New Zealand strike bowlers Trent Boult and Matt Henry destroyed world champions Australia and set up a comprehensive 159-run victory in their opening one-day international in Auckland on Wednesday.
In reply to New Zealand’s 307/8, Australia were all out for 148 in the 25th over.
New Zealand, sent in to bat, made an aggressive start with Martin Guptill (90), Henry Nicholls (61) and Brendon McCullum (44) getting them past the 200 mark in 30 overs.
The run rate slowed with the tailenders but a total in excess of 300 at Eden Park, even with its short boundaries, was competitive.
Australia’s innings began to unravel at the very start as Henry and Boult ripped out the top order to have the tourists reeling on 41/6 after nine overs.
Henry continued the form that made him New Zealand’s leading bowler in their recent series wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In his first over he had Shaun Marsh caught in the slips for five. He followed up with the dismissal of Steve Smith and George Bailey for two.
Standing ovation
Earlier, McCullum left the ground to a standing ovation when his innings ended on 44 off 29 balls with five fours and three sixes.
scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND
Guptill (run out) 90
McCullum b Faulkner 44
Williamson c Marsh b Hazlewood 0
Nicholls c Wade b Marsh 61
Elliott c Hastings b Marsh 21
Anderson c Richardson b Hastings 10
Ronchi b Hazlewood 16
Santner (not out) 35
Milne c & b Faulkner 14
Henry (not out) 5
Extras (B-1, LB-3, W-7) 11
Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 307
Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-81, 3-181, 4-205, 5-231, 6-234, 7-263, 8-290
Bowling: Hazlewood 10-1-68-2, Richardson 10-1-64-0, Hastings 10-0-39-1, Faulkner 10-0-67-2, Maxwell 3-0-30-0, Marsh 7-0-35-2.
AUSTRALIA
Marsh c Guptill b Henry 5
Warner lbw Boult 12
Smith b Henry 18
Bailey c Anderson b Henry 2
Maxwell c Williamson b Boult 0
Marsh c McCullum b Boult 0
Wade c Nicholls b Anderson 37
Faulkner b Milne 36
Hastings c Guptill b Santner 8
Richardson c Williamson b Santner 19
Hazlewood (not out) 0
Extras (LB-2, W-9) 11
Total (all out, 24.2 overs) 148
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-33, 3-39, 4-40, 5-40, 6-41, 7-120, 8-121, 9-148
Bowling: Boult 7-0-38-3, Henry 6-0-41-3, Milne 6-0-46-1, Anderson 4-1-14-1, Elliott 1-0-7-0,Santner 0.2-0-0-2.
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