New Zealand Win Thriller Against Australia

They made hard work of it, but New Zealand escaped with a one-wicket win in their ICC Cricket World Cup game against Australia at Eden Park, chasing down a modest total of 152. With six runs required for victory and just one wicket in hand, Kane Williamson hit a six straight down the ground after the home side received a scare, losing two wickets in the previous over.

For all of Williamson's heroics, though, it was the bowlers who dominated the day. A crafty spell from Trent Boult saw the New Zealand left-armer take five wickets for just one run in the space of three overs.

It was the defining period in the Australian innings. Boult swung the ball back in well and consistently bowled quickly to run through the middle order. He finished with figures of 5/27, bowling his 10 overs in a short space of time. In this he proved just as effective in his later overs thanks to his effortless action which allows him to bowl consistent speeds for long periods. 

Not to be outdone, the Australians replied via a rip-roaring performance from Mitchell Starc, making hay with his speed, bounce and height of release. Starc made key breakthroughs directly before and after the tea break, proving too fast and running straight through Ross Taylor and Grant Elliot.

He later made another two breakthroughs, giving his side a chance in the dying overs when it seemed they were very much a long shot. Despite finishing with figures of 6/28, he was not able to finish the job off, as Boult saw off the final two balls of his ninth over, before Williamson clinched victory.

It did not always look as though it would be a low scoring affair. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Australians started quickly and found themselves at 80/1 before things went pear-shaped.

Daniel Vettori put on an exhibition of bowling with flight and varied pace to slow the momentum and picked up a brace of wickets himself. It was through this that New Zealand generated the pressure required for Boult to wreak havoc.

Last week's hero Tim Southee was loose early on, struggling to find his line and length on a consistent basis, but he was good enough to nab two wickets himself.

Brad Haddin and Pat Cummins provided resistance for the last wicket, scoring 45 valuable runs in a period in which the New Zealand attack went into something of a lull.

The New Zealand innings followed a similar pattern, as a quick-fire 50 from Brendon McCullum got them off to a fast start, before Starc did the damage through the middle.

In the end it was an unbeaten 45 from Williamson which helped them limp over the line in what was a tense finish.

The win puts New Zealand in the box seat to finish top of their pool. Regardless of the result, though, it shows how evenly matched these two teams are, meaning if they are to meet again later in the competition, you can be sure it will be anyone's game.