Date:17/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/17/stories/2007121756012100.htm

Sport - Cricket

Second one-dayer washed out

Sydney: Rain washed out Sunday’s second limited-overs cricket international between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and decided to bat, but the Kiwis got off to a poor start, losing three wickets for just 30 runs before rain stopped play after six overs.

Australia won the first match by seven wickets on Thursday in Adelaide.

The third match in the Chappell-Hadlee series is scheduled for Thursday in Hobart.

Early strikes

Australia’s bowlers took their three wickets in the first three overs.

Brett Lee (two for 12) had Lou Vincent caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting for a second-ball duck and Jamie How (4) tried to guide a short ball from Nathan Bracken through slips and was caught by Matthew Hayden.

Lee struck again in his second over when opener Brendon McCullum, who made 96 in Adelaide on Friday, was caught at mid-off for five after failing to pick a slower ball.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand: L. Vincent c Ponting b Lee 0, B. McCullum c Hogg b Lee 5, J. How c Hayden b Bracken 4, S. Styris (not out) 12, R. Taylor (not out) 5; Extras (nb-1, w-3) 4; Total: (for three wkts. in six overs) 30.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-12.

Australia bowling: Lee 3-0-12-2, Bracken 3-0-18-1.