Australia thrash New Zealand in 2nd ODI, take unassailable 2-0 lead

Canberra, Dec 6 (CRICKETNMORE) Australia rode on a century from David Warner and a four-wicket haul by Pat Cummins to thrash New Zealand by 116 runs in the second One-Day International (ODI) of the ongoing Chappel-Hadlee Trophy here on Tuesday.

Australia, who had won the first ODI by 68 runs, now have an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Warner scored 119 runs from 115 balls with 14 boundaries and a six.

With New Zealand captain Kane Williamson asking the hosts to bat first on winning the toss, Warner was involved in a 68-run opening stand with Aaron Finch and a 145-run partnership with Steven Smith to lay the foundation of a massive total of 378/5 at the Manuka Oval.

Warner was finally dismissed when he tried to hit Colin de Grandhomme through the off-side and Williamson pulled off an excellent catch at cover.

Smith then added 45 runs along with Travis Head before being dismissed by pacer Tim Southee. Smith scored 72 runs off 76 balls with six hits to the fence and one into the stands.

Head and Mitchell Marsh then ensured that the hosts produced a formidable total with a 71-run stand off just 41 balls.

Head smashed 57 runs, hitting six boundaries and a couple of sixes during his 32-ball stay in the middle.

Marsh remained unbeaten on 76 runs, hitting two boundaries and a whopping seven sixes off the 40 balls he faced.

Almost all the Kiwi bowlers gave away copious amounts of runs with Matt Henry, Trent Boult, de Grandhomme and Southee giving away 91, 80, 74 and 63 runs respectively from each of their 10 overs.

Mitchell Santner was the most economical among the Kiwi bowlers with figures of 1/47 off his 10 overs. Southee bagged two wickets.

Cummins then led the Australian bowling attack with figures of 4/41 as the visitors were all out for 262 runs in 47.2 overs.

Fellow fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner claimed two wickets each.

New Zealand did not have a great start to their innings, losing openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham within the first nine overs.

Guptill tried to give a solid start to the chase with 33-ball 45 before being caught behind off Cummins' bowling. He smashed seven boundaries and six during his stay in the middle.

Williamson and James Neesham then tried to bring the innings back on track with a 125-run stand.

Williamson scored 81 runs off 80 balls while Neesham needed 83 balls for his 74.

Hazlewood brought the partnership to an end when Neesham handed a skier to Starc on the off-side.

The rest of the Kiwi batsmen were not equal to the challenge and when Cummins sent back Williamson with a slower ball in the 40th over, victory was only a matter of time for the hosts.

Brief scores:

Australia: 378/5 (David Warner 119, Steven Smith 72, Mitchell Marsh 76 n.o., Travis Head 57; Tim Southee 2/63) vs New Zealand: 262 (Kane Wiliamson 81, James Neesham 74, Martin Guptill 45; Pat Cummins 4/41).