NZ VS AUS ODI

That's all we have from this low-scoring but entertaining game. The Trans-Tasman rivalry is up and running in style and the second ODI is on Thursday, 8th September at 9.50 am IST (4.20 am GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!

Cameron Green (89* off 92 balls) is the Player of the Match. The tall all-rounder says that he is feeling tired and sore as his groin, calf, hamstring and forearms are gone at the moment. Hopes that he has a couple of days off and he will be fine. He praises Zampa and calls him the finisher. Lauds the batting effort of Carey too and shares that the plan was to stick around till the end. Tells that it means a lot to score his first ODI fifty and get his side over the line.

Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand, says the game ebbed and flowed on a tricky surface. Adds they needed a few more runs on the board. Calls the stand of Alex Carey and Cameron Green outstanding. Mentions that they tried hard and had Australia five down but then failed to get that breakthrough. Feels that they adapted to the conditions really quickly as it was a difficult pitch to bat on.

Aaron Finch, the Australian skipper, says that they have made a habit of making these chases close. Praises Alex Carey and Cameron Green for soaking a lot of pressure and feels that it would have been better had they finished the job. Credits New Zealand for their fightback. Mentions that there is still a lot of work to be done. Tells that it's an extraordinary effort from Green who will be sore and tired after facing all the cramps.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

This defeat for New Zealand is only and only due to a flavourless batting show. To provide context, their last six wickets fell for just 53 runs and that meant New Zealand were left with a below-par total on the board. As mentioned earlier, Trent Boult and Matt Henry were brilliant up front but the same intensity was lacking in the middle overs. The Kiwis did manage to break the stand between Carey and Green and then removed Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc quickly as well, but the presence of Cameron Green didn't allow them to go all the way. The little contribution from Adam Zampa cannot be ignored which helped Green in the end who was struggling with cramps.

The chase started in the worst possible way for the home team. Aaron Finch fell again to one of his nemeses Trent Boult who was in fiery form. He removed Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession as well, and then Matt Henry hunted down David Warner and Marcus Stoinis to put Australia's chase in the doldrums. With their backs to the wall, the pair of Cameron Green and Alex Carey joined forces and led the rescue act. They survived a few edgy moments and then looked at ease as the pitch settled down and the softer balls stopped doing much. Their record century stand stole the momentum away from the Kiwis, and Australia eventually crossed the line, but not without a late scare.

An unconvincing win for Australia, to say the least! Not the way they would have liked to reach the target, but they have reached it nonetheless. To sum it up in one line - They flaunted their batting depth in a rather insipid show to take the lead in this 3-match series. Australia now have 100 points in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League 2020-2022/23, and winning the next two games will take them to the top, above England.

Wide! What an anticlimax! Ferguson goes short but down the leg side. Zampa steps back and then leaves it alone. The umpire stretches his arms and Australia win by 2 wickets.

Full and on leg. Zampa drills it past the diving mid-wicket fielder and the ball rolls to long on. A single. Scores are level.

Tossed up, outside off. Zampa pushes it past point and collects a brace. Poor from the fielder, he throws it at the striker's end when everyone knows that Green is struggling with cramps. Anyway, excellent running particularly from Green who is struggling right now.

Common sense prevails. The covers are being taken off now. Both the batters are back in the middle. Mitchell Santner to continue...

Are they going off? Oh no, the umpires have called for covers. Australia are only 4 runs away from winning. They though are ahead on the DLS count. Both the batters are walking off the field. The New Zealand players have stayed out.

FOUR! Zampa showing his batting skills here! What a shot from Australia's number 10. Tossed up, around off. Zampa slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket and the ball bounces right in front of the ropes. Four runs needed now.

Slower in the air, flatter and outside off, Green cuts it to deep cover-point for a single.

Slightly short and outside off, Zampa punches it off the back foot through covers for a single.

Full and on off, Zampa defends it back.