Australia complete another escape

Cricket World Cup: The sheer depth of Australia's batting and bowling resources overwhelmed New Zealand yesterday, just as they did for England here 10 days ago.

In both matches the champions roared back after their opponents appeared to have the game by the scruff and both times Andy Bichel surpassed himself to pull an Australian innings out of the mire.

But it was the bowlers who did most to secure this 14th consecutive one-day victory. Chasing 209 to win the game that would guarantee them a semi-final place, the Kiwis fell foul of Glenn McGrath at the start of their innings and a most clinical and ruthless piece of finishing by Brett Lee who, wicketless and unimpressive in his opening burst, returned to take the last five wickets in 15 balls at a personal cost of three runs.

New Zealand never came close - all out for 112 inside 31 overs and losing by 96 runs. They contested the latter part of the game only as long as Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns were together. But Cairn's rashness got the better of him when there was no imperative to blaze away and then the New Zealand captain, having batted excellently for 48, lost patience and kick-started Lee on his wicket spree.

"We did pretty well first up but lacked firepower towards the end," Fleming said. "They managed to grab the initiative from us and we ran out of ammunition."

Lee's inspired bowling was the crucial difference between the two sides, though New Zealand's Shane Bond bowled brilliantly in two spells - fast, full and accurate - to take six for 23, the best one-day figures by anyone for his country.

The smallest of incidents can determine the destiny of innings, matches and ultimately tournaments. Yesterday, in the 32nd over, Matthew Sinclair, a New Zealand substitute fielder, plunged forward at backward point and was unable to cling on to a gentle chance lobbed from the bat of Bichel. A wicket then would have left Australia in desperate trouble at 91 for eight but Bichel already had memories of this ground, with his seven-wicket haul and match-winning partnership with Michael Bevan against England.

Things went even better for Bichel yesterday, who made 64 from 83 balls, a score exceeded by no number nine batsman in a one-day international. ...