WELLINGTON, 6 March 2005 — Australia crushed New Zealand by 122 runs at Napier yesterday to complete a 5-0 sweep of their one-day series.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting smashed his 16th one-day century and his deputy Adam Gilchrist belted 91 to help the world champions pile on 347 for five from their 50 overs.
An under-strength New Zealand could only manage 225 for eight in reply with Craig McMillan top scoring for the hosts with 63.
Michael Kasprowicz was the pick of the Australian bowlers, capturing three wickets for 36 runs.
“We’ve played some great cricket on this tour,” Ponting said. “To come here and win 5-0 was what we hoped to do.”
The Kiwis had gone into the series ranked number two in the world but the heavy loss dropped them down to third behind Sri Lanka.
“I’m not too sure what to say, we’ve been well and truly thumped by a magnificent side,” New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said.
“It’s not easy to take 5-0 but we’ll cop it on the chin and move on and become a better side for it.” Ponting blasted the last two balls of the Australia innings over the ropes for six to finish unbeaten on 141 after Gilchrist had fallen agonizingly short of his hundred.
Gilchrist struck nine fours and four sixes before he drove Tama Canning straight to Craig Cumming at short cover to miss out on his ton.
After missing the fourth match because of a minor leg injury, Ponting was even more destructive than Gilchrist, hammering 10 boundaries and five sixes in a chanceless knock that set a host of batting records.
The skipper’s unbeaten total was his second highest score in 221 One-Day Internationals and the highest by an Australian against New Zealand.
It was also the highest by any player on New Zealand soil while Australia’s total set a new team record at MacLean Park in Napier.
New Zealand’s slim chances of winning were dealt a serious blow even before they began their innings when all-rounder Chris Cairns was unable to bat after tearing his hamstring in the field. The Kiwis made a reasonable start with Fleming (35) and Hamish Marshall (28) scoring freely but neither was able to go on and make a big score.
McMillan’s 63 came off 69 balls and featured seven fours and a six.
Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum also chipped in with 36, including two sixes.
The teams will now play each other in three Test matches.
Weather Mars Pakistan’s Series Buildup in India
In Dharamsala, India, Pakistan’s preparation for the Test series against India was frustrated when their rain-hit warm-up game against a Board President’s XI ended in a tame draw on the final day yesterday.
Barely 45 minutes of play was possible due to bad light and rain, which also marred the first two days of the visitors’ only match before the opening Test, which starts in Mohali on Tuesday.
Board President’s XI were 120 for one in reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 273 all out when bad light stopped play close to the tea interval. The match was abandoned as a draw soon after.
