Gutsy Marsh leads Aussies to ODI victory
Getty Images: Martin Hunter
Mitchell Marsh has led Australia to a come-from-behind four-wicket win over New Zealand to level the ODI series at 1-1 in Wellington.
Set 282 to win, Australia got off to a blistering start as openers Usman Khawaja (50) and David Warner (98) combined for an electric 122-run partnership for the first wicket, inside 17 overs on Saturday.
That barnstorming opening partnership came to an end when Khawaja popped up a return catch for Mitchell Santner (3 for 47), setting up a mini-collapse for Australia.
Steve Smith (1) and George Bailey (0) fell in consecutive balls at the hands of Santner, while Glenn Maxwell pulled onto his own stumps off Trent Boult’s bowling (1 for 49).
With the middle-order decimated, David Warner fell agonisingly short of a century when he was caught plumb in front off Santner, leaving it to Marsh to begin what looked like an unlikely rearguard effort.
But Marsh (69 not out) combined with John Hastings (48 not out) for a crucial seventh-wicket partnership of 86 runs, as calm heads saw Australia ease home with 21 balls to spare.
Earlier, Kane Williamson’s 60 helped New Zealand to 9 for 281 after the hosts won the toss and elected to bat at the Cake Tin.
Santner showed his all-round ability with a quick 45 not out down the order as he helped New Zealand’s innings accelerate very late on.
The teams will play the deciding match of the three-match ODI series at Hamilton on February 8.
Usman Khawaja helped get the Aussies off to a blistering start.
