincing effort.
This deserves to be in the OBO.
Not such a "grand homme" now are you Colin? #ausvnz
They have reviewed this, but I’m not even waiting for the red lights to come up to write: that is very, very out. Beautiful from Hazlewood. He’s been mostly successful with seam tonight, but that was legitimate in-swing. de Grandhomme didn’t stand a chance. Nor do the Black Caps.
37th over: New Zealand 198-6 (Munro 26, de Grandhomme 2) I’m not going to lie, my wifi dropped out then and I spent most of the over swearing at my modem. Something my therapist doesn’t like me doing. Anyway, we’ll work on that tomorrow. I can tell you that only three runs were taken by the Zampa over, all singles. And that the Black Caps now need nearly 10 an over. They’re stuffed.
36th over: New Zealand 195-6 (Munro 24, de Grandhomme 1) Target 325. A single each to sweepers, getting Colly de G off the mark in the process. Hazlewood sticks with his back-of-a-length plan to Munro, who responds by swatting him back over his head. Sure, why not. An inside edge into the onside means he’ll keep the strike again.
Most ODI wkts this year:
30 Zampa
29 Hastings, Rashid
27 Tahir
22 Rashid Khan, Hazlewood, Rabada
21 Starc, Boult#AusvsNZ
35th over: New Zealand 188-6 (Munro 18, de Grandhomme 0) Target 325. A single to Munro will keep him the strike. For a bloke known for smashing the suitcase out of it, he’s underwhelmed tonight. And hadn’t gone that well at working the field either.
Good point here, well made. Hazlewood just as much part of that Santner dismissal after working him over in his previous set.
I hope Adam Zampa buys Hazlewood a beer or two tonight #AUSvNZ
This, my friends, is over. Santner didn’t look comfortable at any stage in his seven ball stay, holing out to on where Warner is stationed. Clever from Zampa to throw it up after skidding the previous ball at his leg-stump.
34th over: New Zealand 186-5 (Munro 16, Santner 0) Target 325. Hazlewood to Santner is a pretty good match-up; he’s given the left-handers real grief tonight from over the wicket. He just hits the seam every time. This is a man in wonderful nick. Not once, not twice but thrice he’s beating the new man outside the off-stump from balls short of a length. Very hard to come up against that when chasing plenty and still on zero. This was always the risk if and when Guptill went. Only the Munro single to begin the over into the covers scored from it, the required run rate now 8.6.
Michael Clarke makes a gag about the size of Mark Taylor’s boat on the TV coverage. No comment.
It’s the long hop! Earlier that exact scenario played out only for George Bailey to put down the catch. Not this time with Maxwell out there snaffling the chance, albeit with a juggle. Was that for laughs? Possibly. I hope so. I liked the timing of the Zampa second spell. Guptill hit him out of the attack earlier, but he was the one man to make life difficult for him. And he nearly had him the ball before, a big thick edge and in the air a long time. Good captaincy.
32nd over: New Zealand 177-4 (Guptill 107, Munro 14) Target 325. Hazlewood is back. That’s not a bad call; he was brilliant earlier. It’s a poor restart on the pads, a couple of legbyes. But as soon as Munro is down there it is advantage Hazlewood. He finds the left-handers edge angling away, falling just short of Smith at a floating slip position. A single to deep point gives the strike back to Guptill. He’ll have to at least consider trying to take him on, I reckon. Nup, a single to third man. But at least he retains the strike. Just as important at this stage.
31st over: New Zealand 172-4 (Guptill 105, Munro 13) Target 325. What a wonderful way to bring up a century. 93 balls for Guptill to raise three figures. He’s smashed it 100 metes the TV commentary says. Marsh hasn’t done much wrong, but it’s such a clean strike (see below). 153 from 114 still required, and it remains the case that Australia are driving this game broadly speaking, but where there is Guptill there is hope for NZ. He’s whacked half a dozen sixes in that hundred. A good time for another drinks break.
What a way to bring up a century! That's Guptill's 11th ODI ton and first against the Aussies #AUSvNZhttps://t.co/VMeCpWcAJM
30th over: New Zealand 163-4 (Guptill 97, Munro 12) Target 325. The dot balls are infectious, Cummins - in a much better period for the young quick - delivering four on the trot to Guptill. He’s been doing it with ease for some time now, so that’s an important development. Quick and on the hip he successfully guides the ball into a gap at short midwicket for a quick single to leave Munro one ball to negotiate. Poor batting when he gets his chance though, trying to take a ball well outside stump down the ground when there was an easy one to the sweeper at either cover or backward point. So that’s one run from two overs and 21 off the last five. A clutch period for Australia, the run rate required now in excess of eight an over.
29th over: New Zealand 162-4 (Guptill 96, Munro 12) Target 325. Some good umpiring there, what looked to be a leading or inside edge nothing but thigh pad, correctly assessed as such. Marsh has done a fine job stitching together a maiden to Munro. You don’t see many of those in the 29th over of an ODI when the chase is still broadly on.
28th over: New Zealand 162-4 (Guptill 96, Munro 12) Target 325. Smith sticks with Cummins, probably in an effort to get through as many of his overs before the final ten. But to be fair, he’s much closer to the mark this time around, consistently forcing Guptill onto the back foot at a decent clip. Three singles are taken by the sweepers.
Glenn Maxwell is on the field as Twelfth Man sub-fielding. I’d trade away most things for him to take a worldly right now. Carn the Show.
27th over: New Zealand 158-4 (Guptill 94, Munro 10) Target 325. Martyyyyy. Can’t not say that without speaking like Doc Brown. Martyyyyy! He’s so good here, lobbing onto the front dog and pulling Marsh into the crowd. More a baseballer than a cricketer with that shot. He struts into the 90s.
Smith's 164 + 2 catches > Ponting's 164 + 1 catch. #oneupmanship
26th over: New Zealand 150-4 (Guptill 87, Munro 9) Target 325. Cummins is back while the going is good for Australia. Good captaincy. Munro ignores my advice from a few moments ago by trying to put Cummins on to the moon. He nearly succeeds, that’s got hang time. Travis Head looks to be under it for a moment, but instead the ball fell from the sky a couple of metres over the rope. You get six runs for those, and makes NZ’s task 7.3 an over. Or 174 runs in 24 overs with six wickets in hand if that’s how you prefer it. The 150 is up as well with a single coming after the big’un.
25th over: New Zealand 142-4 (Guptill 86, Munro 2) Target 325. Colin Munro can give it a mighty wallop. That’s not his job right now though; he has to support Guptill by taking plenty of singles to relieve some pressure, letting the senior player do what he does.
That. Catch. Twitter is comparing it to John Dyson for the best at this venue. It’s gotta be in the conversation.
Smudge. Is there anything he can't do? #ausvnzpic.twitter.com/SXy6XuwecM
The risk in the modern game is to say this every other game, but that’s one of the great ODI catches! The skipper flung himself full-stretch to his left after Marsh dropped short and Watling cut with force behind point. In the gully, he judged his dive perfectly and plucked it out of the sky with one hand. Special cricket from the Australian captain, who is having a blinder.
24th over: New Zealand 138-3 (Guptill 86, Watling 4) Target 325. The broader benefit of the Neesham wicket shown here with Watling struggling to get Starc away. Five dots and a single, which means he keeps the strike. Good, full fast bowling from Starc. Marsh back now as well to push a few overs out while the Kiwis recalibrate.
23rd over: New Zealand 137-3 (Guptill 86, Watling 3) Target 325. Nothing wrong with Zampa’s set until the final ball, a half-tracker that Guptill launches over the fence. Let’s himself down, as it’s a good over until then. Watling got underway with runs to the sweepers on either side earlier in the over.
Guptill goes big to move to 86*... #AUSvNZhttps://t.co/rQU2hXIGwu
22nd over: New Zealand 127-3 (Guptill 79, Watling 0) Target 325. It’s all on Guptill now. And that’s no reflection on the batting to come, but you know how these things work. The player who is set and flying bats through, or it gets messy and fast.
Adam White telling some truths here about a fellow Victorian in JW Hastings. Has anyone actually got to the bottom of that yet?
The clever change of pace and lengths from @johnhastings194 would be handy about now. Particularly on this SCG pitch.
Oh gee, Jimmy. Just when NZ were looking right on top. Even earlier in that set, a ball parried onto the boundary at point. It all just felt right, you know? But in an effort to take Starc over deep midwicket he’s only succeeded in skying it to the sweeper Hazlewood. From a ball outside the off-stump too, so it was premeditated. You can understand him wanting to keep the foot down, but it won’t look good when he watches it back in the sheds.
21st over: New Zealand 121-2 (Guptill 73, Neesham 34) Target 325. If Steve Smith was under some pressure coming into this over, 12 runs in three balls from Zampa won’t help. The final of the sequence is a glorious inside-out six over extra cover to the long boundary, some 80 metres to the Bill O’Reilly stand today. Into the crowd and everything. 44 from the last five overs between these two, in a partnership now worth 87. They need seven an over from here. They’re all the numbers you need to know. I’m like Antony Green on election night here.
Here’s the Guptill six. Imagine being able to do that.
Wow! You won't see many shots better than this #AUSvNZhttps://t.co/5nZvlOTxIM
20th over: New Zealand108-2 (Guptill 60, Neesham 34) Target 325. Neesham takes on Starc over long on, and it’s a successful attempt bouncing just once before hitting the advertising boards. He hits with straight arms in stark contrast to someone like Usman. But what is Khawaja-like is the cover drive he gets onto next up. Back to back fours for Neesham, the 100 up, the hosts up against it a little bit for the first time tonight.
With sincere thanks to Lachlan Payne on the idiot machine for sending through this pic of Adam Zampa’s lid. Views? Hit me with them.
@collinsadampic.twitter.com/JhLbDSp6DZ
19th over: New Zealand 97-2 (Guptill 59, Neesham 24) Target 325. Zampa’s first bad ball nearly wins his first wicket. It’s a legit half-tracker that Guptill clobbers straight to Bailey at midwicket. Usually the safest pair of hands in that ring, he puts it down. It was coming hard, but it’s a full chance rather than one of those half or quarter chances people like me say in places like this. Neesham steers the following ball behind point for three. Five from it.
Meanwhile, Cummins has been dragged with Starc taking his cap off. Here’s why.
Cummins
4 balls on a good length = 2 runs conceded
The other 20 (half-volleys, short) = 32 runs conceded#ausvnz
18th over: New Zealand 92-2 (Guptill 55, Neesham 23) Target 325. A bad habit emerging here, for the third time in four overs Cummins’ first ball races away to the boundary via Guptill’s big blade. This time past midwicket to a ball sliding onto his pads. Not hard for him when in this kind of nick. A single mid-over brings up his half-century and what a lovely little hand it has been. It’s clear that the fate of the Black Caps rests with him from here. We know he has the monster knock in him, that 237 not out from the World Cup. What about tonight? Good as any other. Oh, and as I say all these nice things he lifts Cummins over the wicketkeeper with an open blade. Guided with ease that shouldn’t be so when the bowler is rolling them down at 145kph-plus. They’ve put on 60 at just on a run a ball, these two. Meanwhile, Cummins has gone for 34 in four overs. Not ideal.
17th over: New Zealand 80-2 (Guptill 49, Neesham 18) Target 325. Zampa very happy to roll out the side and back of the hand to the left-hander Neesham, a shout for lbw denied to begin the over. It pitched outside leg, but it was quality bowling. As is another to Guptill that skids, and just as it was to end his last over Guptill is on it late. He’s a massive chance here, the leggie. That’s illustrated by Neesham’s loose chip shot to end the over, landing only a couple of metres in front of Warner running to meet it from long on. I’m still transfixed by the hair thing, and no one seems to be tweeting about it. Not with real purpose anyway. Lift, internet.
Here’s that 5000th run from the previous over.
Guptill crunches another boundary to bring up 5000 runs in his ODI career #AUSvNZhttps://t.co/4pT3Kkp1sZ
16th over: New Zealand 77-2 (Guptill 48, Neesham 16) Target 325. Cummins got a good bouncer through to Guptill to end his previous over, and stays with that same attack to start this new over to Neesham, with Bailey still under a lid at short leg. Neesham turns another short one - albeit not quite bouncer length - around to fine leg to get off strike. Good batting. Doubly so when Guptill absolutely clobbers Cummins’ next ball through point for his third boundary off this bowler to that general area. It bringsup his 5000th ODI run in 135 starts for the Black Caps. A fine white-ball career. Cummins is pushing 150kph later in the over. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone bowl quicker than what he did in a tour game at Northants last year, leading into the ODI series where he was regularly in the wickets. He’s a good kid too. Carn Pat - stay well, bowl fast.
15th over: New Zealand 72-2 (Guptill 44, Neesham 15) Adam Zampa into the attack and WHAT’S GOING ON WITIH THAT SHOELACE IN HIS HAIR? I bloody love it! Someone please screengrab that bad boy so I can share it with those who haven’t got the television on. Oh, and he’s pretty good at cricket too - immediately on the mark, grunting like Monica Seles on the double-handed backhand. Zampa zips the final of his opening set flat on towards leg stump, Guptill up the task of keeping it out. But only just. Very impressive start.
Have a drink, says the ump. Rude not to.
14th over: New Zealand 69-2 (Guptill 43, Neesham 13) He’ll be feeling the pressure, Cummins. His seventh ball is square driven by Guptill with serious power to the boundary. So that’s four in seven balls. He’s getting it down there fast enough, deep into the 140s, and it looks good when he’s zipping through a shoulder height. Encouraged by that pace, Smith pops a short leg in when Neesham is up the business end, and it nearly pays off immediately, the fend from the left-hander only evading Bailey’s right hand by a couple of inches. Another short ball greets Guptill to end the over, a snorter of a bouncer too. His best ball yet. More, please.
13th over: New Zealand 63-2 (Guptill 38, Neesham 12) It’s a good start from Marsh. Well, that’s what I planned to say. A couple of singles, generally on a nagging length. But the first time he gives Neesham the chance to open the arms up a bit, to the last ball of the over, he takes it. The stroke lands on the advertising triangles, or whatever they’re called, so it’s four rather than six. Nice hit, though.
What most people don't know is that despite having played his only Test eight years ago, Cummins is still only 19 years old. Amazing.
12th over: New Zealand 57-2 (Guptill 37, Neesham 7) Pat Cummins! Isn’t this exciting. Sure, his loosener is a long hop, lifted with ease by Guptill over extra cover for a boundary. Okay, I might hold my tongue on Cummins for a tic, because as I type it’s a secondary boundary in two balls, Marty this time driving a half volley to the long on rope. A third boundary is taken from the final ball of this now-expensive over, Guptill playing a drive/cut combo behind point, square enough to beat third man. 12 from it.
Me too, Patrick. Me too. Tipping that’s the plan for Brisbane next year to open the Ashes.
Having seen variations of Ambrose Marshall Walsh Holding Roberts Bishop Croft etc,I'm waiting 4 Starc Hazelwood Cummins Pattinson in 1 team.
11th over: New Zealand 45-2 (Guptill 25, Neesham 7) Target 325. Jimmy. Mate. Don’t flay. Not yet. Ever so close to an outside edge when trying to take Mitch Marsh on the up from a ball close to the wide tram tracks. This may sound a bit fatalistic, but with the required run rate already north of seven, they simply can’t afford to lose another at the moment. Consolidate, get back into it, then have a pop. Cool? Thanks fellas. Only one from the over anyway, so maybe that false stroke was an exception.
10th over: New Zealand 44-2 (Guptill 24, Neesham 7) Target 325. Hazlewood into his fifth over here, the final of the power play. It brings probably his first legitimate four-ball, Neesham making no mistake clipping from leg stump to the midwicket rope. Well timed. The big quick doesn’t like that much and bounces back with a beaut next delivery, beating the left-hander across his outside edge.
Hazlewood (2-15) has bowled an average length fuller than four of NZ's five seamers today (the exception being Boult (2-51)#ausvnz
9th over: New Zealand 39-2 (Guptill 23, Neesham 3) Target 325. Mitch Marsh to replace Starc after taking a bit of tap in his previous set. Marty G watches a couple then grabs a single down the ground. Neesham does likewise before driving nicely for three down to long-off; there’s no man down there yet with an over left in the power play. And a quick single from Guptill to end the over. Good batting. They’ll need plenty of it if they are to find a way to this total over the next couple of hours.
8th over: New Zealand 34-2 (Guptill 21, Neesham 0) Target 325. The new man Jimmy Neesham content to defend his first delivery. He’s a friend of the Guardian, having appeared on the brilliant Freelance Cricket Club podcast (on the GSN) with Vitushan Ehantarajah and Will Macpherson during the England summer. Worth subscribing to.
Related: Freelance Cricket Club podcast: with fun-loving Kiwi all-rounder Jimmy Neesham
Wonderful bowling Hazlewood, bringing a couple back to Williamson then lobbing one out a bit wider tailing away. The little champ can’t help himself, loading up for a lavish drive. But instead of hitting the middle of the bat it clipped the outside edge. Tidy take from Smith at first slip, as that was really humming. It is, of course, the big wicket.
7th over: New Zealand 32-1 (Guptill 20, Williamson 9) Target 325. Yep, he’s away. That’s a fantastic clip from Guptill, Starc just straying onto his toes, the ball ending up over the square leg umpire for six of the best. Remember when balls like that would get tickled around the corner for one? Williamson in on the act later in the over; that’s a straight drive to die for. Thanks Kane. You beautiful thing.
For those of us who cherish Jim (which is pretty much everyone, right?), this was a special moment earlier today. Back behind the mic in the ABC box just a few months after a stroke.
Welcome back to the comm box @jimmaxcricket. Great to see #AusvNZhttps://t.co/kgjQIwzqtu
6th over: New Zealand 21-1 (Guptill 13, Williamson 5) Target 325. Marty G takes a couple to square leg to begin Starc’s over. That’s better. Then a single to mid-on. Taken half the power play, but he’s nearly into his groove. Williamson is happy enough to defend and leave for the last couple of deliveries. As is his way.
5th over: New Zealand 18-1 (Guptill 10, Williamson 5) Target 325. An uppercut that Jeff Fenech would be proud of gathers Williamson his first boundary of the evening. That side, he’s conservative in defence, happy to absorb the dot balls from Starc while getting his eye in.
Correspondence! From a lad who calls me Collo and signs off as Bogler. My kind of reader. “Loving the fact that Australia is playing a proper spinner rather than a part timer or a Xavier Doherty type holding spinner. It was always bewildering to me that we would pick aggressive batters, aggressive pace bowlers but wouldn’t show any faith in proper spinners.”
4th over: New Zealand 14-1 (Guptill 10, Williamson 1) Target 325. That’s better from Guptill, straight over Hazlewood’s head holding his shape as the ball bounces a couple of times before running into the sight screen. He’s on strike after Williamson takes a single from his first ball. Nothing much wrong with what Hazlewood is doing here early on, nor Starc, their form transferring from red ball to pink to white.
Here’s the best of the little Smudger’s innings from earlier if you were out and about. I was, actually. More on that later though.
Highlights and more from one of the great ODI hundreds: https://t.co/DhT98AOUaj#AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/dIPDLhAdLf
3rd over: New Zealand 7-1 (Guptill 4, Williamson 0) Target 325. Guptill struggling to get Starc away now, the dot ball count up to nine when a forceful drive goes straight to cover. He’s lucky that an inside edge of his own doesn’t go back onto his stumps next time around, Starc going up to give him a bit of a stare after that. Aware that defence might not be an overly sustainable policy - far from Guptill’s natural state of being - he lifts Starc over long on for a couple to finally get off the mark.
Impressive work from Nine with their music choice between overs to run over the top of the Hazlewood wicket from the previous over. That’s new, isn’t it?
The Hoff is pumped! #AUSvNZhttps://t.co/SVEY3TodGL
We should have seen that coming. Hazlewood started his spell with a big hooping in-ducker to the left hander, Latham late on it and away for a couple. The big fast bowler then sent three deliveries across him seaming away. When he brought it back again? Latham was again late on it, this time the ball grabbing the inside edge on the way to the woodwork. Perfect start from the hosts in defence of this very healthy total.
1st over: New Zealand 0-0 (Guptill 0 Latham 0) Target 325. Starc has the first over. Naturally. His record hitting stumps in the first set of ODIs is without precedent. I haven’t got any numbers to hand to prove this, but good luck proving me wrong. Nice and full, a couple dip back into the pads of Gupill which he can’t get away. Then inviting the drive, he can’t get it through the ring. That happens a couple of times. So it’s a maiden. Old school.
Terrific by Smith, and also by Head to build a partnership. Head currently has Maxwell's place in team #ausvnz
Well, my living room actually. But I sure wish I had of been at the SCG for that Steve Smith gem. He’s looked ready for something like that for a couple of weeks in the white clothes, so we really shouldn’t be surprised he’s given it the big ones first time of asking in the PJs. Some of that premeditated strokeplay in the final ten overs was the stuff of a freak. Way to go, skip.
Righto, we’re about ten minutes away from the resumption, so settle in with a glass of raspberry cordial for the Black Caps chase. You know what I’m going to say next: I want to talk to you. Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com in the old money, @collinsadam the new. You and me.
We’ve just had the privilege of witnessing one of the great One Day International innings courtesy of Steve Smith. Arriving at the crease in the first over, he departed in the 48th, in between smashing the highest individual score in ODIs at the SCG. He steered his side from peril at 92-4 to ascendancy at 324-8.
As brilliant as Smith’s innings was, New Zealand were architects of their own downfall. They failed to review an LBW call against the Australian skipper early in his dig, and then Matt Henry shelled Travis Head when the game was there for the taking. They also bowled an unforgivable number of wides and no-balls, Lockie Ferguson in particular allowing Australia off the hook with free hits.
New Zealand finally complete their 50 overs, but Australia have reached an imposing total.
After a couple of beautiful boundaries, Starc misses a pull and gets a tiny edge onto his helmet which loops behind the stumps to Watling. Starc reviews, clearly not realising he’s got the faintest top edge onto his bonnet.
49th over: Australia 311-7 (Cummins 0)
Cue the Keystone Cops music. Bizarre start to the over with a serious of poor calls between the wickets matched by some wayward New Zealand throwing and Australia somehow scrambling two when a dot ball seemed the likely outcome. Wade then tees off, clattering a four then a two, then becoming the third batsman this innings to play on, lapping a delivering from outside off onto his pegs.
48th over: Australia 303-6 (Wade 30, Cummins 0)
A rare positive over for New Zealand. The wicket of Smith obviously the standout but Boult only conceding four runs.
Highest ODI scores by Aussie captains
164 Ricky Ponting
164 Steve Smith today!
156 George Bailey
149 Steve Smith#AusvNZ
Finally, Smith’s epic knock is over. The largest individual score in an ODI at the SCG comes to an end with a top-edged pull that’s taken by a tumbling square leg.
47th over: Australia 299-5 (Smith 162, Wade 29)
24 deliveries remaining for New Zealand to endure. Matt Henry to bowl at least six of them. He’s in the wrong place at the wrong time though with Smith in this sort of touch. An inside-out drive through the covers is the aesthetic highlight, but there’s gut running, improvisation and determination besides.
46th over: Australia 290-5 (Smith 153, Wade 29)
Another six, this time from Smith, levering Boult over square leg begins the 46th over. A two is followed by the cutest dab through the vacant third man for four, taking Smith beyond 150.
Career-best for Steve Smith! 152 and counting, beating his previous high score of 149 #AUSvNZ
45th over: Australia 275-5 (Smith 140, Wade 27)
Wade joins the six-hitting party with three beauties. First he wallops Neesham through his hitting arc over long leg. Then he absolutely marmalises one of the longest hits you could ever see, over cow corner, just like Happy Gilmour. Finally he perfectly times a ramp that flies all the way to the fine leg rope. A match-changing over for Australia.
Three sixes off the Neesham over as Wade opens up. He and Smith have put 56 on in 24 balls. 275-5, 45 overs #AUSvNZ ^WN
44th over: Australia 254-5 (Smith 138, Wade 8)
This is turning into a Steve Smith clinic. Power, placement, timing, nurdling ones, sprinting for twos, and larruping a six over deep backward square. This is becoming one of the great ODI innings.
43rd over: Australia 241-5 (Smith 126, Wade 7)
Smith is starting to look tired, which is no surprise, and he only just escapes a run-out heading back for a tight second. He regroups quickly though, smiting Ferguson for four and then six, the latter an exhibition stroke from a free-hit.
42nd over: Australia 223-5 (Smith 112, Wade 4)
Matthew Wade is the new man in, a man under some scrutiny considering his Test recall and the ruckus surrounding Glenn Maxwell. He times a couple of on-side flicks to get his innings underway.
WOWZA! One of the finest caught and bowled dismissals you will ever see. Head gets a leading edge to a mistimed drive and Trent Boult dives in his follow through and picks the ball off his bootlaces. New Zealand needed that wicket badly, and what a way to get it.
41st over: Australia 219-4 (Smith 112, Head 52)
Matt Henry to bowl the first over in the final 10-over powerplay and he finds Steve Smith in imperious form, whipping a brace of twos that could easily have been fours, with singles from the remaining deliveries.
40th over: Australia 211-4 (Smith 106, Head 50)
The assault will wait an over until after Santner’s bowled his ninth. Ones and twos keep the scoreboard ticking over and bring Travis Head to a n important, and fortunate, 50.
The first century partnership for the 5th wicket by either side in Aus-NZ ODIs at Sydney is on our screens right now. #AusvNZ
39th over: Australia 206-4 (Smith 103, Head 48)
Head looking to open his shoulders now against Ferguson, slashing a lofted carve over cover that would have been four on most grounds but only worth two at the lopsided SCG. Then he muscles a bottom-handed drive for four.
Unbelievable STAT. Ferguson is first NZ bowler who's overstepped in 35 ODIs. NZ bowlers had bowled 8500+ deliveries without overstepping!
38th over: Australia 198-4 (Smith 102, Head 41)
Santner continuing to do his thing, and his tight lines almost force a mistake. Head calls for a tight single that Smith would have perished from had the throw from mid-off hit directly, or gave Watling less to do behind the stumps.
The captain is at it again @stevesmith49 making valuable runs in the ODI @BLACKCAPS v @CricketAus Great 100 #cricket#criczilla#ausvnzpic.twitter.com/TtnUJ27wRV
37th over: Australia 195-4 (Smith 101, Head 39)
Australia in cruise control.
Steve Smith leads by example for Australia with a fine 100 in the first ODI! #AusvNZpic.twitter.com/95fidYvisr
Ferguson’s radar is off and Smith races from 94 to 100, raising his bat after 120 deliveries at the crease. Cliched captain’s knock from Smith, holding his country’s innings together.
100 off 120 balls by Steve Smith - that is the slowest of the 23 ODI hundreds scored by Australians in the last three years. #AusvNZ
36th over: Australia 186-4 (Smith 94, Head 38)
Santner doing his best here but against two set batsmen it’s just a matter of how many singles and twos Australia can nudge in preparation for their final assault.
35th over: Australia 181-4 (Smith 92, Head 35)
Ferguson returns for another dart in a move that livens up the crowd and puts the batsmen back on their toes. He’s not causing anywhere like the problems he did in his opening spell though, his pace dropping from 150kph down to the early 130s, and - oh dear - he’s down on his back at the top of his run having his hamstring stretched. That was adding injury to insult as he’d just conceded a no-ball, on his return from some remedial work Smith drives the freebie for four.
Ferguson is getting some treatment out in the middle after pulling up sore during his sixth over #AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/r2UeMUGTAu
34th over: Australia 171-4 (Smith 86, Head 33)
Santner continues his holding pattern and everything looks assured until Head French cuts close to his stumps.
33rd over: Australia 168-4 (Smith 85, Head 31)
Head breaks the shackles with a brutal cut that whiplashes both feet off the ground. He’s grown into his innings after a shaky start, and that life he was given by Matt Henry’s butterfingers.
32nd over: Australia 161-4 (Smith 84, Head 25)
Not a lot happening out there at the moment. A sense of Australia girding its loins for a 10-over slog and New Zealand happy just to get through some deliveries without conceding boundaries.
31st over: Australia 158-4 (Smith 82, Head 24)
De Grandhomme now given a chance to take a wicket or stem the flow of runs, and he does the latter, conceding only two runs with a decent line and length.
30th over: Australia 156-4 (Smith 81, Head 23)
Santner races through a classic ‘middle overs’ over with little damage to his figures.
29th over: Australia 154-4 (Smith 80, Head 22)
Since that ragged 25th over New Zealand have lost focus, too often dropping short to Smith and always with the same result, a lofted pull for four over midwicket.
28th over: Australia 140-4 (Smith 71, Head 21)
Santner’s spin gives Ferguson a spell and his first delivery is short and spanked over midwicket by Smith who is in supreme control now. The last is driven firmly through mid-off by Head to bring up the 50 partnership.
27th over: Australia 133-4 (Smith 65, Head 16)
Henry returns to the attack, bowling to Head, the man he dropped a few deliveries ago. The South Australian’s eye isn’t in yet, mistiming his drives, swiping a bit too hard across the line, and he survives another half chance with a thick edge through the vacant gully region.
26th over: Australia 124-4 (Smith 59, Head 14)
Ferguson continuing to bend his back and bang the ball in but everything is gun barrel straight and the pitch is not misbehaving. Smith in the main gets back and across to snuff out the danger.
25th over: Australia 122-4 (Smith 58, Head 13)
Ragged over from New Zealand.
In one way Mitch Marsh was unlucky. In another way, he was very lucky the Kiwis don't mankad. #AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/cuSVu2hHdT
24th over: Australia 107-4 (Smith 58, Head 1)
Ferguson back for more raw pace and after five solid deliveries he oversteps on the sixth and Smith cuts it powerfully for four before swatting the free-hit for two more.
23rd over: Australia 100-4 (Smith 52, Head 1)
Travis Head gets his innings underway with a big inside edge that threatened to be the latest drag-on of the day. Perhaps this wicket isn’t as true to bat on as previously thought?
22nd over: Australia 96-4 (Smith 50, Head 0)
50 for the skipper who’s holding this innings together and looking serene. Massive pressure on him now with a long tail to post a competitive total.
50 up for Steve Smith, who would've been out on 14 had NZ reviewed a not-out LBW decision earlier. #AUSvNZ
21st over: Australia 93-4 (Smith 47, Head 0)
Two play-ons, a leg-side strangle, and a non-striker run out - cricket can be very cruel sometimes.
That was almost as unlucky as being caught off the boot. #ChappellHadlee#AUSvNZ#backtheblackcaps
That’s cruel for Mitch Marsh. Smith plays a classical straight drive to Neesham who fumbles the fielding in his follow through but in so doing knocks the ball onto the non striker’s stumps. Marsh was backing up and not even in frame when the bails flew off.
In the blink of an eye New Zealand are on top.
20th over: Australia 92-3 (Smith 46, Marsh 1)
Trent Boult back into the game as Williamson attacks this brittle looking middle-order of Australia. Not much doing beyond a lofted drive form Marsh that’s well wide of cover.
19th over: Australia 89-3 (Smith 44, Marsh 0)
Neesham’s over otherwise was nothing to write home about. Smith carved a four, the bowler put the ball there or thereabouts mostly, but it’s an innocuous pace with nothing happening off the surface or in the air.
Jimmy Neesham into the attack and he strikes in his first over! Bailey tickles one down the leg side and Watling makes ground quickly to snaffle a terrific catch. The umpires conferred with the TV operator but that was out all the way. Just as Australia looked to be coasting, New Zealand smuggle their way back into the game.
18th over: Australia 84-2 (Smith 39, Bailey 17)
Santner to continue after drinks and Australia milk a single from every delivery. This partnership is now established and ideal for Australia to push on during these ‘boring middle overs’.
17th over: Australia 78-2 (Smith 36, Bailey 14)
Bailey’s technique is all about hitting through the offside and he’s just given a perfect example of its merit. Full and wide from de Grandhomme and the Taswegian larrups it over extra cover for six.
16th over: Australia 71-2 (Smith 36, Bailey 7)
First look at spin with Mitchell Santner twirling left-arm around the wicket to the pair of right-handed batsmen. Not a lot happening off the pitch, but good flight and guile has Santner settling comfortably.
Forget the critics George Bailey... it's a good stance...particularly when the cover fieldsman is bowling !!!!
15th over: Australia 69-2 (Smith 35, Bailey 6)
Another near play-on the only action of note in another de Grandhomme over that Smith milks to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
14th over: Australia 66-2 (Smith 32, Bailey 6)
Ferguson begins with a no-ball but Bailey can’t connect with the free hit. His stance is setting social media alight. Smith is normally the most idiosyncratic batsman in a top order but he looks positively orthodox by comparison, especially when leaning into an on drive for four.
Comfortably the weirdest batting stance I've ever seen. More so than Chanders, Kat or McMillan v Warne. #Bailey#AUSvNZ
13th over: Australia 58-2 (Smith 26, Bailey 5)
De Grandhomme’s dibbly dobbly’s look even slower in comparison to Ferguson’s pace but he almost jags another played-on, Bailey this time missing his off-stump by the smallest of margins.
I'm sorry what? #AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/3TxDu42iXN
12th over: Australia 51-2 (Smith 23, Bailey 1)
Smith is handling Ferguson’s rockets fine but Bailey is in all sorts against him. A huge LBW shout is again turned down, correctly this time, but only because he was fractionally outside the line of off stump. Ferguson is rapid.
Pace from Ferguson's first over in an international km/h: 147, 150, 149, 149, 147, 148 #AUSvNZ
11th over: Australia 48-2 (Smith 21, Bailey 0)
Colin de Grandhomme into the attack with his medium pace wobblers. And after Smith nudges a single we get first glimpse of George Bailey’s exaggerated new stance. It is a sight to behold. He looks to be taking guard facing extra cover but as the bowler releases his right foot snaps back into an orthodox position. Very peculiar.
10th over: Australia 47-2 (Smith 20)
First sight of Lockie Ferguson on Sydney soil and his first delivery is belted back past the non-striker by Warner. Second delivery tips 150kph, blimey, this is going to be fun. Ferguson is all arm and shoulder, not dissimilar in action to Pat Cummins but with more venom.
9th over: Australia 39-1 (Warner 16, Smith 20)
Lucky reprieve for Smith! Replays and DRS indicate that review would have been successful with enough of the ball tracking into the off bail. Beautiful delivery by Boult goes unrewarded and the match fails to take what would have been a significant shift New Zealand’s way.
8th over: Australia 28-1 (Warner 11, Smith 14)
Drop! Very tough chance for BJ Watling down the leg side. Smith got a thick inside edge to a Boult delivery that was angling down leg and Watling, diving full length, got a glove to it but couldn’t hold on.
7th over: Australia 24-1 (Warner 8, Smith 13)
Smart cricket by Warner, given something shorter and wider from Henry he angles it away for three rather than throwing the kitchen sink at it. Smith is far less circumspect next ball, pulling powerfully for four over the vacant midwicket region.
6th over: Australia 16-1 (Warner 5, Smith 9)
The lack of swing for Boult has sent New Zealand into a plan B. Rather than looking to trap Smith with an inswinger, the objective is to find the edge with one angling away.
5th over: Australia 16-1 (Warner 5, Smith 9)
Henry’s bowled beautifully so far and his third over’s bang on the money too. His second delivery is a snorter, rising off a length and smacking into Smith’s right bicep. Unexpected spite from a placid-looking surface.
4th over: Australia 14-1 (Warner 5, Smith 8)
Boult’s found his groove, keeping Warner pinned to his crease and giving him no room to free his hands. Australia’s opener just trying to bunt a single and rotate the strike but he can’t beat the field. 11 dot balls in a row for Warner now. Does he have the patience to work his way through, or is a swoosh on its way?
3nd over: Australia 13-1 (Warner 5, Smith 8)
Henry continues his good line and length but Smith’s got that air about him that he’s batting in bullet time, seeing it early and moving across and in line with purpose.
2nd over: Australia 11-1 (Warner 5, Smith 6)
Trent Boult to open alongside Henry and his first delivery is a loose full toss that Warner dispatches for another boundary. He tightens up thereafter and finds a small amount of swing, nothing to worry the batsmen yet though.
@JPHowcroft Can we please go back to the days where you have the toss & ten or so minutes later the game starts?
1st over: Australia 7-1 (Warner 1, Smith 6)
Beautiful opening over from Matt Henry. Full, seaming, and a wicket to cap it all off. He beat the outside edge of Warner’s bat first up, then forced a thick edge to bring Finch on strike who failed to deal with a delivery on off stump that seamed and bounced, chopping on for a golden duck.
Brilliant start for Matt Henry and New Zealand!
The first two deliveries of the day unsettled David Warner, the third knocked back Aaron Finch who played on his first delivery.
The players are out for the anthems, Australia bedecked in midday sun yellow with a beer logo, New Zealand sleek in midnight black with a bank’s motif.
The great @jimmaxcricket is back on air at the @scg on @abcgrandstand. Welcome back #cricket#ausvnzpic.twitter.com/FIGYhwdCxd
Don’t forget, you can join in the fun this afternoon by emailing or tweeting me via jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com or @JPHowcroft.
Ian Healy currently going through the Australian line-up in detail, with the wide-eyed excitement of a labrador puppy after a dish full of Red Bull. Michael Slater by contrast is labouring his way through the Kiwi XI like a man delivering the best man’s speech at his ex-wife’s wedding.
The pitch in Sydney is pretty dry and grassless. The consensus is it will be prime for batting early and accept spin later on - a decent toss to win.
The weather is fine, warm and humid.
"Bowlers have to be at their best." - @MClarke23. #AUSvNZ#9WWOSpic.twitter.com/KtVUyrTtHP
Good news for Jimmy Neesham: Jimmy Neesham is playing. Bad news for the rest of us: he's not live tweeting this game. #ausvnz
Lockie Ferguson is who I’m most excited about following today. Not much top level experience under the 25-year old’s belt, but he can hit 150kph, which is worth tolerating the dress-ups in the crowd for. Elsewhere there’s the Edwardian throwback Colin de Grandhomme, and the magnificent tweeting machine Jimmy Neesham.
BLACKCAPS bowling in Sydney.
XI: Latham, Guptill, Williamson (c), Neesham, Munro, de Grandhomme, Watling, Santner, Henry, Ferguson, Boult pic.twitter.com/0R17ndakoP
Congratulations @LockieFerguson who will debut for the BLACKCAPS today. ODI player number 190! #chappellhadlee#AUSvNZ ^WN pic.twitter.com/ACa0WB7UE4
Glenn Maxwell’s public humiliation continues with his omission from the first ODI, along with James Faulkner, whose knee injury is perhaps being treated cautiously.
Plenty of storylines to look out for, including the continued emergence of the in-form Travis Head, the return to fitness of Pat Cummins, and the presence of an attacking leg-spinner in Adam Zampa.
Australia XI: Warner, Finch, Smith (c), Bailey, M Marsh, Head, Wade (wk), Cummins, Starc, Zampa, Hazlewood #AUSvNZ
Steve Smith has benefitted from the toss of the coin and will bat. Kane Williamson agreed he would also have taken first dig had he called correctly.
Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the first of three One Day Internationals that comprise the Chappell-Hadlee series between Australia and New Zealand.
The first instalment in this trilogy comes to you from the Sydney Cricket Ground. Here the hosts will be looking to avoid their sixth consecutive ODI defeat in a row for the first time since 1996, while the visitors are searching for one of the two wins they require to secure their first ODI series victory on Australian soil.
Jonathan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here are Geoff Lemon’s thoughts on the Chappell-Hadlee series:
Related: If history is a guide, Australia and New Zealand will deliver first-rate ODI series
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