Awesome Aussies back from dead

PORT ELIZABETH: Australia came back from the dead yesterday to beat trans-Tasman neighbours New Zealand by 96 runs and maintain their unbeaten World Cup record.

After New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond had produced his country’s best One-Day International figures of six for 23 to reduce the world champions to 84 for seven, Michael Bevan (56) and Andy Bichel (64) led a stirring fightback. The pair added 97 for the eighth wicket, an Australia World Cup record, to help their side to a final total of 208 for nine. Glenn McGrath (three for 29) then knocked the top off the New Zealand innings and Brett Lee returned for a second spell to remove top-scorer Stephen Fleming (48) and a shell-shocked lower order as New Zealand were dismissed for 112. Lee’s second spell was five for 11 in 4.1 overs, including five wickets for three runs in 15 balls as New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 10 runs.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said: “We’ve got a lot of very, very good players and we are a very good team. “And we back ourselves to get out of trouble in any situation as we did today. “Bevan and Bichel batted beautifully, then the bowling finished the job.” The win was Australia’s eighth in succession in the World Cup and their 14th in a row in all One-Day International cricket, extending their world record run. It also confirmed they will play their semi-final at the same venue next Tuesday. The defeat for New Zealand means they will have to beat India in their last Super Six match on Friday to secure a semi-final place of their own. That requirement looked highly unlikely, at least for much of the first half of the day, as Bond created havoc in the Australia top order. The former Christchurch policeman eclipsed the previous best figures by a New Zealand player in one-day cricket, the six for 25 taken by Scott Styris against the West Indies in Port- of-Spain in 2002. Bond combined pace and accuracy, starting Australia’s slide with an opening spell of three for 20 before he returned midway through the innings with a second burst of three wickets for four runs in four overs.

Bond bowled a full length and used helpful conditions expertly after Fleming had won the toss but Bichel and Bevan took advantage of the end of his spell to launch the recovery. The pair, who had steered Australia to victory over England at the same venue nine days earlier, passed Australia’s previous best eighth-wicket stands both in World Cups and against New Zealand and played with great common sense. Bichel’s score equalled the highest ever made by a number nine in one-day internationals and was his first international 50. It took 83 balls included four fours and a six from a delivery from Andre Adams that bounced twice. Bevan was his usual calm, unruffled self as he moved to his second 50 of the tournament in an innings that spanned 94 balls, and also included four fours and a six.

With Lee clubbing the last two balls of the innings for six to take the score past 200, Australia appeared to have a total to bowl at, something was shown all too clearly when they took the field. McGrath struck first, removing make-shift opener Daniel Vettori (10), Nathan Astle (0) and Styris (3) in his opening burst.