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LONDON, Sept 10: Record-breaking New Zealand handed out a humiliating lesson to the United States when they crushed their rookie opponents by 210 runs at The Oval on Friday as the ICC Champions Trophy got underway.
The Black Caps smashed a tournament record 347 for five, with Nathan Astle hitting a Trophy joint-record 145 not out, before the United States were bowled out for just 137 in the Group 'A' opener. But the Americans did give the former winners an early scare, taking the first two wickets for 43 before right-hander Astle matched Zimbabwean Andy Flower's score against India in Colombo two years ago.
The record-breaking win will give New Zealand confidence ahead of their clash with tournament favourites Australia here on September 16 while the US's next engagament is also against the world champions at Southampton's Rose Bowl three days earlier.
New Zealand's total beat South Africa's 316 for five against Kenya in Colombo in 2002 and also beat the previous One-day International record at The Oval, surpassing Australia's 328 for five made against Sri Lanka in a 60-over match in 1975.
But having got over their early jitters, New Zealand were never in trouble as opening batsman Astle restored Kiwi superiority by sharing a 163-run stand off 166 balls with Scott Styris.
Sloppy bowling by the Americans saw a huge 110 runs come off the last five overs and Craig McMillan reach 64 not out with seven sixes and two fours off 27 balls. Following a 90-minute rain delay, US captain Richard Staple's side took to the field after winning the toss.
His opposite number Stephen Fleming hit two fours in the sixth over before mistiming a shot to provide New Yorker Leon Romero with an easy catch at point. Astle soon found himself partnering Styris when Hamish Marshall went for 11, the right-hander carving Romero's fourth ball to Jignesh Desai, Romero's only fellow American-born player in the US line-up, at third man to leave New Zealand shocked after 12.4 overs.
Astle luckily survived an lbw appeal following a delivery from 42-year-old Clayton Lambert, who made five Test and 11 one-day appearances for West Indies. Television replays showed the ball would have struck the stumps.
Astle and Styris then exploited sluggish US fielding, reaching 100 off 107 balls. Staple then had two wickets for two runs in seven balls when Styris lofted a delivery to Aijaz Ali at long-on and Kiwi veteran Chris Cairns was caught for three by sub Donovan Blake before the bowling fell to pieces.
Despite conceding 27 off the 47th over, Howard Johnson yorked McMillan on 25, but television umpire Darrell Hair correctly called a no-ball. As in the field, US started the innings well but their batting quickly collapsed. Openers Mark Johnson and Rohan Alexander took USA to 52 in nine overs before right-arm quick Jacob Oram took three wickets in five balls.
SCOREBOARD
NEW ZEALAND:
S.P. Fleming c Romero b Reid 15
N.J. Astle not out 145
H.J.H. Marshall c Desai b Romero 11
S.B. Styris c Aijaz b Staple 75
C.L. Cairns c sub (D.L. Blake) b Staple 3
C.D. McMillan not out 64
EXTRAS (LB-10, W-21, NB-3) 34
TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs) 347
FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-43, 3-206, 4-211.
DID NOT BAT: J.D.P. Oram, B.B. McCullum, C.Z. Harris, D.L. Vettori, D.R. Tuffey.
BOWLING: H.R. Johnson 7-1-43-0; Reid 10-0-37-1; Romero 4-0-52-1; Lambert 10-0-66-0; Rashid Zia 9-1-63-0; Staple 10-0-76-2.
UNITED STATES:
R.P. Alexander lbw b Oram 26
M.R. Johnson c McCullum b Oram 20
L.C. Romero c Styris b Oram 0
S.Massiah c McCullum b Oram 0
R.W. Staple lbw b Cairns 0
C.B. Lambert c Cairns b Vettori 39
J.H. Desai lbw b Vettori 16
Aijaz Ali c Styris b Harris 4
Rashid Zia c Cairns b Oram 8
C.A. Reid b Vettori 6
H.R. Johnson not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-15) 18
TOTAL (all out, 42.4 overs) 137
FALL OF WKTS: 1-52, 2-52, 3-52, 4-55, 5-63, 6-99, 7-114, 8-122, 9-132.
BOWLING: Tuffey 8-0-39-0 (4w); Oram 9.4-1-36-5 (5w); Cairns 5-0-16-1 (3w0; Harris 10-2-29-1; Vettori 10-3-14-3 (1w).
RESULT: New Zealand won by 210 runs.
UMPIRES: B. Doctrove (West Indies) and D.R. Shepherd (England).
TV UMPIRE: D.B. Hair (Australia).
MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Nathan Astle. -Agencies
