Australia rebounded from their recent batting slump in spectacular fashion by smashing a record 336 for four in Sunday’s second Chappell-Hadlee series one-day match against New Zealand at Eden Park.
Stand-in captain Mike Hussey led his team’s assault with a blazing 105 off 84 balls while Brad Hodge once again fell agonisingly short of his maiden one-day hundred, finishing 97 not out from 86 deliveries.
Hussey and Hodge also shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 130 in less than 17 overs to help Australia set a new record for the highest total at Eden Park, eclisping New Zealand’s 306-6 against Sri Lanka in 1983.
Hussey smashed eight fours and six sixes while Hodge slammed 10 boundaries and two sixes to narrowly miss out on his first hundred just two weeks after he was left stranded on 99 against the Kiwis in Melbourne.
Australia’s dazzling display came just two days after they were heavily criticised for collapsing for 148 in their 10-wicket loss to New Zealand in Wellington and helped ease concerns their form was sliding in the lead-up to the World Cup.
The Kiwis had made another bright start on Sunday when paceman Shane Bond dismissed Phil Jaques for three then Mark Gillespie got rid of Matthew Hayden for 24.
But wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin chipped in with a valuable 49 to steady the innings while all-rounder Cameron White made 42 not out from 19 balls at the end after Hussey and Hodge had turned the game around.
The left-handed Hussey reached his half-century off 52 balls but needed just 29 more deliveries to bring up his second one-day hundred, smashing three sixes in one over off Lou Vincent to reach the milestone.
Hodge reached his 50 off 49 deliveries and had a chance to bring up his hundred off the penultimate ball but could only manage a single when he needed a boundary. – Reuters