With a 25-run win in the third and final ODI on Sunday, Australia registered ODI series whitewash win over the New Zealand.
Australia rode on century from Steve Smith (105) and fifty Marnus Labuschagne (52) to post a total of 267 in 50 overs. In response, the visitors bowled out for 242, with Mitchell Starc (3) picked most number of wickets for Australia.
Earlier, Australia’s Smith was the standout with the bat, saving the hosts after a rocky start.
AUS Vs NZ 3rd ODI Match Highlights
Invited to bat, Australian openers Josh Inglis (10) and Aaron Finch (5) left the field early after the visitors made a good start, with the first wicket falling in the third ball of the fourth over.
However, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne worked wonders together to steady the ship, putting up a partnership of 118 runs off of 173 balls while both scoring a half-century.
Alex Carey was eventually brought in after Labuschagne was finally dismissed for 52, and Smith proceeded to score runs till he reached 100 before being bowled out for 105.
Carey (42 off 43), Glenn Maxwell (14 off eight) and Cameron Green (25 off 12) also added some crucial late runs to boost the final total.
Smith and Labuschagne’s strong partnership was much-needed after Australia’s top order struggled to put runs on the board early, with Inglis the first to go.
The men in yellow were able to post 267 on board, courtesy a brilliant century by Steve Smith and a half-century by Marnus Labuschagne.
Chasing a target of 268, the Blackcaps openers provided a destructive start, but after a solid approach early on, both Allen and Devon Conway were removed in quick succession.
Before being caught by Smith, Conway had 21 runs from 26 deliveries. Allen walked back after scoring 35 points off of 38.
Latham left after scoring just 10 runs, making it harder for New Zealand to chase down the target.
Despite losing a few wickets, New Zealand persisted in trying to take on Josh Hazlewood and did not give up.
However, the Australian quickly answered in the greatest way imaginable, dismissing the dangerous Mitchell as the visitors suffered yet another setback.
Then, after Phillips and captain Kane Williamson got mixed up, New Zealand widened its imbalance even further by seeing Williamson run out for a modest 27.
Green then dismissed well set Jimmy Neesham for 36 to put New Zealand on complete back foot.
Glenn Philips and Mitchell Santner, however, brought the momentum back with their 51–run partnership for the seventh wicket. But as soon as Phillips got out for 47, New Zealand lost their last 3 wickets in the span of 18 runs and lost the third ODI by 25 runs.
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