Excellent reply from AUS on here - well past 300 in the 48th and Hodge up for another 99*?

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never believe anything until it is officially denied . . .

Well he only made 97* not out this time, he's not getting any luck in reaching a century at the death.

Hussey was definitely the reason Australia got more than 250. He kept his cool early on and played steadily till he reached about 40, then he really opened up his arms and always looked in perfect control. It's a shame he went for one shot too many; a really ugly shot for someone who had been hitting the ball so well with good cricket shots.

This highlights the fickle nature of ODI's. Champs to chumps and vice versa in the space of two days. Kiwis have a good recent record of chasing down big totals though - this game is not over that's for sure

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They've chased down the mammoth total to win the Chappel-Hadlee series.

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Karthik Venkatesan

Fickle they may be - even more so that you suggested, Seamer. It's "vice versa" again, isn't it? What an extraordinary turn of events just before the world cup. Congratulations to New Zealand, of course: maybe we have a real competition about to start in the West Indies, which must be a good thing.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

Australia have got to stop setting big totals for NZ to chase - they seem to relish to task. Awesome display by NZ. Knocking Australia from the top ranking would be sweet revenge indeed for a recent run of defeats Aus have dealt NZ.

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The important point is that NZ chased down a big target without the services of Jacob Oram. Oram probably will also not be there for the World Cup opener with England, but with the Kiwis' good bowling attack and improving batting form of Taylor, Fulton and even the usually unreliable McMillan, they won't be pushovers. England have to be careful because Pietersen, if he plays, will be a bit stiff and rusty after the rib injury and Anderson too will be back just after a layoff. NZ might think that they have an edge in the match. And the loser of that clash will immediatly come under pressure against the raw talent of the Kenyans, who have the habit of springing nasty surprises on big teams now and then.

I was there live, and what a match it was. This is a big big psychological blow to the Aussies, to post such a big total and have it overhauled by what isn't the strongest batting line-up going around is something for them to be concerned about. The kiwi's almost cruised to victory.

Lets forget they are missing some big players, because they posted a big score regardless. What the rest of the world has to realise is that the bowling line-up going to the world cup is pretty much what you saw today, minus Brett Lee and occasional bursts from Symonds and Clarke. This is it. If New Zealand can make mince out of them like today, then there is no reason why other, more potent batting cards can really tear into them.

The warning bells must be ringing for the Australians, thats for sure.

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- VVVRulz..

The problem with Aus at the moment is that their bowling attack doesnt look strong enough. They are struggling to take wickets and that means defending most scores impossible. Their batting is looking pretty good and with Ponting, Gilchrist and possibly Symonds to come its looking very strong.

I guess they will have to hope that they only chase targets in the WC becasue they dont look like they can defend one.

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Mark.

Great response by The Black Caps. Nathan Bracken may have won the game for NZ by getting Flemming out early!

Im not going to jump on the Bandwagon and say that NZ are going to win the world cup as I feel a lot still has to be worked on. They have the preparation to make a good fist of it and there will be no excuses for failure. For Stephen Flemming, the world cup could continue or end his career depending on his and more importantly his teams form.