New Zealand paceman Shane Bond ripped through the Australian top-order with career-best figures before Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel revived the innings to give their bowlers something to defend in their World Cup Super Six cricket match at St George’s Park on Tuesday.
Australia finished their 50 overs on 208 for nine wickets. After New Zealand had won the toss, Bond rocked the world champions with a one-day best of six for 23 as the Aussies moved to the brink of disaster at 84 for seven. The Kiwi express grabbed three for 20 in his opening six-over burst but surpassed even that with a deadly second spell of 4-2-3-3.
Bevan (56) and Bichel (64), however, repeated the heroics of their match against England at the same venue with a face-saving eighth-wicket stand of 97 in 22 overs. In the England game, the pair had posted a match-winning unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 73 and Tuesday’s effort was no less valuable.
Bichel was the dominant partner, batting with aggressive intent in hitting his 64 off 83 balls (seven fours, one six), while Bevan produced another priceless knock.
Keeping his head as wickets fell at a frantic rate, he worked the ball all around the field to make 56 of 94 balls (four fours, one six). On a slow pitch, it gave the Aussies something decent to defend, especially after Brett Lee hit the last two balls of the innings for six as 17 came from the final over bowled by Jacob Oram. – Sapa