CWC 2019 Flashback – Furious Starc blows away the Kiwis
Australia came out on top in the battle of the Trans-Tasman rivals as they defeated New Zealand by 86 runs on a bowling-friendly Lord’s track. The bowlers were on top for the most part of the contest, but the Australian batsmen showed more grit and determination. Posting a score of 243-9, after a Trent Boult hat-trick, the Aussies gave their bowlers a serious chance of defending the score. Their lethal pacers then carried out the job to perfection, with Mitchell Starc being too hot for the Kiwis to handle. New Zealand were skittled out for 157, with the Aussies extending their lead at the top of the table.
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Kiwi pacers wreak havoc
New Zealand had a very clear plan on how to unsettle an in-form Australian top order. They either bowled a very disciplined line and length or went short on a pitch which had some uneven bounce. Bowling with discipline worked for Boult, who got skipper Finch lbw on 8. Ferguson was then introduced into the attack. He first got rid of the top run-getter in the tournament, Warner on 16 and then sent back Steve Smith on 5. All-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell could also not last long. Stoinis was dismissed on 21 by Neesham who then also got the scalp of Maxwell through a brilliant caught and bowled. The Australians found themselves reeling at a score of 92-5 with Khawaja and Carey out in the middle. Things could have been worse for the Aussies had New Zealand been more clinical with their catching.
Khawaja and Carey dig Aussies out of a hole
Staring at being bowled out for a paltry total, Carey and Khawaja batted with great responsibility to ensure that the Aussies put up a competitive score on the board. While Khawaja took a circumspect approach, Carey was the aggressor without ever being reckless. The two left-handers put up a massive partnership of 107 on the board before the Kiwis finally got rid of Carey on 71, with skipper Williamson taking the scalp. By that time, Australia had managed to put up a score of 199 and were looking to tee off in the final stages in order to cross the 250-run mark.
Boult hat-trick halts the charge
With the Australians looking to pile on the runs, Trent Boult came up with a magic final over in the innings. With the score at 243-6, Boult single-handedly ensured that the Aussies could not score a single more run. He created history, becoming the first New Zealander to pick up a hat-trick in a World Cup. His three scalps included the settled Khawaja on 88, followed by Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff with two brilliant full deliveries. His final delivery was also a peach, almost dismissing Nathan Lyon. With 244 for New Zealand to chase, the game was well and truly in the balance.
Lack of intent costs the Kiwis
What New Zealand needed was an aggressive approach at the start, in order to well and truly take the game away from the Aussies. Yet, they never showed the intent and looked dodgy. Sniffing an opening, the Aussies took full advantage and not before too long, were in the driver’s seat. Behrendorff continuing his form dismissed both the openers – Guptill and Nicholls. The two Australian strike bowlers, Starc and Cummins then struck in relatively quick succession. Captain Kane Williamson was gone for 40, while Ross Taylor quickly followed suit on 30. It was now Australia’s game to lose.
Starc cleans up the house
Mitchell Starc, the most in-form bowler of the tournament continued his impressive streak. His carnage began with the wicket of the woefully out of form Latham, who only managed to score 14. The spinners also inflicted some damage, with Smith dismissing de Grandhomme on a duck and Lyon picking up the scalp of Neesham for 9. With the tail now exposed, the pace of Starc was too much for them to handle, as they folded like a pack of cards. The Kiwis were dismissed on 157, with Starc ending up with figures of 5-26. This took his wicket tally to 24 in the tournament, extending his lead at the top and edging him closer to the historic mark set by Glenn McGrath.
