Last Game at the Edgbaston against Australia and New Zealand was abandoned due to a heavy downpour.
What could have been an epic contest ended on each team sharing one point. The Kiwi captain top-scored, as his side looked to be heading for a win before play was halted in the second innings.Australia was reduced to 53-3 after nine overs, chasing a revised target of 235 from 33 overs, when rain intervened.
Michael Hussey also shared his thoughts on the same and said the rain pondered on the results.
“It completely ruined what promised to be an epic contest. The Aussies had a very tough run-chase in front of them but they still would have believed they could win with Steve Smith at the crease and Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head and Matthew Wade still to bat when the rain came to end the match.
It would have been one of those run-chases that could have gone one of two ways. The run-rate required was imposing and Australia would have had to play a lot of aggressive shots at the bowling so it could have either been bowled out cheaply, to keep up with the run-rate required, or we could have seen one of those run chases where we marvel at the skill of the batsmen as they chase down a near-impossible target and the bowlers suffer.”
He too praised Hazlewood.
“He was the best of the Australian bowlers picking up six for 52, the best figures by an Australian at the ICC Champions Trophy and again showing his class and the importance of accuracy in English conditions. Hazlewood bowls an impeccable line and length always challenging a batsman’s defence. He is such an important cog in the Australian bowling line-up by maintaining control and complements the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins so well. Steve Smith looked frustrated at times in the field but every time he threw the ball to Hazlewood, he knew the run-rate would slow. The Australian selectors chose a team that had a lot of flexibility and gave Steve Smith plenty of options with the ball.”