Toe-catch gives Black Caps ODI series over Australia

HAMILTON: A sensational off-the-toe catch by Matt Henry brought a fairytale end to Brendon McCullum’s ODI career when New Zealand beat Australia by 55 runs in Hamilton on Monday.

The victory in a game that was in Australia’s favour until Henry’s dismissal of Mitchell Marsh saw McCullum end his limited overs career with a 2-1 series win over the world champions to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, which is played between the two countries in one-dayers.

Australia had been on target for victory when on 164-5 but the controversial dismissal of Marsh exposed the tail and New Zealand’s bowlers quickly wrapped up the win.

Marsh was given out caught and bowled by Henry when his forcing shot hit the toe of his boot and carried to the bowler who took the ball low down.

Neither Henry nor any of the New Zealand fielders appealed, thinking the ball had hit the ground, and it wasn’t until the incident was replayed on the giant screen at Seddon Park that spectators saw the ball had come off Marsh’s boot and began to boo.

Umpires Ian Gould and Derek Walker then asked third umpire Sundaram Ravi for a review after they also saw the replay and heard the crowd reaction.

Slow-motion cameras showed the ball had not hit the ground before Henry took the catch and Ravi told Gould to give the Australian out, which caused an angry outburst from Marsh and his batting partner Matthew Wade.

But the Australians questioned whether the matter could be referred to replay if none of the New Zealand players appealed and the umpire on the ground had not given a decision.

McCullum produced a signature innings on his farewell, hitting 47 runs from 27 balls to give New Zealand a bold beginning as it batted after losing the toss. He hit three sixes to lift his tally to 200 sixes in 260 One-day Internationals, placing him fourth on the all-time list.

But after Martin Guptill made 59 and Grant Elliott a laborious 50, New Zealand’s frail middle order tottered and then collapsed, slumping from 223-4 to be all out for 246 in the 46th over.

The total seemed inadequate, especially when Australia started strongly with Usman Khawaja making 44. New Zealand’s bowling attack was depleted by the absence of fast bowler Trent Boult, who was ill, and all-rounder Mitchell Santner, who has a foot injury.

But Henry led the attack superbly, taking 3-60, including the wickets of David Warner (16), George Bailey (33) and Marsh.

Ish Sodhi, who replaced Santner, dismissed Smith (21) and Glenn Maxwell (0) to claim the man-of-the-match award and Doug Bracewell, who replaced Boult, removed Khawaja.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND:

M.J. Guptill c Hastings b Zampa 59

B.B. McCullum c Hastings b Marsh 47

K.S. Williamson b Boland 18

H.M. Nicholls c Smith b Hazlewood 18

G.D. Elliott c Maxwell b Marsh 50

C.J. Anderson c Khawaja b Boland 27

L. Ronchi c Boland b Marsh 5

D.A.J. Bracewell b Hastings 2

A.F. Milne lbw Boland 5

M.J. Henry not out 0