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Australia 267 for five (Smith 105, Labuschagne 52, Carey 42*) beat New Zealand 242 (Phillips 47, Starc 3-60) by 25 runs
Smith produced the standout efficiency with an ideal instance of overcome tough new-ball situations then transfer by means of the gears. His twelfth ODI century got here from 127 deliveries, the slowest of his profession, however his second fifty took simply 46 balls. It was the primary century made on this run of six ODIs towards Zimbabwe and New Zealand. In complete, the final 20 overs of Australia’s innings introduced 161 runs.
Shortly earlier than play began there was a minute’s silence in reminiscence of Queen Elizabeth II and the gamers wore black armbands.
By then, Australia had been already two down with Josh Inglis, recalled to switch the rested David Warner, edging a half-hearted drive towards Trent Boult whose excellent sequence continued with a gap spell of 6-3-7-1. Smith and Marnus Labuschagne targeted purely on survival for a big interval: after 10 overs Australia had been 19 for two – there have been three consecutive maidens from overs seven to 9 – and after 15 overs it was 29 for two.
Steadily, although, the pair began to construct. Smith pierced the off facet with a canopy drive off Lockie Ferguson for his first boundary then consecutive fours adopted towards Neesham. Labuschagne didn’t discover the boundary till his 62nd supply. Australia’s century got here up within the thirtieth over and likewise marked a transparent shift in tempo, particularly from Smith. He launched Southee down the bottom to achieve fifty and Labuschagne introduced up his half-century from 75 balls however couldn’t go a lot additional when he spliced a slower ball from Ferguson to mid-on to finish a stand of 118.
Smith and Alex Carey added 69 in 10 overs, with the previous dominant. Smith confirmed his recreation consciousness when he swung Neesham over the leg facet for six however observed New Zealand had too many fielders exterior the ring and was signalling the free hit the second the ball left his bat. His innings ended when he gave himself room towards Santner and was bowled. Glenn Maxwell’s keep was transient and Carey couldn’t fairly reduce unfastened, however Inexperienced helped add the ending touches with two sixes in his 12-ball 25.
Given how the primary two video games went, it appeared a steep chase. A optimistic opening stand of 49 was damaged when Devon Conway drove to backward level the place Smith took a low catch. Conway stood his floor however the third umpire dominated the fingers had been beneath the ball. Finn Allen despatched Adam Zampa into the sightscreen earlier than his encouraging innings ended when he chipped to mid-on.
The innings then began to grab up in a vogue much like the second recreation with Abbott once more stringing collectively maidens. Tom Latham was stumped because the ball deflected off his pads again to Carey and Daryl Mitchell top-edged into the off facet. Williamson soaked up 56 balls for his 27, discovering the boundary simply as soon as, earlier than an terrible mix-up with Phillips left a pissed off captain strolling off.
Nonetheless, Phillips and Neesham performed sensibly within the face of a climbing asking charge. Phillips produced some beautiful strokes over the off facet, headlined by a back-foot drive for six towards Starc, and although Neesham picked out long-on – Inexperienced producing a intelligent change of tempo – Santner saved the goal in sight.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
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