Australia and New Zealand draw after play abandoned

Crowd catches are always pretty special and this one is no different from Australia’s washout Champions Trophy match against the Black Caps.

The group game between the trans-Tasman rivals at Edgbaston in the 2013 Champions Trophy was washed out, too. At the end of 30 overs, New Zealand reached 180 for two.

Australia, set an adjusted 235 to win from 33 overs, had stuttered to 53-3 before play was abandoned. In part because Latham had scored four ducks in his last six innings as a keeper, and averaged 6.5 while keeping. A powerful pace attack will be complete if Mitchell Starc can fire. The 36-year-old also passed his fifty, but his innings and the 77-run partnership he put together with captain Kane Williamson came to an end soon after.

“Ronchi is such a clean striker of the ball and that’s gone a long way back, excellent shot”.

Hastings picked up two wickets but was the bowler Williamson tucked into the most, with the 25 balls he sent down to the right-armer taken for 42 runs in a blitz of crisp cuts and mown slog sweeps on his way to three-figures. That was a very good partnership at the top of the order against a very good bowling attack.

But, after Luke Ronchi had pummelled 65 off 43 deliveries, New Zealand rode on the back of Williamson’s customary brilliance.

“And credit to New Zealand, they came out and played and came quite hard and played quite well up top and got their innings going”.

The death bowling was the only real highlight for Australia. He prevented the Kiwis from playing full 46 overs after their innings was reduced by four overs due to first spell of rain. “Hopefully we can see him score some runs in the next game”, he added.Poor performance: Smith was quite clear that he needs his bowlers to do better if they are to win their next match.Smith’s side are based in London, where seven people were killed and at least 48 others injured in an incident at London Bridge and Borough Market.

“It was a small sample size but I thought they showed some good intent and bowled very well”. “It is always tough to beat Australia, whatever side they put”.

Electing to bat first on winning the toss, New Zealand were off to a steady start as openers Ronchi and Martin Guptill took the total to 40 runs in the sixth over.

“The nature of this tournament is that every game is basically knockout”, Williamson said. While it is so many times the world champions and Champions Trophy winners Australia faced some tough timing in the front of New Zealand and last time in the warm-up match they defeat Sri Lanka with six-wicket in the same venue.

The collapse was not a cause for concern, Williamson said.

Australia made a dishevelled start, giving the New Zealand batsmen either room outside off stump to free their arms, or drifting onto leg stump to open up the onside.

Adam Milne took 2/9 for New Zealand.