NZ v AUS, 1st ODI Review: Marcus Stoinis blitz goes in vain as Kiwis clinch nervy encounter

Marcus Stoinis would have not even dreamt of playing such a high-profile encounter against Australia at such a stage in his short career. However, the massive century that the Australian all-rounder was a part of brought the Aussies frightfully close to victory, only for a run out towards the end of the innings that would ensure that Kane Williamson and his men had indeed ensured that there was a win in the first ODI at Auckland.

The Aussies were on the back foot even before a solitary ball was bowled. Stand-in skipper Matthew Wade was ruled out with a back injury, meaning that Aaron Finch would be the stand-in once again. This also meant that Ben Heazlett would make his way into the side as well to deputize for Wade while Peter Handscomb would wear the gloves for this one.

While there was a shift in the keeping gloves, it was Tom Latham who took over the gloves from Luke Ronchi who was not a part of the side as well. While Mitchell Starc did not have the best of times with the ball as he had been privy to in the 2015 World Cup, he gave the Aussies the much-required breakthrough. Moreover, it was the wicket of Tom Latham that fell initially when Peter Handscomb completed the catch behind the stumps.

The wickets continued to tumble and Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor also were on the receiving end when Marcus Stoinis went ahead and picked up the wickets he had to. Even Travis Head chimed in with the wicket of Ross Taylor. However, there was a partnership that was to begin between Neil Broom and James Neesham who would eventually propel the Kiwis to a rather competitive score.

In his crusade and way back into the side, Neil Broom went ahead and smashed three sixes in his compilation of 73, something that eventually helped the Kiwis to post a score of 286, something that was certainly a very good score as well as a stiff target for the Aussies. However, as far as the latter was concerned, it was a case of facing the music of Southee and Boult, something that would indeed be a baptism in itself.

Finch, head, Marsh, Handscomb, Maxwell, and even debutant Heazlett fell in the first 20 overs. The pressure on them was simply unrelenting. Boult made the openings before Santner and Southee made life difficult for the batsmen on the day. At 6/67, the result was there for one and all to be seen. However, it was this level of complacency that would be the undoing of Kane Williamson and his band of merry men.

While James Faulkner is known for his big hits out of the stadium, this was a much more controlled inning, realizing that the target was still chasable, at least in the presence of Marcus Stoinis, they could do it with a few bumps along the way. After settling in, it was Stoinis who gave the charge as far as Neesham was concerned. He smashed the Neesham around the park before Williamson was forced to bring back Lockie Ferguson as well as Mitchell Santner into the attack.

Even Pat Cummins chipped in with an impressive 36 before Stoinis brought the Aussies painfully close to an incredible win. However, this was not meant to be as Hazelwood was run out by skipper Williamson after Stoinis had smashed a couple of big hits into the stands. The all-rounder’s performance might have won him the man of the match, but that itself is an understatement. He smashed 11 sixes in his compilation as well as 9 boundaries, accounting for 102 runs that came from just boundary hitting.

Watch: Kane Williamson steals victory from Australia

Hazelwood pulls an Allan Donal @BLACKCAPS win win win at the death ? SO CLOSE!!!! #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/nMNnwDzvtU

— ♻️GritSports♻️ (@sabeloPB) January 30, 2017

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 286/9 in 50 overs (N Broom 73; M Stoinis 3/49)

Australia: 280 all out in 47 overs (M Stoinis 146*; M Santner 3/44)