Uprooted New Zealand struggle to find answers
Defending champions rack up 25th consecutive World Cup victory.
NEW DEHLI:
Australia racked up a 25th consecutive World Cup victory, comfortably defeating New Zealand in a match played out against the raw emotional background of the Christchurch quake.
Australia, the defending champions aiming for a fourth successive title, won by seven wickets in Nagpur as Mitchell Johnson took four for 33 to help limit the Black Caps to just 206.
Younger McCullum shines for Kiwis
New Zealand allrounder Nathan McCullum top-scored for the Kiwis with 52 before Aussie opener Shane Watson hit 62 as the champions reached their target with 16 overs to spare.
“New Zealand are a very competitive team and for us to win as well as we have, is pretty satisfying,” said Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Vettori pleads for runs
Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori said, “It would be unfair to the people who are going through a lot worse than we are over here to say that was the reason we didn’t play very well today.”
Vettori called on his batsmen to stand up and be counted after the crushing defeat. “We’ve got a lot of very good players in the top four or five and we’ve just got to find a way that we can stand up and be counted.”
Pace defeat of Kiwis pleases Ponting
Australia captain Ricky Ponting saluted his side’s fast-bowlers after they overwhelmed New Zealand. New Zealand were 73 for six at one stage and before mounting something of a lower-order recovery.
“I think you’ve got to be happy with a result like that. When Mitchell Johnson came on to bowl, the early breakthrough he got really put New Zealand on the back foot and pretty much put them out of the game really early. And that worked to our advantage in the morning session.”
Johnson enjying first-change role
Johnson, who took two wickets in an over to get rid of dangerman Jesse Ryder and James Franklin, said, “The role that I’ve got as a first-change bowler, it’s something I always enjoy.”
Bollinger out of the World Cup
Australia fast-bowler Doug Bollinger has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup with a left ankle injury and is returning home.
“Bollinger has been experiencing increasing left ankle pain since arriving in India,” said team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.
“Doug will now return to Australia and seek specialist opinion to determine the best course of management for this injury.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2011.
Australia racked up a 25th consecutive World Cup victory, comfortably defeating New Zealand in a match played out against the raw emotional background of the Christchurch quake.
Australia, the defending champions aiming for a fourth successive title, won by seven wickets in Nagpur as Mitchell Johnson took four for 33 to help limit the Black Caps to just 206.
Younger McCullum shines for Kiwis
New Zealand allrounder Nathan McCullum top-scored for the Kiwis with 52 before Aussie opener Shane Watson hit 62 as the champions reached their target with 16 overs to spare.
“New Zealand are a very competitive team and for us to win as well as we have, is pretty satisfying,” said Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Vettori pleads for runs
Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori said, “It would be unfair to the people who are going through a lot worse than we are over here to say that was the reason we didn’t play very well today.”
Vettori called on his batsmen to stand up and be counted after the crushing defeat. “We’ve got a lot of very good players in the top four or five and we’ve just got to find a way that we can stand up and be counted.”
Pace defeat of Kiwis pleases Ponting
Australia captain Ricky Ponting saluted his side’s fast-bowlers after they overwhelmed New Zealand. New Zealand were 73 for six at one stage and before mounting something of a lower-order recovery.
“I think you’ve got to be happy with a result like that. When Mitchell Johnson came on to bowl, the early breakthrough he got really put New Zealand on the back foot and pretty much put them out of the game really early. And that worked to our advantage in the morning session.”
Johnson enjying first-change role
Johnson, who took two wickets in an over to get rid of dangerman Jesse Ryder and James Franklin, said, “The role that I’ve got as a first-change bowler, it’s something I always enjoy.”
Bollinger out of the World Cup
Australia fast-bowler Doug Bollinger has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup with a left ankle injury and is returning home.
“Bollinger has been experiencing increasing left ankle pain since arriving in India,” said team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.
“Doug will now return to Australia and seek specialist opinion to determine the best course of management for this injury.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2011.