Ponting and Hodge Star In Australia Win

A century from Australian captain Ricky Ponting and an unbeaten 99 from Brad Hodge gave Australia a 5-wicket win over New Zealand at the MCG on Sunday, after chasing down a fairly large total of 290.

Having won the toss and deciding to bat first, New Zealand made the wrong start to their innings, losing captain Stephen Fleming for 9 early on to Brett Lee. However when Lou Vincent was joined at the crease by Peter Fulton they began to build a good innings. The pair put on 151 in 172 balls before Fulton was trapped LBW by Michael Clarke for 60 from 81 balls. With the score on 162-2 from 31.3 overs, New Zealand could feel that they could've got to 300. But Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum, the remaining specialist batsmen all fell in the space of 112 runs in 18.4 overs, and it was left to Daniel Vettori and James Franklin to finish off the innings and see the Kiwis to 290-7. Of the Australian bowling attack Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Michael Clarke all finished with two wickets each.

When Australia came out to bat, unsurprisingly they did so with an attacking attitude, with Adam Gilchrist hitting a quickfire 29 from 28 balls, but when he and fellow opener fell in quick succession to James Franklin it was left to Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke to continue where the openers left off. However Clarke only contributed 9 runs in a partnership of 47, and he was dismissed by Daniel Vettori with the score on 112-3 and with Australia needing 179 runs to win off 164 balls. Enter Hodge. Ponting and Hodge then set out about building a partnership worth 154 runs from 23.3 overs (in other words, 141 balls), and Ponting reached his hundred from 105 balls, including 6 fours and 1 six. Ponting was out to a spectacular catch from Lou Vincent for 104 and Michael Hussey was run-out by Jacob Oram for 8 having gone for the second run when there was only one available. Going into the penultimate over and Australia needed 3 runs to win. New batsman Cameron White hit a single and Brad Hodge was on 97, and Australia needed two runs to win. However Hodge could only manage two and was left stranded on 99, however he made a good bid for a World Cup place next month. His first ODI hundred will have to wait though. James Franklin was the most impressive of the Kiwi bowlers with 2-56 from his ten overs.

Match Summary
New Zealand 290-7 (50 overs)
L Vincent 90 (113)
PG Fulton 60 (81)
MJ Clarke 2-45 (9 overs)
SR Clark 2-61 (10)
B Lee 2-71 (10)

Australia 291-5 (48.2 overs)
RT Ponting 104 (113)
BJ Hodge 99 (86)
JEC Franklin 2-56 (10 overs)
MR Gillespie 1-45 (8.2)
DL Vettori 1-55 (10)

Australia win by 5 wickets
Man of the Match: RT Ponting (Australia)