New Zealand failed to make the most of their good start in the one-day cricket series against Australia, after an 84-run opening stand by Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming ended with the side all-out for 233 at the Basin Reserve here on Tuesday.
Fleming and Astle, batting first for the first time in the series after being sent in by stand-in Australian captain Adam Gilchrist, raced along at five an over in the highest opening stand against the world champions by any side in the past 12 months.
But once New Zealand were reduced to 90 for two, after both openers fell within 14 balls of each other, Australia gained control to be in a strong position to remain unbeaten in the current series.
After opening stands of 13, four and seven in the series to date, Astle and Fleming relished the good pitch and were largely untroubled by pace duo Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath.
Fleming was hit on the arm early on by Lee but then took charge, hitting his 37 off 52 balls, including a hooked six off Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie, though, broke the partnership in the 17th over when Fleming hit him to Lee at mid-on. Lee earlier conceded 20 runs off four wicketless overs.
Astle, who charged McGrath to hit consecutive boundaries down the ground, tried it once too often to Australia’s fourth paceman Michael Kasprowicz and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Gilchrist.
Astle also scored 37 off 61 balls, including six fours.
Hamish Marshall (23) and Craig McMillan (35) put on 41 for the fourth wicket, and Chris Cairns later chimed in with a meaty 36, but there was little other sign of resistance.
For Australia, Lee, Gillespie and McGrath each took two wickets but went for more than four an over, while debutant James Hopes finished with the impressive figures of one for 38 off 10 overs. – Sapa-AFP