Australia cruise past Kiwis

Haddin brought up his first half-century of the tournament

Watson then feasted on the Kiwi bowlers

Tait takes the plaudits after dismissing Brendon McCullum

Johnson: 4-33 in Nagpur

Pace bowler Mitchell Johnson claimed his second successive four-wicket haul as Australia powered to the top of Group A with a crushing seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in Nagpur.

The left-armer followed up his devastating display against Zimbabwe on Monday with an equally impressive burst as the Black Caps were skittled for just 206 in 45.1 overs.

That total never looked competitive enough and so it proved as openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin struck half centuries to ensure Australia cruised home with 16 overs to spare.

Watson followed up his innings of 79 against Zimbabwe with a run-a-ball 62, while Haddin made amends for his opening match failure with 55 from 50 deliveries.

Collapse

New Zealand, looking to lift spirits back home after the Christchurch earthquake, were simply blown away by the pace of Johnson and Shaun Tait (3-35) after being put into bat.

Tait claimed the initial breakthrough when Brendan McCullum picked out Jason Krejza on the third-man boundary having made 16 from 12 balls.

New batsman Jesse Ryder (25) and Martin Guptill (10) took the score on to 40-1, however Australia always looked threatening and the introduction of Watson swiftly resulted in Guptill's demise.

Ryder attempted to take the fight to Australia thereafter, however his dismissal, caught behind wafting loosely at a wide Johnson delivery, sparked a dramatic collapse.

New Zealand crashed from 66-2 to 73-6 in the blink of an eye as Johnson and Tait ran amok.

Ross Taylor (7), James Franklin (0) and Scott Styris (0) all came and went, once again leaving it up to the lower-order to repair the damage.

Jamie How, recalled to the side in place of Jacob Oram, dug in for a gritty innings of 22, sharing a partnership of 48 with all-rounder Nathan McCullum.

McCullum (52) held the innings together well and brought up his third ODI half-century during a valuable 54-run stand with captain Daniel Vettori.

Vettori himself made 44, helping New Zealand past 200 in the process, however when Johnson returned to remove McCullum and Brett Lee snared the Kiwi skipper, Australia swiftly wrapped up the innings.

Australia openers Watson and Haddin then strode out to the middle and immediately signalled their intentions with a number of purposeful strokes on either side of the wicket.

Brilliant

Haddin, in particular, feasted on the appetising new-ball bowling from New Zealand, motoring to his half-century off only 39 deliveries.

The Aussie gloveman struck eight fours in total, five through the off side, before his stay was eventually ended by a canny piece of bowling from Hamish Bennett.

Seamer Bennett, who claimed 4-16 in his side's opening group victory over Kenya, outfoxed Haddin with a slower ball, the right-hander only contriving to pick out Franklin at deep midwicket.

The score was on 133-1 at this point, but, with 74 runs still required, Australia lost Watson in the same over when Bennett (2-63) snuck one through his defences and onto off stump.

That brought captain Ricky Ponting and deputy Michael Clarke together, the former surviving a strong lbw appeal from Tim Southee when on only nine, replays confirming that a challenge would have seen the not out decision overturned.

Ponting (12) did not last much longer though, just three runs to be precise, before he was brilliantly stumped down the leg side by Brendon McCullum standing up to Southee (1-45).

But that was to be New Zealand's final moment of cheer, Clarke (24no) and Cameron White (22no) finishing the job to put Australia on top of Group A with two wins from two.

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