Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the third and final One-Day International of the Chappell-Hadlee series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In what is a dead rubber, given that Australia lead the three-match series 2-0, the home side have opted to field an unchanged side which means, Glenn Maxwell has been overlooked once again.
© Cricbuzz
Australia bounced back rather well to reclaim the silverware after their 5-0 thrashing in South Africa in the format. Skipper Steve Smith and David Warner made vital contributions with the bat, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have led from the front with the ball. New Zealand, however, have been shoddy across departments. And unless that changes on the day, they're in for a whitewash.
Huge wicket for New Zealand! Steven Smith has tormented them this series but not today says Boult. This was well worked by the Kiwis as Boult comes around the wicket and bowls one on the skipper's hips, who glances it straight to backward square leg. Australia are in trouble early in the game. George Bailey joins David Warner out in the middle.
Just eleven balls into the innings, Trent Boult has struck for New Zealand! Poor shot from Finch as he finishes the series on a disappointing note. It was bowled full and outside off, the batsman gets a thickish inside edge as the ball comes into him. He hits it straight to Nicholls, who is stationed at square leg.
Teams:
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson(c), Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro, BJ Watling(w), Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith(c), George Bailey, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade(w), James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood
Warner and Bailey bring up the fifty-run stand. This has been a pretty good recovery after Australia were reeling at 11 for 2. Warner did receive a reprieve when he top-edged one off Ferguson. Nicholls dived and got to the ball but couldn't latch on to it. Apart from that, the left-hander has looked assured. New Zealand should get rid of him as soon as possible.
Wow de Grandhomme is doing the damage! You got to feel for Mitch Marsh though. He got an inside edge that hit his leg and then hit his stump to remove the bail. He is gutted! That was certainly unlucky by New Zealand are elated! Travis Head is the new man. Warner will be the key now.
Poor stroke, George! The partnership was building quite nicely but the medium pace of de Grandhomme has done the trick. Bailey flicks it tamely straight to midwicket.
David Warner does it again! He has been very consistent in recent times and yet again with his side in trouble, he gets to a half-century. Australia have made only 93 at the halfway mark and that certainly gives the left-hander more responsibility now to bat through the innings.
This is a huge opportunity for Head to make a big score and continue to keep Maxwell out of the side but he made a slow start. New Zealand bowled tight to him and he middled a few straight to the fielders as well. He finally gets a much needed boundary with a pull towards midwicket off Ferguson. He brings up the fifty run stand with Warner.
What a knock! Under the circumstances his team has been in today, the vice captain has led from the front with a terrific century. And he brings it up with a tickle behind the wicket. Despite anchoring the innings he has reached the landmark off just 95 balls as the partnership also nears hundred.
Much needed for New Zealand! This partnership was looking very dangerous but Mitchell Santer has struck at the right time to get rid of Travis Head. He came down the track looking to hit it out of the G but missed the ball completely as it knocks the stumps. Matthew Wade is the new man in.
Australia are 181 for 5 after 40 overs. In the last two years, they have averaged the most in the last ten overs among all teams but with half the side back in the pavilion how much can they add today? Warner is the key. Any total is possible as long as he is present in the middle.
It was definitely a huge gamble to ask a part-timer like Munro to bowl the 43rd over and Warner took full toll of it by clobbering two sixes. He has moved to 125 already as Australia go past 200.
Santner slowed it down making it harder for Wade to clear the huge deep midwicket boundary and it has paid dividends. The left-hander manages to find the fielder at the boundary as Australia lose number six. Warner at the other end is going strong though.
He is on fire! He has been murdering this bowling attack despite not receiving proper support from the other end. Warner now reaches his 150 with a well placed boundary over the third man fielder who was standing inside the circle.
David Warner is finally out for 156. He was out of the last ball while attempting a single as Boult, who bowled brilliantly at the death, ran him out with a direct hit. But what a knock this has been! He has scored 59% of his team's runs by himself. That's remarkable. Can the Kiwis chase this down?
Finch's poor run continued. ©Reuters
New Zealand reach 29 for no loss in five overs. Tom Latham has been looking in great touch right at the start as he has hit a couple of crisp drives. With Martin Guptill also in decent touch after a ton in the first ODI, New Zealand will want these two to capitalise and pile on the runs early on to make it easier for the middle order.
That's disappointing for Latham. He looked in good touch today but clips one straight to the square leg fielder. Cummins strikes! New Zealand are 44 for 1. Skipper Williamson walks in .
New Zealand lose their most valuable batsman, New Zealand also lose their single precious review. Game on now as Faulkner gets rid of Williamson. He comes around the wicket and bowls one back of the length on middle and leg which Williamson misses while attempting a flick. The finger went up immediately but after some deliberation, the batsman challenged the review. He was a goner though!
One among the top three had to bat deep into the chase but unfortunataly, all three are back in the pavilion now. Guptill will be livid as he hits the part-timer Travis Head straight to the fielder at cover. Australia are elated! New Zealand are now 79 for 3.
He has done it again! Starc bowls one full with pace and swings it late to clean up Nicholls. This was an absolute beauty! New Zealand keep losing wickes here at the MCG.
Excellent review by Steve Smith. And it is the offspin of Travis Head that is causing problems. He came around the wicket and BJ Watling missed the line of the ball completely while attempting to sweep. The bowler wasn't really sure if the ball pitched in line but Smith took the gamble and asked for a review. To their delight, he was plumb in front. New Zealand lose half their side.
New Zealand keep losing wickets and 3-0 looks imminent now. Another shoddy batting display from the visitors as number seven goes down. Starcis spewing venom as he cleans up Colin Munro.
So, that' the end of what was a completely one-sided series. It was a good comeback for Australia after a forgettable series against South Africa, albeit this was a different format all together. They will be looking to take this confidence into the Test series against Pakistan starting next week. Do join us then. Cheers!
Steven Smith: "Wasn't a bad one, nice way to finish [referring to his catch]. We put complete performance in all three games. We needed something like this after South Africa. Guys in the top four going on to get hundreds and bowlers executing the plans [on what went right]. We did the basics right in the series. The three fast bowlers have bowled well in the series and good to see Pat (Cummins) back in the team and performing."
Kane Williamson: "Very good [Australia's performance]. They were good in all departments. They had batsmen scoring hundreds in all three games. Today was a bit more disappointing. We had to play very well to chase, but it was gettable. We needed partnerships but it was a tough wicket to bat on. Credit to Warner for scoring 150+ on that wicket. Would like to thank the supporters, who came all the way to back us."
David Warner (MoM & MOS): "It is always special to put runs on the board. Credit to the bowlers for executing the plans. Little bit tired. My first coach, until I was 16-17 passed away and I will catch up with his family once I get home [regarding his black armband]. I have to keep working harder."
Steven Smith dives full length to his right at second slip and picks up a one-handed catch. That's the end of Trent Boult, second wicket for Pat Cummins as New Zealand fold for 147 to suffer an emphatic 117-run loss. Australia have clinched the Chappell-Hadlee Series 3-0.
Clinical Australia sealed a 3-0 series win ©Reuters