A fight back from Cameron Green and Alex Carey, bookended by two clusters of wickets, led Australia to a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first One-Day International in Cairns but left questions remaining over the form of Australia’s top order.
Chasing a modest target of 233 Australia were soon 5-44, thanks to terrific opening bowling spells from Trent Boult and Matt Henry, but a 158-run partnership between Carey and Green took Australia within comfortable striking distance of the win.
It was a nervy finish though, Australia losing three wickets in two overs, but Green (89 n.o. off 92), who was visibly suffering from cramps, finished the job with Adam Zampa (13 off 13) to give Australia a one-nil lead in the series.
The top order was again under the spotlight just three days after a collapse in Townsville handed Zimbabwe their first ever victory away against Australia and, while the shortest format is front and centre of limited overs cricket before the start of the T20 World Cup next month, the fifty-over World Cup in India is only a year away.
Aaron Finch’s recent form is perhaps Australia’s biggest concern. In his past nine ODI innings, the Australian captain has passed 15 twice and fifty once and his lean run continued in Cairns when he was trapped lbw by Boult’s trademark inswing and burned a review in the process.
The Cairns humidity suited Boult just fine and it was that inswinger that claimed his next two wickets of Steve Smith (1 off 8), who chopped the ball onto his stumps while attempting a drive, and then Marnus Labuschagne, out for a duck after Boult struck him on the pads.
At the other end, Henry made the seam do the work. David Warner (20 off 25) looked in good touch but pulled a short ball straight to Michael Bracewell at deep square leg but it was a lovely nip-backer from Henry that jagged back between Marcus Stoinis’ (5 off 11) bat and pad to shatter the stumps and leave Australia reeling.
But Carey and Green mounted a rescue operation that started cautiously and became more aggressive as they both reached their respective half-centuries, although there were a few close shaves as they pushed for runs with some risky running between the wickets.
The required run rate was always manageable; the chase was always going to down to wickets after the initial collapse and, when Carey (85 off 99) pulled Lockie Ferguson straight to Henry at mid-on, it sparked another.
Boult, who finished with figures of 4 for 40, returned for another spell and claimed the wicket of Glenn Maxwell (2 off 8), who flicked the ball off his pads was caught on the deep backward square boundary by Jimmy Neesham.
When Mitchell Starc chipped Ferguson to Daryl Mitchell at midwicket Australia seemed to be squandering their chances and New Zealand were just two wickets away from closing out the match, but the final stand between Green and Zampa secured the win with five overs to spare.
Green, whose unbeaten 89 off 92 was his highest ODI innings, had to be treated by the physio on the field for severe cramping but his first half-century in the format followed his first five-wicket ODI haul against Zimbabwe on Saturday.
While Australia’s batting was largely shaky, their bowlers had enjoyed a happier afternoon in the unfamiliar Cairns conditions.
Starc struck early, tempting a thick edge from Martin Guptill (6 off 19) but it took a brilliant piece of fielding from Maxwell to complete the catch, diving to his left at backward point to snatch a one-handed screamer.
Devon Conway (46 off 68) and Kane Williamson (45 off 71) steadied after the early wicket before Conway fell to Zampa, given lbw while attempting to sweep.
While New Zealand scored steadily, if not fluently, Maxwell’s off-spin was a constant niggle. After Williamson holed out to deep midwicket sweeping, Maxwell struck twice in the 42 second over to dismiss Mitchell (26 off 33) and Tom Latham (43 off 57) and finished with 4 for 52 off his full complement of 10 overs.
Josh Hazlewood chimed in with three late wickets to leave New Zealand 9 for 232, a total that - despite the best efforts of their bowlers - was ultimately too difficult to defend.