 A century from Ricky Ponting and an unbeaten 99 from Brad Hodge has propelled Australia to a stunning five-wicket win over New Zealand in the Commonwealth Bank Series clash at the MCG.
Chasing the daunting target of 291, the Aussies looked headed for consecutive defeats at 3-112 and struggling to find runs, but Ponting combined with local hero Hodge to put on a 154-run stand that saw their side home with 10 balls to spare.
The Aussie skipper's innings of 104 included six fours and one six, while Hodge was desperately unlucky not to register a ton of his own, scoring two runs to win the match when he required three for his milestone. Australia
Gilchrist b Franklin 29
Hayden c Taylor b Franklin 28
Ponting c Vincent b Gillespie 104
Clarke c McCullum b Vettori 9
Hodge not out 99
Hussey run out (Vincent) 8
White not out 1
Extras (9nb,3wd, 1lb) 13
Total (5 wickets, 48.2 overs) 291
FoW: 1-56, 2-65, 3-112, 4-266, 5-279
Bowling:
Franklin 10 - 0 - 56 - 2 (2nb)
Bond 9 - 0 - 64 - 0 (1wd, 2nb)
Gillespie 8.2 - 0 - 45 - 1 (1nb)
Oram 5 - 0 - 44 - 0 (1nb)
Vettori 10 - 0 - 55 - 1 (2wd, 2nb)
Styris 6 - 0 - 26 - 0
New Zealand
Vincent b Tait 90
Fleming c Hussey b Lee 9
Fulton lbw b Clarke 60
Taylor b Clarke 21
Styris c Hussey b Clarke 34
Oram c Hodge b Lee 15
McCullum b Clark 20
Vettori not out 3
Franklin not out 13
Extras (2b, 11lb, 4nb, 8wd) 25
Total (7 wicket, 50 overs) 290
FoW: 1-12, 2-163, 3-188, 4-212, 5-233, 6-269, 7-275
Bowling:
Lee 10 - 0 - 71 - 2 (3wd, 3nb)
Tait 10 - 1 - 26 - 1
Clark 10 - 1 - 61 - 2 (1wd, 1nb)
Clarke 9 - 0 - 45 - 2 (2wd)
Johnson 7 - 0 - 48 - 0 (1wd)
White 4 - 0 - 26 - 0 Sportal
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