CAIRNS, Australia — A
Steve Smith century helped give retiring
Australia skipper Aaron Finch a winning send-off Sunday with a 25-run victory
in the final one-day international against New Zealand at Cairns.
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Chasing the home
team’s 267-5, built on the back of Smith’s masterful 105, the Blacks Caps were
all out for 242 in the last over with Mitchell Starc taking 3-60.
It capped a
disappointing Chappell-Hadlee series for the visitors. Australia won the
opening game by two wickets before a 113-run thrashing of the Black Caps in the
second.
“For us to get to
260 after probably our slowest start ever was just amazing,” said Finch, who
was out for five in his 146th and last ODI. “Our bowling has been good,
everyone has contributed.
“Been a fun ride,
I’ve loved every bit of it,” he added of his ODI career.
New Zealand started
the chase confidently, racing to 49 before Sean Abbott temped
Devon Conway (21)
into a drive that Smith caught.
Cameron Green
accounted for opener Finn Allen after a breezy 35, caught low by Josh Hazlewood
to leave them 57-2 in the 12th over.
Some unplayable
bowling starved New Zealand of runs with Alex Carey stumping Tom Latham for 10
off Adam Zampa’s spin and Smith taking a comfortable catch to remove Daryl
Mitchell (16) off Hazlewood.
When skipper Kane
Williamson was run out for 27 after a comical mix up with Glenn Phillips they
were in trouble at 112-5.
But a 61-run
partnership between Phillips and Jimmy Neesham (36) then a 51-run stand with
Mitchell Santner left them needing 46 from the last five overs and in the hunt.
Phillip’s departure
for 47 then Santner for 30 in the space of six balls, both caught near the
boundary, ended any chance they had.
“Slightly improved
performance but Australia really showed their quality again,” said Williamson.
“We need to learn
to adjust to conditions quicker and try to put the teams under pressure when we
can.”
Standing ovation
Williamson won the toss and sent Australia in and, after a moment’s
silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Finch was given a guard of
honour as he strode to the crease.
He survived a big shout for lbw on one but didn’t
last long, bowled by Tim Southee as he attempted a drive from the 13th ball he
faced, walking off to a standing ovation.
It ended a career in which he made 5,406 runs at
38.89, hitting 17 centuries to leave him behind only Ricky Ponting (29), David
Warner and Mark Waugh (both 18) in the Australian pecking order.
Finch will remain in charge of the Twenty20 side for
the World Cup at home next month.
His long-time opening partner Warner was rested with
Josh Inglis handed an opportunity that he failed to grab, caught behind off
Trent Boult for 10.
It left Australia on 16-2 with a nervy Smith and
Marnus Labuschagne facing 22 dot balls as they struggled to settle.
But they persevered and built a crucial 118-run
partnership before Labuschagne mis-hit a pull shot and was out for 52, caught
by Neesham off Boult.
Undeterred, Smith powered to his 12th ODI century
off 127 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six before being bowled by Santner. Alex
Carey added a composed unbeaten 42.
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