SYDNEY Feb 28 (PFP): New Zealand reached the World Cup quarter-finals Saturday in a nail-biting one-wicket win over Australia in an Eden Park classic which saw them almost suffer an embarrassing collapse in pursuit of just 152.
Sitting comfortably at 78-1, the Black Caps were crippled by sudden stage-fright as their next eight wickets fell for just 68 runs with 40,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
But Kane Williamson (45 not out) smashed the winning runs with a mighty six off Pat Cummins from the first ball of the 24th over, having watched helplessly as Australian left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with a career-best six for 28.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had hit a 21-ball fifty at the top of the innings as the home side cruised towards their total and even at 131 fore four, they were still in pole position.
But the slide started with Glenn Maxwell dismissing Corey Anderson for 26. Starc then took the wickets of Luke Ronchi (six), Daniel Vettori (two), Adam Milne (0) and Tim Southee (0) to give Australia a sniff of an unexpected win before Williamson held his nerve.
Earlier, Trent Boult claimed career-best figures of five for 27 as New Zealand dismissed the four-time champions for just 151.
From 80 for one, Australia lost eight wickets for 26 runs before Brad Haddin (43) and Cummins (seven not out) put on 45 for the last wicket.
"Trent Boult was outstanding for us, and so was Mitchell Starc for Australia," said McCullum.
"Some of the batting wasn't as good as it should have been but that can happen when you are up against high-class seam bowling."
Australia captain Michael Clarke, back in the team for the first time since December after a hamstring injury, said the batting had let his side down.
"It was horrendous," he said. "The tension was there all game. It was very entertaining and we would have liked the result to go the other way but credit to New Zealand."
Left-arm seamer Boult's five wickets came in the space of 18 balls for just one run as New Zealand condemned Australia to their second-lowest World Cup total.
Southee took two for 65 while left-arm spinner Vettori finished with two for 41 as New Zealand's bowling maintained the same momentum which helped them dismiss England for 123 in Wellington.
Australia, who beat England in their opener two weeks ago before seeing the clash with Bangladesh rained off in Brisbane, are now fourth in the pool with three points, five behind New Zealand, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also ahead of them.
The top four in each pool qualify for the quarter-finals.
Sitting comfortably at 78-1, the Black Caps were crippled by sudden stage-fright as their next eight wickets fell for just 68 runs with 40,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
But Kane Williamson (45 not out) smashed the winning runs with a mighty six off Pat Cummins from the first ball of the 24th over, having watched helplessly as Australian left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with a career-best six for 28.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had hit a 21-ball fifty at the top of the innings as the home side cruised towards their total and even at 131 fore four, they were still in pole position.
But the slide started with Glenn Maxwell dismissing Corey Anderson for 26. Starc then took the wickets of Luke Ronchi (six), Daniel Vettori (two), Adam Milne (0) and Tim Southee (0) to give Australia a sniff of an unexpected win before Williamson held his nerve.
Earlier, Trent Boult claimed career-best figures of five for 27 as New Zealand dismissed the four-time champions for just 151.
From 80 for one, Australia lost eight wickets for 26 runs before Brad Haddin (43) and Cummins (seven not out) put on 45 for the last wicket.
"Trent Boult was outstanding for us, and so was Mitchell Starc for Australia," said McCullum.
"Some of the batting wasn't as good as it should have been but that can happen when you are up against high-class seam bowling."
Australia captain Michael Clarke, back in the team for the first time since December after a hamstring injury, said the batting had let his side down.
"It was horrendous," he said. "The tension was there all game. It was very entertaining and we would have liked the result to go the other way but credit to New Zealand."
Left-arm seamer Boult's five wickets came in the space of 18 balls for just one run as New Zealand condemned Australia to their second-lowest World Cup total.
Southee took two for 65 while left-arm spinner Vettori finished with two for 41 as New Zealand's bowling maintained the same momentum which helped them dismiss England for 123 in Wellington.
Australia, who beat England in their opener two weeks ago before seeing the clash with Bangladesh rained off in Brisbane, are now fourth in the pool with three points, five behind New Zealand, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also ahead of them.
The top four in each pool qualify for the quarter-finals.
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