Hard fought win for Aussies

New Zealand’s barren run in ODIs against Australia in Australia continued as they slipped to a hard-fought two-wicket loss in the first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series in Cairns. Australia chased down the target of 233 in the 45th over.Despite the loss, the visitors can take a lot of positives from the game as almost every single time Australia were in a position to take the upper hand, they were pulled back. When David Warner and Aaron Finch walked out to bat, it was quite clear that the visitors were perhaps 15-20 runs short of a good total, considering the prevailing conditions. However, the home side was in for a rude shock as they were reduced to 44 for 5 inside 12 overs. Trent Boult was the wrecker-in-chief, taking three of the wickets to fall while Matt Henry chipped in with two.In the third over of the innings, Finch was dismissed LBW to an inswinger from Boult. Steve Smith then inside-edged an off-drive onto the stumps off Boult. The pace bowler continued to use the left-arm angle, alongside seam and swing, to castle Marnus Labuschagne. To make matters worse, the in-form David Warner, who was again looking in good touch, then holed out to deep square leg off Henry. The right-arm seam bowler also snuffed out Marcus Stoinis with a nip-backer to leave Australia in trouble.