Powerful Australia Seal Ease Win in Series Opener

Wellington: It was a different country but the same result for Australia as they breezed to a six-wicket win over an out-classed New Zealand. Australia have now recorded four straight wins over the Kiwis in T20Is.

Fine performance by Australia. After being asked to bowl, Tait and Nannes struck early getting rid of the openers, pushing the Kiwis on the backfoot. A middle order resurgence saw them fight back but a collapse towards the end took them to 118.

Warner and Watson, the Aussie openers, came out firing hard on all cylinders adding 38 inside 3 overs. But, then, a sudden burst by Shane Bond produced three quick wickets pushing the visitors on the backfoot.

However, skipper Michael Clarke and David Hussey avoided any further slip-ups with a 67-run stand and ensured that Australia coast to a 6-wicket win.

David Hussey top-scored with 46. For the hosts, Shane Bond led the attack, with 2-32 in his 4 overs.

Mitchell Johnson has been named the man-of-the-match for his 3-19 in 4 overs.

Aussies were good with the ball and did not have much to do with the bat, but the fielding was poor at times and they would be looking at that aspect in the dressing room. The Kiwis, on the other hand, were completely outplayed in this game. The teams now head to Christchurch for the second and final T20I on Sunday, the 28th of February, 2010 at 0500 GMT.

Earlier, the Kiwis won the toss and had no hesitation in batting but were rocked hard early on by the pace of Shaun Tait, who got rid of Brendon McCullum. Some excellent bowling and fielding combined with poor umpiring saw them stutter at 54 for 4, but a 50-run stand between James Franklin and Gareth Hopkins revived them. But, after Hopkins fell, the hosts lost their way, losing 6 wickets for 14 runs.

James Franklin was the top-scorer with 43. The fielding was a mixed bag with a combination of excellence and ordinary but the bowlers bowled well and were rewarded with wickets. Mitchell Johnson was the pick of the bowlers with 3-19 in 4 overs.

Brief scores
New Zealand: 118 (Franklin 43, Johnson 3-19) by 6 wickets
Australia: 119 for 4 (Hussey 46)
Result: Australia won by 6 wickets
MOM: MG Johnson (Australia)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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