Hodge Misses A Century, But Books Cup Spot
The Age
Monday February 5, 2007
BRAD Hodge did more than help save Australia from a second inglorious defeat in three days last night. By combining with Ricky Ponting for a record MCG run chase and finally unwrapping his one-day gifts on the international stage, Hodge effectively stamped his passport with a World Cup visa for the West Indies.
Presumably, he will not be too worried about missing out on a century by a solitary run.The Victorian batsman would not have played against New Zealand last night if Andrew Symonds had not ripped his biceps off the bone in the previous match. And from his first seven one-day internationals, all as replacement for injured or resting players, he had an average of 11, which belied his domestic record. Presented with a chance to bat at No. 5 in Symonds' place in front of a home crowd of 48,124, Hodge went a long way towards securing his place as the spare batsman in the World Cup squad with a smooth and sometimes devastating 99 not out in 86 balls.His partnership with the unflappable Ponting, who began by lofting a boundary off Mark Gillespie and finished with a composed 104 from 113 balls, ensured the Australians reached the target of 291, which at the halfway point of the innings seemed almost insurmountable as they needed eight an over to win. It was the third-highest successful run chase on Australian soil, and the highest at the MCG. Hodge unleashed after raising his half-century with a boundary creamed through the covers and a six smashed straight down the ground in one James Franklin over.After Mike Hussey was run out after a hesitation in the 48th over, Hodge and his Victorian captain Cameron White rattled up the 12 runs required from the remaining 14 balls to see Australia to a five-wicket victory.For New Zealand, which must beat England tomorrow to qualify for the finals series, this was yet another case of getting close to the world champions, but not close enough.Provocative batsman Lou Vincent matched egos with the Australians, withstanding a fierce spell of fast bowling from Shaun Tait to post a bold 90 from 113 balls, while the lower order punished an attack missing Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken.Vincent, who last week claimed the Australians were ego-driven and above the game, followed up his remarks in style by leading the Black Caps to 7-290, a total just short of the England score that was easily enough to defeat Australia in Sydney on Friday, when Hodge chopped a short ball on to his stumps for one."It's all about standing up to them," Vincent said, and stand up to them he did. He was struck on the body by Tait, who was easily the best of the Australian bowlers with 1-26 and clocked a delivery at 160.2 km/h, the fastest of the summer. Whether or not he can break into the pace contingent for the World Cup, the South Australian slinger can legitimately claim to be the fastest bowler in the country. Brett Lee has bowled faster in the past, nudging the magic 100 mp/h barrier, but Tait is consistently notching speeds in the high 150s. He eventually bowled Vincent with a superb inswinger.Lee did not maintain the same blistering pace as Tait but he was just as much a handful in his first spell despite conceding 71 runs from his 10 overs. He tricked Stephen Fleming into driving in the air to Hussey at mid-off for nine. The New Zealand captain has not scored more than 30 on this Australian tour.Vincent and Peter Fulton shared a strong partnership of 151 on a good batting pitch, but progress was slowed by Michael Clarke, who smartly removed Fulton and Ross Taylor from the top order. Scott Styris, Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum all scrambled runs late in the innings to ensure Australia would have to fight to win its final pool game before the finals.
© 2007 The Age