WELLINGTON, 2 March 2005 — Australia crushed New Zealand by seven wickets with nearly 16 overs to spare in their fourth One-Day International in Wellington yesterday.
The world champions hardly broke into a sweat as they cruised to victory in the 35th over after dismissing the Kiwis for 233 to snatch a 4-0 lead in their five-match series.
Damien Martyn top scored for Australia with 65 not out while stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist (54), Andrew Symonds (48) and Simon Katich (43) also got among the runs as the tourists cantered to their 236-3 total.
“It was a great team effort,” said Gilchrist, who was promoted to skipper after Ricky Ponting was ruled out with a leg injury.
“Even though we had already won the series, we were determined to come out and play aggressively.”
New Zealand, currently second in the world rankings behind Australia, had threatened to post a big total when captain Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle laid the platform for a good innings by piling on 84 for the first wicket in 17 overs.
However, when both men departed for 37 runs each, the home side’s batting fell away.
Craig McMillan added 35 off 36 balls and Chris Cairns hit 36 off 35 deliveries, including two boundaries and a pair of sixes, but no-one was able to help the hosts regain the initiative.
Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie took two wickets each for Australia while Michael Kasprowicz, Michael Clarke and debutant James Hopes collected one apiece.
“We just didn’t put enough pressure on them ... and once again they demolished us,” Fleming said.
“We’re getting a drubbing and we’ve got to learn from this.”
Katich, opening the innings in the absence of Matthew Hayden, got the Australian reply off to a fast start with a brisk 43 off 41 balls before Gilchrist swung into action, striking eight fours and a six to reach his first half-century of the series. Both were caught after chancing their arms but their departures did not stem the flow of runs. Symonds belted three sixes in his 48 off just 37 deliveries while Martyn plundered eight boundaries in his unbeaten 65.
