NZ vs AUS, 1st ODI: Marcus Stoinis' Brilliant Knock In Vain As Kiwis Go One Up In Series 1

At 67 for 6 while chasing 286, Australia were looking well out of the contest in the first match of the three-match Chapell-Hadlee series against New Zealand in Auckland but Marcus Stoinis, playing only his second One-Day International, came up with one of the best innings of all time to take his agonizingly close to a win before eventually falling short by 6 runs.

Australia, who were already without their captain and vice-captain Steve Smith and David Warner respectively, suffered another setback when stand-in skipper Mathew Wade was injured just before the match and desperately needed the likes of Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell to step up but it was Stoinis who hogged all the limelight.  The right-handed batsman, who had already made his presence felt by taking three wickets for 49 runs in his 10 overs, joined Sam Heazlett in the 13th over when the top five batsmen of his team had already returned to the pavilion. The 27-year old steadied the ship with an 81-run partnership with James Faulkner (25) before the latter was clean bowled by Colin Munro. Pat Cummins (36) also chipped in with a useful knock but once he was dismissed on 196, it was all Stoinis show. From 196 for 8, Australia’s last two batsmen contributed only 3 three runs as Stoinis’ splendid knock took his team to within seven runs of one of the most exciting finished off all time before his final partner Josh Hazlewood was dramatically run-out by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson.

Earlier, Neil Broom (73), Martin Guptill (61) and James Neesham (48) made useful contributions to lift New Zealand to 286 for 9. The hosts were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 134 for 5 before a 76-run partnership between Broom and Neesham took the score over 200. None of the lower-order batsmen could cross the double-digit mark but Broom stayed till the very last to help his team post a good total.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the brilliant contest:

https://twitter.com/VibhutiPonting/status/825948499267117056

https://twitter.com/TheCricketGeek/status/825946366832672768