Kiwis survive Oz fightback

Boult, Williamson sparkle in thrilling encounter as NZ march into quarters

 New Zealand booked their place in the World Cup quarterfinals with a narrow one-wicket win over Australia in a sensational finish to their Pool A match in Auckland on Saturday.

With six needed for win and just one wicket in hand, Kane Williamson (45 not out) hit Pat Cummins for a straight six to seal the victory, to the delight of most of a packed 40,000 crowd at Eden Park, who saw their side almost snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Australia fought back through a career-best six for 28 from Mitchell Starc who almost sealed an unexpected win for the four-times former champions.

Earlier, Trent Boult -- like Starc a left-arm seamer -- took a career-best five for 27 saw Australia dismissed for just 151 all out in 32.2 overs before New Zealand struggled to reach their victory target in 23.1 overs, despite skipper Brendon McCullum's 24-ball 50.

New Zealand now have four wins in as many group games and on course to claim top spot in Pool A, while fellow co-hosts Australia have three from their first three fixtures following a 111-run win over England and a no result wash-out with Bangladesh.

The Black Caps were crusing at 131 for four but lost their next five wickets for 15 runs in the space of 19 balls.

The slide started with Glenn Maxwell dismissed Corey Anderson for 26 after the left-hander and Williamson put on 52 for the fifth wicket.

Starc then dismissed Luke Ronch (six), Daniel Vettori (two), Adam Milne (nought) and Tim Southee (nought) to give Australia a sniff of an unexpected win before Williamson held his nerve.

Earlier, McCullum hit three sixes and seven fours to give New Zealand an ideal start to their run-chase.

But it was Boult who derailed Australia after the visitors won the toss and batted on a flat pitch.

Boult triggered Australia's slump to 106 for nine, having been well-set at 80 for one.
It was only thanks to a last-wicket stand of 45 between Brad Haddin (43) and Cummins (seven not out) that Australia got past their lowest World Cup total of 129 against India at Chelmsford in 1983.

Haddin was the last man out, caught of Anderson after hitting four boundaries and two sixes off 41 balls.

Southee took two for 65 while left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori finished with two for 41.

Score Board

AUSTRALIA     

Finch b Southee    14 
Warner lbw Southee    34 
Watson c Southee b Vettori    23 
Clarke c Williamson b Boult    12 
Smith c Ronchi b Vettori    4  
Maxwell b Boult    1  
Marsh b Boult    0  
Haddin c sub b Anderson    43 
Johnson c Williamson b Boult    1  
Starc b Boult    0  
Cummins (not out)    7  
Extras (B-4, LB-2, W-6)    12 
Total (all out, 32.2 overs)    151
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-80, 3-80, 4-95, 5-96, 6-97, 7-104, 8-106, 9-106.
Bowling: Southee 9-0-65-2, Boult 10-3-27-5, Vettori 10-0-41-2, Milne 3-0-6-0, Anderson 0.2-0-6-1.     
         
NEW ZEALAND  

Guptill c Cummins b Starc    11 
McCullum c Starc b Cummins    50 
Williamson (not out)    45 
Taylor b Starc    1  
Elliott b Starc    0  
Anderson c Cummins b Maxwell    26 
Ronchi c Haddin b Starc    6  
Vettori c Warner b Cummins    2  
Milne b Starc    0  
Southee b Starc    0  
Boult (not out)    0  
Extras (NB-1, W-10)    11 
Total (for 9 wkts, 23.1 overs)    152
Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-78, 3-79, 4-79, 5-131, 6-139, 7-145, 8-146, 9-146. Bowling: Johnson 6-1-68-0, Starc 9-0-28-6, Cummins 6.1-0-38-2, Marsh 1-0-11-0, Maxwell 1-0-7-1.