Sport

Ruthless Australia ‘A’ crushes New Zealand ‘A’

— Photo: K. Pichumani

IN GREAT TOUCH: David Hussey of Australia ‘A’ sent the New Zealand ‘A’ bowlers on a leather hunt on Monday.

Chennai: Ruthlessness is an Australian attribute. New Zealand ‘A’ discovered this the hard way at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. Once the Kiwis allowed Australia ‘A’ into the contest, there was no coming back.

Cameroon White’s men also found a practical way to avoid Chennai’s heat and humidity — finish the match quickly! The Kiwis were dismissed in 37.3 overs and the Aussies were home in 24.5.

Opting to bat, New Zealand ‘A’ collapsed from 99 for two to 144 all out. Then, David Hussey (78, 56b, 10x4, 3x6) took centrestage.

Australia `A’ crushed New Zealand ‘A’ by eight wickets and a bonus point in the one-day tri-series to set up a final with India ‘A’.

The sides meet in the final league game on Wednesday in what should be a dress rehearsal for the final. There were positives for Australia ‘A’ from Monday’s duel. The sight of pace spearhead Shaun Tait yorking Greg Hay with precision as much as pace must have pleased the Aussie camp.

White’s steady leg-spin fetched him four wickets. Left-armer Xavier Doherty, an orthodox spinner with sound basics, had his share of success on a surface where only the odd ball posed questions to the batsmen. Pacemen Brett Geeves and Ashley Noffke were lively if not threatening on a wicket not conducive to their kind of bowling. The Kiwis contributed to their own downfall with faulty shot selection after the third-wicket pair of skipper Peter Fulton (65, 72b, 3x4, 4x6) and Hay (36) was guiding the side towards a competitive total.

Fulton, a fluent striker of the ball with improving feet movement, was taken at point off White. The New Zealanders subsequently lost the plot, attempting to power their way out of trouble, not thinking their way back into the innings.

“It is an inexperienced side and the collapse was disappointing. We did not apply ourselves. But we are still learning, trying to adapt to the different conditions,” said Fulton. The Kiwis lost their last eight wickets for 45 runs in 14.3 overs.

Luke Ronchi, who miscued a pull off paceman Michael Mason, fell early on in the chase for Australia ‘A’. But Hussey dazzled even as opener Philip Hughes (37 not out) held firm. The second wicket pair added 112 in 18.4 overs.

Hussey was decisive in his footwork, driving on both sides of the wicket, lofting into far areas and imparting tremendous power in his shots. Hughes, a conventional opener, was circumspect.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel eventually consumed Hussey, having him caught at long-on. By then, it was too late.

The scores: New Zealand ‘A’: A. Redmond (run out) 0, M. Guptill c North b Geeves 1, P. Fulton c Hussey b White 65, G. Hay b Tait 36, G. Elliott c Ronchi b Doherty 12, N. Broom c & b White 6, R. Young c Hussey b Doherty 0, B. Scott c Baily b Tait 3, J. Patel lbw b White 0, M. Gillespie st Ronchi b White 6, M. Mason (not out) 0; Extras: (lb-2, nb-1, w-12) 15; Total: (in 37.3 overs) 144.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-99, 4-127, 5-127, 6-127, 7-138, 8-138, 9-138.

Australia ‘A’ bowling: Tait 8-3-24-2, Geeves 8-0-37-1, Noffke 6-0-17-0, Doherty 8-0-32-2, White 7.3-0-32-4.

Australia ‘A’: P. Hughes (not out) 37, L. Ronchi c Broom b Mason 2, D. Hussey c Mason b Patel 78, C. White (not out) 22; Extras: (lb-1, nb-3, w-2) 6; Total: (for two wkts in 24.5 overs) 145.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-118.

New Zealand ‘A’ bowling: Gillespie 7.5-0-49-0, Mason 5-0-24-1, Scott 3-0-19-0, Patel 7-0-35-1, Redmond 2-0-17-0.

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