After eight one-sided matches, cricket experts and followers the world over were desperate for a ‘change’. The encounter between the Trans-Tasman rivals was awaited with bated breath, and so eager was everyone for some excitement that they expected a humdinger, even after the Kiwis scored only 198. But then, Hayden, Ponting, Martyn and most importantly Andrew Symonds, all played spoilsport. In my opinion, New Zealand had already lost the game in the first 15 overs of their innings, wherein they lost four wickets with not many on the board. Fleming and Astle gave their team a fine start. Astle, who had a fine outing against the US, looked good until he fell to Glenn McGrath, a player who has mastered the art of upsetting his opponents’ applecart over a long and illustrious career. When McGrath is on song, he rarely stops at one, and his quick dismissals of Marshall and Styris did not help New Zealand’s cause one bit. Fleming’s subsequent exit devastated his team, and the match looked like going the way of the previous games when Oram and the dangerous Cairns also left, the latter for no score. Chris Harris then essayed a familiar role, leading his team out of the hole they had got themselves into. Enterprising knocks by Vettori and McCullum helped their team reach a total that gave their supporters a semblance of hope.
Australia’s bowlers did a fine job, with the ball and as it turned out, in the field as well. Gillespie’s catch to send back Fleming, and Kasprowicz’s effort on the long-on boundary to dismiss the top-scorer McCullum, underscored this Australian team’s long-stated objective to improve their poor record in this tournament. The Kiwis needed wickets, and Gilchrist’s fall in the very first over lifted their spirits. But Hayden and Ricky Ponting took the score along in an unruffled and unhurried manner. The Aussies were very much the driver’s seat by the time Hayden was third out at 99. Symonds arrived at the crease with exactly 100 needed from 26.3 overs and hit a six off the second ball that he faced. It was only the beginning of an extraordinary assault that took his team to victory with lots to spare. His sensational strokeplay overshadowed a fine batting performance by Martyn, who was quite content playing second fiddle and watching the fun from the other end.
Australia are now only two games and two wins away from pocketing the one big prize that has eluded them all these years. Whoever wins the England-Sri Lanka encounter better watch out, for they will have to contend with a rampant Australian side in the semifinals.
