FazHussey heroics sets up Chappell-Hadlee decider
February 10th 2009 19:17
Australia kept themselves alive in their ODI series with New Zealand as a six-wicket victory in Adelaide took it to a deciding game in Brisbane on Friday.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the fourth ODI in Adelaide, Australia needed a win to avoid a series defeat and take it into a decider at the Gabba.
After struggling for runs, Ross Taylor led a late burst with his 76 helping New Zealand to reach a decent total of 244-8 from their 50 overs.
Australia have been in the ascendancy though since losing the opening two games of the series, and they reached their target comfortably in the end with the Hussey brothers leading the way.
David Hussey top scored with 79 and, after a tricky spell involving Brad Haddin's run-out, he took part in a match-winning 115 partnership with his brother Mike - who hit a six to win the game.
Taylor led a late surge that enabled New Zealand to post anything like a challenging target in Adelaide, as the Black Caps hit 53 runs from overs 45 to 49.
Openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum got the innings off to a decent start with 69 for the opening wicket, but after they went wickets tumbled too often for New Zealand to get anything going.
Guptill made 45 before pulling Mitchell Johnson straight to Nathan Bracken, while McCullum had made 33 before he was bowled by Michael Clarke.
Taylor was then the main man for New Zealand as he starred in two fifty partnerships with Grant Elliott (26) and Kyle Mills (23).
Taylor's knock was eventually ended on 76 from just 71 balls, when an attempted third six was skied into the air for Haddin to catch.
Johnson was the pick of Australia's bowlers with 3-51 from ten overs, while James Hopes took 2-37.
Australia lost Clarke and skipper Ricky Ponting with the score on 57, but Haddin in particular looked dangerous in his partnership with Hussey.
Disaster struck with the score on 101 though when Hussey and Haddin got involved in an almighty mix-up, which saw the wicketkeeper run-out for 43.
Hussey was calmed by the appearance of his brother Mike at the crease, and the pair then proceeded to take the game away from the tourists.
Under-fire David Hussey soon found his form and he made it to 79 before he was bowled by Iain O'Brien, with the game looking in the bag as Australia sat on 216-4 and needing 29 off 34 balls.
Callum Ferguson kept Mike Hussey company, and he sealed the victory emphatically with a six as he closed on 75 from 71 balls and Australia got home with six wickets and ten balls to spare.
Ponting's men will now feel they are on top after squaring the series at 2-2, from 2-0 down, going into the fifth and final match in Brisbane.
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