Australia crushed New
Zealand by 71 runs in the first one day inter-
national at an empty Sydney Cricket Ground
on Friday
After New Zealand earlier kept the home
side to 258 for seven, the Australian bowling
attack dominated the Kiwi batsmen to dis-
miss the visitors for 187 in the 41st over
Cricket Australia barred spectators from
the match in response to the coronavirus pan-
demic, leading to the strange sight of players
acknowledging milestones to empty grand-
stands.
It was also revealed that Australian fast
bowler Kane Richardson was in quarantine
carly in the day and had been tested for the
virus after feeling unwell. However,
he was
subsequently cleared of the virus and re-
turned to the ground to rejoin his teammates.
Australian skipper Aaron Finch won the
toss and chose to bat, with the home side at
one stage looking at a score in excess of 300
following a superb opening partnership from
Finch and David Warner.
But once Warner (67) and Finch (60) were
dismissed, the Australian innings lost mo
mentum and New Zealand clawed their way
back into the game, despite a late flourish
from Marnus Labuschagne, who made 56
from just 52 deliveries
New Zealand must have given themselves
a good chance of taking al-lead in the three-
match series, but some superb Australian
bowling in the first 10 overs meant the visitors
were always behind in the run chase.
None of the New Zealand batsmen was able
to dominate - Martin Guptilltop scored with
40 and wickets fell at regular intervals as
Australia took control. The victory will come
as a welcome boost to the Australians who
had lost their last five Opis in series losses to
South Africa and India
Test spearhead Pat Cummins was the pick
of the bowlers with 3-25, while allrounder
Mitchell Marsh claimed 3-29. Adam Zampa
FINCH
and Josh Hazlewood both picked up two wick
ets in an impressive team display.
Earlier, New Zealand spinners Mitchell
Santner and Ish Sodhi reined Australia in af
ter Finch and Warner's bright start. Warner
brought up a chanceless half-century but soon
began to struggle when New Zealand's fastest
bowler, Lockie Ferguson, came round the
wicket and he eventually fell when he was
beaten by pace and sliced a Ferguson thun-
derbolt to mid-on.
Santner struck next when Finch got a faint
edge to keeper Tom Latham to leave Australia
145 for two. He then rocked the home side
when he bowled Steve Smith (14) with the ad-
dition of only one run.
Leg-spinner Sodhi was expensive carly but
he adjusted his length and claimed the next
three wickets to give New Zealand hope of
chasing down the Australian total under the
SCG lights. The second match will take place
on Sunday, also at the SCG.
BRIEF SCORES
Australia 258/7 in 50 overs (David Warner 67
Aaron Finch 60; Ish Sodhi 3/51) vs New
Zealand 187 in 41 overs (Martin Guptill 40,
Tom Latham 38; Pat Cummins 3/25).
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