Aussies Show The Stuff They're Made Of

Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath lifted Australia from the wreckages caused by the lethal Shane Bond strikes to a thumping 96-run victory against New Zealand in a World Cup Super Six matchat the St George's Park in Port Elizabeth today.

Bond's 6-23, the best by any New Zealand bowler in a one-day international, had knocked off Australia's top orderbefore Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel played saviours to ensure a total of 208 for nine.

But the combined might of Lee and McGrath proved to be much stronger than that of Bond as the duo cleaned up NewZealand batting for just 112 in 30.1 overs.

Lee completely overshadowed the performance of Bond, claiming five wickets, including that of New Zealand top-scorer Stephen Fleming, in just 13 deliveries to hasten thedemise of the Kiwis.

The victory almost ensured the top place for Australia in the Super Six table. They now have 20 points with a matchagainst Kenya to play. On the other hand, New Zealand, who have eight points, are now left in a must-win position againstIndia to qualify for the semi-finals. 

Fleming was the lone New Zealand batsman to put up a fight. He scored 48 runs from 70 balls with seven fours beforebecoming the first victim of Lee in the 25th over. Lee, who had earlier struck 15 unbeaten runs from just six balls,simply ran through the lower order batsmen after that dismissing Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Andre Adams and Bondin quick succession.

McGrath had taken care of the top order, sending back Daniel Vettori (10), Nathan Astle (0) and Scott Styris (3) asNew Zealand slumped to 33 for three in the seventh over.

Fleming's 33-run partnership with Chris Cairns was the best of the New Zealand innings which was never allowed tosettle down by the Aussie quicks. Ian Harvey and Andy Bichel also chipped in with a wicket each as the support bowlers kepton the pressure.

Earlier, Bond's extra-ordinary bowling had raised the hopes of the Kiwis achieving the unthinkable -- stopping theAustralian juggernaut in this tournament. Claiming three wickets each in two spells, Bond had made the mightyAustralian batting line-up look vulnerable.

Bond dismissed Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and skipper Ricky Ponting in a fiery opening spell after Fleming had putthe Australians in to bat on a slow pitch.

Just when the Australians looked like making a recovery, Fleming brought Bond back into the attack and the bowleranswered the captain's call with wickets of Damien Martyn, Brad Hogg and Harvey.

With Andre Adams sending back Darren Lehmann in between, Australia found themselves tottering at 84 for seven in the27th over. But Bevan and Bichel, who had come up with a match-winning partnership under similar circumstances in the gameagainst England, once again came to the rescue of their side, putting on 97 runs for the eighth wicket to pull their teamout of the rut.

Bevan made 56 runs with the help of four fours and a six while Bichel registered a career-best score of 64 whichincluded seven boundaries and a six off a double-pitched delivery from Adams.

The two took the score to 181 in the 48th over before Jacob Oram dismissed them both.

However, Australian innings got a further boost from Lee who smashed sixes off the last two balls of the innings totake the score past 200.

McGrath, who remained unbeaten on three, scored his first run in World Cup while playing in his 25th match but onlyfourth innings.

PTI