Warner smashes Kiwis, almost joins exclusive club
Warner was run out on the last ball of the innings. Photo: Getty
Batsman David Warner has continued his incredible run of form for Australia, but he just missed out on being a member of an exclusive club when run out on the final ball of the innings in last night’s one-day international against New Zealand.
Warner contributed a stunning 156 to Australia’s 8/264.
If he’d survived, Warner would have been just the second Australian — along with Damien Martyn against New Zealand in 2000 — to carry their bat in a one-day international.
Maxwell was hoping for a recall, but was named 12th man. Photo: AAP
The Aussies, who won the toss and elected to bat, claimed a 3-0 series sweep in the third one-dayer at the MCG.
The hosts had posted 324 and 378 in the first two games but set the Black Caps a relatively modest 265 to win in Friday’s game.
But it proved too much for them in the vast expanse of the MCG as they collapsed to be all out for just 147.
The victory was set up by Warner, coming off 119 at Manuka Oval, who added his second successive century — and fourth in his past six ODI digs.
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell failed to win a berth in Australia’s side for the dead-rubber, with captain Steve Smith taking an unchanged line-up into the final match of the series.
Maxwell received a team fine last week after he made comments about batting below Matthew Wade in the Victorian Sheffield Shield team.
On Thursday, Australian coach Darren Lehmann praised Maxwell for how he had handled the fallout from the controversy.
Lehmann added Maxwell was a chance to come into the side, but he was 12th man instead.
