New Zealand defeated Australia by 2 wickets with four balls to spare in the One-Day International here Wednesday. Chasing 276 for victory Scott Styris, who was included in the squad due to Daniel Vettori's stiff neck, steered the Kiwis to a thrilling victory by remaining unbeaten on 49 from 34 deliveries. In the absence of Vettori handed Ross Taylor the chance to start his international captaincy career on a high. Taylor who topscored with 70 won the man of the Match award also. Styris sealed the win with a six over long-off from the second ball of the 50th over from Doug Bollinger. He and Shane Bond had combined for a 35-run stand that meant Jacob Oram did not have to bat after suffering a potentially serious injury to his left knee in the field. Although it was Styris who saw the chase home from No. 7, fittingly it was the fill-in captain Taylor who had put New Zealand in a winning position with his 70 from 71 deliveries. Daryl Tuffey bowled well, James Franklin stepped up as a bowler in Oram's absence, Peter Ingram gave them a good start to the chase and Styris did the rest. There were also the expected contributions from Taylor, Bond and Brendon McCullum. Earlier, Australia reached 50 in the sixth over but things slowed significantly when Watson lifted Oram to deep midwicket and was well taken by Ingram for 45 off 31 balls. From there, it was more a gradual climb than an all-out assault and New Zealand's seam-only attack did well to vary their tactics and pick up regular wickets. Ricky Ponting looked set to anchor the innings until on 44 he failed to adjust to Franklin's slower ball and drove to short cover, where Martin Guptill took a sharp one-handed catch. Michael Clarke (22) was surprised by a snorting bouncer from Tuffey and fended an edge behind, and the bowler also collected Cameron White for 33 with a delivery that jagged back and took the off stump. Perhaps only Elizabeth Taylor could match Australia for sheer number of partnerships cut down in their prime. It wasn't until Hussey (59) and James Hopes (33) came together that Australia found another half-century stand. Scores: Australia 275-8 (Watson 45, Ponting 44, White 33, Hussey 59, Hopes 33, Tuffey 3-58, Bond 2-50). New Zealand 281-8 (Taylor 70, Styris 49 n.o., Bollinger 258).
