Cricket/ One-day international:Australia held on to beat New Zealand by just eight runs in a high-scoring tri-series one-day international featuring three centuries at the WACA in Perth yesterday.
Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden both smashed hundreds in Australia's total of 343 for five, a record in a one-day international in Perth, before Jacob Oram chalked up the fastest one-day ton by a New Zealander to take his team to 335-5, but it was too late.
New Zealand fell just short of their victory target but their performance was a timely confidence boost ahead of their next match against England on Tuesday.
Ponting belted 111 off 122 balls in a flawless performance that earned him the man-of-the-match award, but was unhappy with Australia's bowling.
"Our bowlers, in the last 30 overs of that game, were put under some pretty intense pressure and we didn't cope as well as I would have liked," Ponting said.
"I am disappointed with the way we responded and reacted tonight," added the Australian captain.
Hayden made 117 from 111 deliveries to secure his place in the team for the World Cup as Australia set a record for the highest one-day total at the WACA on a scorching hot day when the temperatures exceeded 41 degrees.
The pair shared a 200-run partnership for the second wicket after Adam Gilchrist departed cheaply for 13 before Mike Hussey (29 not out), Andrew Symonds (24) and Cameron White (20 not out) piled on 100 runs from the last 10 overs to take the Australian total soaring past the 300 mark.
Ponting struck eight boundaries and a six in a superb innings to chalk up his 21st one-day international century, while Hayden rode his luck after being dropped on nought, four and 79 to bring up his sixth one-day hundred in an innings that featured 15 fours.
He was eventually bowled by Daniel Vettori, who had dropped him before he had even got off the mark, while Ponting was caught in the deep by Peter Fulton.
New Zealand made a strong start to their reply with opener Lou Vincent blasting 62 off 88 balls before he was unluckily given out lbw to Clarke, while Fleming (28), Fulton (23) and Ross Taylor (39) all made valuable runs.
Their chances of getting close to Australia's total looked doomed when they slumped to 198-5 before Oram and Brendon McCullum (46 not out) piled on 137 without loss in less than 15 overs to set up a thrilling finish that was interrupted by a half-hour rain delay.
Oram smashed four fours and six sixes to reach his hundred off just 71 balls and eclipse the New Zealand record of 75 balls for the fastest century, jointly held by Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan, before they ran out of overs.
Perth Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA
A Gilchristc Patel b Mills 13
M Haydenb Vettori 117
R Pontingc Fulton b McMillan 111
M Clarkec sub (Marshall) b Patel 7
A Symondsb Gillespie 24
M Husseynot out 29
C Whitenot out 20
Extras(lb-2 w-18 nb-2) 22
Total(for five wickets, 50 overs)343
Fall of wickets: 1-28 2-228 3-254 4-275 5-293
Did not bat: B Lee, M Johnson, N Bracken, G McGrath.
Bowling: Mills 10-1-72-1 (w-2), Gillespie 10-1-76-1 (nb-1 w-12), Oram 5-0-50-0, Vettori 10-0-34-1 (w-1), Patel 10-0-67-1 (nb-1 w-1), McMillan 3-0-26-1, Taylor 2-0-16-0 (w-2)
NEW ZEALAND
L Vincentlbw b Clarke 66
S Flemingc Gilchrist b McGrath 28
P Fultonc Hayden b Johnson 23
R Taylorb Clarke 39
C McMillanrun out 5
J Oramnot out 101
B McCullumnot out 46
Extras(b-2 lb-5 w-18 nb-2) 27
Total(for five wickets, 50 overs) . 335
Fall of wickets: 1-47 2-107 3-142 4-150 5-198
Did not bat: D Vettori, K Mills, M Gillespie, J Patel.
Bowling: Lee 10-0-53-0, Bracken 10-1-75-0, McGrath 10-0-72-1, Johnson 6-0-48-1, Clarke 9-0-48-2, Symonds 5-0-32-0.
• Australia won by eight runs.
