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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins (later) Geoff Lemon (earlier)

Australia beat New Zealand by 116 runs in second ODI – as it happened

Australian batsman David Warner
Australian batsman David Warner celebrates reaching his century in typical fashion at Maunka Oval. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Australia regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

Man of the match is David Warner after his big ton this afternoon. “It was a fantastic wicket, it always is here at Manuka,” he says to Mark Nicholas. “The other day I played a bit of a lazy stroke but today I knuckled down and it was a good wicket to do it on.”

It was his sixth ODI ton this year. “It was the format that I thought wasn’t my greatest,” he reflects. Well, it is right now.

Kane Williamson, Black Caps skipper, is next up. “The perfect performance really,” he observes of Australia. True enough. He acknowledges that sending Australia in probably wasn’t a great call.

Last of all, Steve Smith who agrees it was a top performance from his side, thrilled with his batsmen. “I was going to bat,” he says of the Williamson decision at the toss. When talking about his bowlers he’s especially happy with Cummins performance, who he believes took confidence from his final spell on Sunday.

And that’ll do from me. Thanks for your chat tonight. As always, we’ve enjoyed bringing you the match. And we’ll be back on Friday from the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground, but first, here’s your match report:

Updated

WICKET! AUSTRALIA WIN BY 116 RUNS! Watling c Warner b Faulkner 17 (New Zealand all out 262)

That’ll do it. The man who made the match-winning ton takes the catch at cover, to a top edge won by the bowler Faulkner to get him a second wicket. A good comeback from him after a challenging start this evening. And with that, Australia have won back the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Back with the presentation and some final thoughts in a couple of minutes.

47th over: New Zealand 262-9 (Watling 17, Boult 2) Target 379. Can Hazlewood finish this off? He deserves a third. Urgh, he can’t. This is grim. Please let this not go the distance.

Updated

46th over: New Zealand 255-9 (Watling 11, Boult 1) Target 379. It’ll be 4-for-41 for Cummins, unable to remove Boult despite his best efforts. Block-hole bouncers, well-executed slower balls; but all kept out, one way or another. He even gets a single to the last ball, retaining the strike. Fair play to him. No one in Australia is tweeting about this game anymore. We’re the only people left. You, dear reader, and me. You and me.

Just us.

Updated

WICKET! Henry c Faulkner b Cummins 7 (New Zealand 254-9)

Henry’s had a crack at putting it over midwicket and it is an admirable effort, but it can’t get it beyond James Faulkner patrolling the boundary out there. Nicely taken. A fourth to Cummins. Thrilled for him. He gets five balls at Trent Boult for a five-for. On the evidence of watching this (lovely) man bat over the years, I’m backing the bowler.

45th over: New Zealand 254-8 (Watling 11, Henry 7) Target 379. Don’t judge me for this being quick. There’s a wicket to deal with in the future. This is like Back to the Future and I have a copy of Gray’s Sports Almanac. Starc kept bowling yorkers and they kept avoiding the stumps. That’s the main take out, the over worth four.

44th over: New Zealand 250-8 (Watling 10, Henry 4) Target 379. Slogs and inside edges and plays and misses. All told, Cummins unlucky not to have his fourth and even fifth. He has an over to go, so provided Starc doesn’t finish it off himself a five-for is still on the shelf for him and that really would be an excellent story.

Casting forward, this might be significant leading into the Pakistan Test series. Having watched Yasir close up in England this winter I can assure you he’s an absolute treat.

43rd over: New Zealand 246-8 (Watling 9, Henry 1) Target 379. Starc. Watling. Henry. Dot. Single. Dot. Dot. Single. Dot. Was it as good for you as it was for me? Time to make it stop, fellas. Two in a hurry. Thanks. 9173 people at Manuka tonight. Probably a fraction down, but there was rain about earlier.

Updated

42nd over: New Zealand 244-8 (Watling 8, Henry 0) Target 379. Almost feels a waste to write a post on one ball alone? It’s nearly a chop on, Watling getting on it very late. Anyway, let’s make it worth your while. This song came up today on twitter due to the fact that I came to the office this morning on the back of a motor bike. Well, it was a motor scooter. But anyway. Sydney? Back of a bike? Looking for Alibrandi? Yeah, worked better in my head than it did on twitter. Have this anyway.

I am Pia Miranda in that comparison, in case you were wondering.

WICKET! Southee c Bailey b Cummins 2 (New Zealand 243-8)

It is going to be a huge win for Australia very soon here. Pat Cummins has a third, a return he has deserved with some solid fast bowling in conditions where it isn’t always easy to bowl quick. On this occasion Southee is trying to pull, but he can’t get into position in time, a top edge to midwicket the outcome. Pace and bounce.

41st over: New Zealand 238-7 (Watling 2, Southee 2) Target 379. To the last ball of the Starc over Southee is off the mark with a flick of the wrists that would have also seen his stumps removed had he not made contact. We’re not far away now.

WICKET! Santner b Starc 2 (New Zealand 236-7)

Oh yeah, that’s Mitchell Starc 101. Santner tries to make room to the wrong delivery, an on-target yorker. So it’s the very familiar clatter of stumps that Starc generates basically much every time he plays for Australia, regardless of format or any other variable.

40th over: New Zealand 234-6 (Santner 1, Watling 1) Target 379. Cummins much better tonight. The first ball to Watling is a bouncer on his helmet badge. Scary-quick. A single each all they’re able to find in the successful over. Final power play begins now, meaning a fifth man can be stationed outside the ring. And New Zealand require 15 an over to win. Draw your own conclusions.

WICKET! Williamson c Warner b Cummins 81 (New Zealand 232-6)

Cummins’ slower ball gets him a second wicket. Effective on Sunday towards the end, and again here in Canberra winning an error from Williamson, who finally gives it away after a long shift tonight in a chase they were never really in. Warner takes the catch at cover. He tried to flay it over the ring from slightly short of a length, but went straight to the afternoon’s century-maker.

Updated

39th over: New Zealand 232-5 (Williamson 80, Santner 0) Target 379. Before the wicket Bailey jumped high at short cover but can’t reach the Williamson lofted drive, running away for four. This inspires a flourish from Michael Clarke on the TV saying that George Bailey has the smallest hands going around, “kiddie hand.” He’s pretty keen on it as his colleagues guffaw in the background. After the wicket Starc tries to skittle the new man Santner with an inswinging yorker, but it is just off target and a wide. Alas, a successful over for Australia. Can they finish them off in a hurry here?

WICKET! de Grandhomme c Wade b Starc 12. (New Zealand 229-5)

Starc just does enough from around the wicket, off the seam, to win de Grandhomme’s edge. They go through the motions a bit, but it was a very good catch from Wade moving a decent stretch to his right.

38th over: New Zealand 222-4 (Williamson 75, de Grandhomme 10) Target 379. Maybe strike that last comment. Williamson is still having a dip, up for the task of padding Faulkner over his shoulder to the rope for four. Then smashing him next ball across the line. Pretty much off the front foot too. That’s bloody hard to pull off. 13 from it, one of their better overs tonight.

37th over: New Zealand 209-4 (Williamson 62, de Grandhomme 10) Target 379. Cummins back on and it’s a tidy over too, making it hard for Williamson to get off strike early in the over close to his body. Both batsmen find twos, but only to third man. Easy for all involved. This runs the risk of being a pretty ordinary finish. You know the type.

36th over: New Zealand 204-4 (Williamson 59, de Grandhomme 8) Target 379. Looked like it was going to be another rubbish over, Williamson twice picking out fieldsman in the ring. But when he got off strike, de Grandhomme saw fit to get off the mark with a line drive over midwicket. Two more spill to third man when he’s forced to play closer to his body to end the over. Oh, and that’s the 200 up. Which only leaves 179 in 14 overs. Only.

Updated

35th over: New Zealand 195-4 (Williamson 58, de Grandhomme 0) Target 379. Hazlewood still has the ability to get something from this track, hitting the seam and beating de Grandhomme outside the off-stump. Next up: he’s bringing one back. He’s such a gun. Two wickets already tonight, would be surprised he doesn’t end up with another couple before he’s done. Oh! Beaten again outside off-stump to end the over; that looked like swing more than seam. Gifted cricketer. One from it, meaning the Kiwis need in excess of two runs a ball.

Goop/OBO crossover. Not going to miss that. Thanks, Charlie.

Updated

34th over: New Zealand 194-3 (Williamson 57, de Grandhomme 0) Target 379. Faulkner completes the successful over, Williamson adding three more with Colly de G yet to face a ball.

WICKET! Munro c Marsh b Faulkner 11 (New Zealand 191-4)

Miscued high in the beautiful Canberra night sky, Mitch Marsh makes no mistake running around from the long-on rope to complete the catch, Munro’s brief stay and any vague hope that the Black Caps may have had from here. Slower ball I fancy. Much like Cummins’ late scalps on Sunday, wicket will do Faulkner’s confidence the world of good.

33rd over: New Zealand 190-3 (Williamson 53, Munro 11) Target 379. They’ll have a drink following this Hazlewood over. Only five from it, including a boundary that’s through about third slip. Four dots in the over more to the point. Fine bowling from Hazlewood, but a bit underwhelming from the visitors at this stage. It’s now 11 an over they need with 17 left.

Another of these. I promise the last.

32nd over: New Zealand 185-3 (Williamson 52, Munro 7) Target 379. Munro doesn’t have time to play himself in, nor play and miss as he did to the penultimate Faulkner delivery. But he made up for it with style, launching the final ball over long-off for six of the best. He barely followed through there - that’s wonderful timing, not a short straight boundary at Manuka either.

Meanwhile in India... fair bit going on here.

WICKET! Neesham c Starc b Hazlewood 74 (New Zealand 177-3)

Just when it was worth doing few equations Jimmy has thrown it away. It was a fine hand from the all-rounder, especially after copping that bad blow to the arm, but he badly mistimes the final ball of the Hazlewood over, taken by Starc inside the ring at midoff when taking to flog it through midwicket. After eight runs came from the over too including another blistering Neesham pull. Ah well. For those keeping a scorecard (surely no one uses the OBO for that, but if they do), the stand was worth 125.

30th over: New Zealand 169-2 (Williamson 50, Neesham 67) Target 379. A lot of faith shown in Travis Head tonight. He’s just skipped through his seventh over, and six of those haven’t included boundaries. Indeed, he’s conceded just the one across the two spells. The five singles here are around the wagon wheel, the penultimate getting Williamson to fifty. Far from the best he’s played for his country, but he’s still there. 57 balls to the milestone. They need 210 from 20 overs. Which, you know, isn’t completely out of the ordinary in the T20 game. I know I’m grasping a bit, but while these two are there, etc etc.

29th over: New Zealand 164-2 (Williamson 48, Neesham 64) Target 379. Remember the other night when my wifi dropped out and I swore at my modem and said my therapist would be angry at me about that? Well, this time my wifi dropped out and I didn’t lose it. I think that’s called ‘growth’. Meanwhile, Starc’s over went for five while I was getting the show back on the road. No boundaries, no dramas. Good return to the attack from the talisman.

28th over: New Zealand 158-2 (Williamson 44, Neesham 62) Target 379. Neesham will be grateful for Head’s reintroduction after the blow the previous over. The part-time offie was very effective in his first stint, but sheds nine from his first over back including a Nesham pull shot through midwicket. Well hit. He’s got a ton on the shelf here. Oh, and this is now his highest ODI score, neglected to mention that when he past 57 in the previous over. Now need more than ten an over, the required rate just ticking over.

27th over: New Zealand 149-2 (Williamson 40, Neesham 57) Target 379. It’s a different game when Starc has it. Neesham was happy enough taking Marsh on, but when Starc hits him on the elbow/forearm with 147kph he immediately calls for medical assistance. To be fair to the man, he’s barely grimaced. He must be in serious pain, that’s hit him flush, as they say. And here Neesham is, sucking a bit of water back as the physio does his thing trying to see if he can continue. Starc, predictably, sledged him after the incident. It’s what they do. I think he told him that he’s shit, if I can lip-read. I’m sure he’ll be grateful for your thoughts. It’s quite a lengthy delay, but he’s going to stay out there with his arm sporting a compression bandage and plenty of tape. 💪🏼

26th over: New Zealand 147-2 (Williamson 39, Neesham 56) Target 379. Boom, boom! Neesham has fifty after stroking Marsh on the up for a really nice cover boundary, then pulling him over deep backward square leg taking on Finch back there and clearing him! Six runs. Impressive batting from everyone’s favourite twitter cricketer. The half-century took 60 balls to gather. Has to go on with it, and big time. Huge time. You know what I mean.

Russ Jackson has popped his head in (now without wisdom teeth) on the twitter debate to reinforce that Deano needs to be in our Nobody Likes Us XI. And we have a bid for Greg Dyer > Timmy Z. The latter can bowl leggies too, so maybe that works.

Updated

25th over: New Zealand 134-2 (Williamson 38, Neesham 44) Target 379. Just what the captain wanted, no boundaries off Starc upon coming back into the attack. Four from it as Neesham has to watch Starc very carefully as he tails back into his stumps from over the wicket. At nearly 150kph as well. Half way there, the Black Caps livin’ on the proverbial prayer.

Updated

24th over: New Zealand 130-2 (Williamson 35, Neesham 43) Target 379. Four consecutive overs with boundaries would usually suggest Australia may need to make a change, but with nearly 10 an over to play with it’s under control. Decent old clobber from Neesham here through midwicket, that’s the way to pull a ball from outside the off stump. Fair play to Neesham, who needs a decent series after spending more time out of the NZ side than in it of late. Looks like Starc is back on.

23nd over: New Zealand 124-2 (Williamson 35, Neesham 37) Target 379. Right, so this won’t be doing Faulkner a lot of good here. Overlooked for the series opener. Got a gong today when Adam Zampa really hadn’t deserved to be dropped. He’s cut hard by Williamson to begin his fourth over then Neesham tries to take him on, but it is an inside edge to the rope now. No one will remember that when looking at the scorecard after play. Admirably, he beats Williamson with the final ball of the over, I think that might have been a little leg-cutter. Has plenty of tricks to draw from when it gets tough, Faulkner, that’s for sure.

A few more names for our outcast team. Doc Brown says Siddons and Deano. Fair and fair. Adam Powell goes with Mo Matthews. Not sure about that, had a decent crack did The Dude. Simon Collins selects Matty Elliott. I dig this. Soobes says Nathan Hauritz. He’s in. Love ya, Haurie.

22nd over: New Zealand 114-2 (Williamson 30, Neesham 32) Target 379. Mitch Marsh into the attack from the Manuka Shops End. Or as I prefer the Public Bar End, or the Timmy’s Chinese End. Good joint, Canberra. Promise.

He was very good the other night in Sydney. Has all these slower balls, and lands them more often than not. To begin tonight singles are taken by both incumbent batsmen before Williamson swats him across the line through midwicket. That’ll annoy him, but it is what NZ need to do from here - take a few risks. Get Australia thinking about it. Seven from the over.

21st over: New Zealand 107-2 (Williamson 24, Neesham 31) Target 379. A profitable over for Neesham, taking Faulkner for one brace then another, the out to deep cover and the next midwicket. Then picks the slower ball, which is the penultimate delivery, slapping it over midwicket for four. That’ll do.

More Canberra being pretty, this shot from Pete Lalor in the press box. #nofilter

20th over: New Zealand 99-2 (Williamson 24, Neesham 23) Target 379. Williamson down the track to Head, but doesn’t get enough of it for a boundary. Later in the over he picks out the sweeper, and between times get a glove on a ball that would otherwise have been called a wide. So notwithstanding to nice shots off Faulkner, he’s just not going that well. And with the required run rate already about 9.5, it’s looking a pretty lousy couple ahead of hours for the Black Caps. Five off it, Head half way through his overs for 17. Very handy.

Here we go, that Canberra sky glam shot I was talking about.

19th over: New Zealand 94-2 (Williamson 21, Neesham 21) Target 379. For the second time in two Faulkner overs Williamson uses his feet to go down the ground, this time to long-on for a boundary. Maybe after missing out on the first game they sense a bit of vulnerability in the Tasmanian all-rounder? Or maybe he just can’t get the Head off-spin away. Either way, it’s seven from it and that’s an improvement.

18th over: New Zealand 87-2 (Williamson 19, Neesham 16) Target 379. Head really has this middle overs thing under control. Around the wicket to Williamson, and right on the mark. Just one from it. This is a wonderful spell, only 12 from his four overs. They would have been happy to have shed even seven an over from him. The required rate is already north of nine an over now. Canberra’s sky giving some lovely colour shots here... I’ll dig one out for you.

17th over: New Zealand 86-2 (Williamson 18, Neesham 16) Target 379. Cummins given a spell after a quite effective five over stint. James Faulkner into the attack for the first time this evening, and in this series. Williamson enjoys the change and drop in pace presumably, able to lean into a full ball and pop it right back over the bowler’s head for six bits. With four other singles taken, that’s their first decent over for a bit. And they’ll have a drink. You should too. We all should.

16th over: New Zealand 76-2 (Williamson 8, Neesham 16) Target 379. Three overs, no ball going for more than a single as far as Trav Head is concerned. Another quick set of six, four singles only, all broadly down the ground. Glenn Maxwell must be privately hating this a bit. This is what he’s meant to do for a living.

15th over: New Zealand 72-2 (Williamson 6, Neesham 14) Target 379. Cummins pushing through another, his fifth on the bounce. This shouldn’t be a big deal, but in a way it feels noteworthy. He hasn’t got much rhythm truth be told, but neither has Williamson who picks out the field on three occasions when he should have done better. Needs fluency, urgently. Only one off it in the end. No good.

Here comes Dan Norcross, our beloved BBC pal, with some timely additions. Morning, Norky.

14th over: New Zealand 71-2 (Williamson 6, Neesham 13) Target 379. Head doing a good job for his captain here, darting through his over in about 90 seconds and only conceding three singles in the process. So that’s seven from his two. With a monster chase ahead of the Black Caps it’s the overs like that which hurt from the notional sixth bowler.

A couple more entries to the Zwar XI: Michael Clarke and Brad Hodge. Let’s push hard here, team. We’ve got it in us. We need a couple of quicks.

13th over: New Zealand 68-2 (Williamson 5, Neesham 11) Target 379. First boundary in a while for Neesham when punching Cummins through extra cover, striking at the top of the bounce. Nice stroke through a packed field. A misdirected high bouncer called a wide as well. The extra pace does inspire a false stroke through, Neesham through the air at point; but there’s no man on the circle. Six from it.

Manuka looking a treat tonight. Time for a Test Match? They’re getting one the summer after next. About time. Gorgeous joint. Can you tell I lived around the corner for five years?

12th over: New Zealand 62-2 (Williamson 5, Neesham 6) Target 379. Travis Head given a little jam roll in the absence of the usual leggie Adam Zampa. Anyone get to the bottom of why he isn’t bowling today? A bit of the old rotation policy or is - as Donald Trump would say - something else going on? I can’t believe I just quoted that. Sorry. Four from the over, by the way, all singles. No shame in that. If anything a tad short. But hard to get him away.

11th over: New Zealand 58-2 (Williamson 3, Neesham 4) Target 379. That was nearly something very special, Pat Cummins in the follow-through picking up, turning, throwing in one swift move. He misses, but gee. It’s not far. Neesham would have been gone my metres. With the field out, five are milked without much risk. The visitors will need to do plenty of that to consolidate over the next little while.

10th over: New Zealand 53-2 (Williamson 1, Neesham 1) Target 379. Hazlewood going around for a fifth, as he did the other night after two relatively early wickets. Remains the hardest of the Australian bowlers to get away in this final over of the power play. A lovely little maiden to Neesham, forced to play throughout with the exception of a well-directed bouncer, which he elects to get underneath of.

One of Australia’s favourite on-screen sons Adam Zwar has been having a natter on twitter about players potentially moving countries - or creating a new country - to play international cricket after getting in strife at home. You know the drill, the idea KP could play for South Africa or someone else altogether. Now the chat that Maxwell might be in strife at home. Who else over the years? Players who just didn’t... fit in. Who could play for our fictional country? Timmy Zoehrer is, of course, behind the stumps. Jason Krejzy the tweaker. Help us out.

9th over: New Zealand 53-2 (Williamson 1, Neesham 1) Target 379. Excellent over from Cummins, way up on the radar as well nearing 150 clicks. Neesham is the new man and off the mark with a single. The replays of that little hand signal Smith gave Cummins is very clear, Cummins following instructions first up. Sometimes, as skipper, it just works. It was Wade’s 100th ODI dismissal as well.

WICKET! Guptill c Wade b Cummins 45 (New Zealand 52-2)

Steve Smith will love that, directing Pat Cummins to go with the cross-seam via a little hand signal. The bowler follows the instruction, and from just short of a length wins the error from Guptill who edges behind. Clutch wicket both in the context of the game and also Cummins’ comeback to the Australian XI. He’s thrilled, and fair enough.

8th over: New Zealand 52-1 (Guptill 45, Williamson 1) Target 379. Hazlewood on for another. He’s good here, giving Williamson very little - one goes away, the other back in. The third is nearly chopped on; that’s close. Excellent over from the Australian opener.

7th over: New Zealand 51-1 (Guptill 44, Williamson 1) Target 379. The 50 is up after Pat Cummins initial foray goes about as well as it did in Sydney the other night. He fancies his chances in this match-up, smashing him through mid-off second ball. He does it again next ball and his bat appears broken. But he’s holding onto it for now, I think? He keeps trying to take Cummins on down the ground but no more runs come down there, just one to fine leg to end the over and retain the strike. The young quick was more effective when back of a length the other night. Would do well to shift his length to Guptill pretty quickly.

6th over: New Zealand 42-1 (Guptill 35, Williamson 1) Target 379. Nearly complete disaster for NZ there. Last ball of the over there’s confusion, the throw should have been to the ‘keeper’s end but has ended up with the bowler Hazlewood. It would have been Williamson walking had the Australians got that right. Smith saves four overthrows after a belated throw down to Wade misses the mark. All happening, as the great WM Lawry would say.

WICKET! Latham c&b Hazlewood 4 (New Zealand 40-1)

Did he just take a bit of pace from that? Either way, Latham is prematurely through the shot, a push into the on-side gone wrong, ballooning back to the bowler in his follow though. Against the run of play too. And here comes the skipper.

5th over: New Zealand 40-0 (Guptill 34, Latham 4) Target 379. Starc’s not at his best tonight, on Latham’s pads who takes three. Good for the confidence. But then Guptill gets another boundary, less convincing this time straight down the ground but it’s enough in the power play.

4th over: New Zealand 32-0 (Guptill 29, Latham 1) Target 379. Another wide. Not a great start from Hazlewood, who was so good on Sunday in Sydney. He’s quickly in the groove... that’s until Guptill slots a blinding cut shot to the fence. His second in that region already. Cop that.

Michael Clarke getting grilled on the telly for how many huge successful run chases he’s been on the wrong side of. It’s a fair point, from a quick glance at the screen it looks like Australia got taken down eight of the top ten on that list. Tonight would be the second highest of all time, in case you were wondering. The biggest: ten years ago at The Wanderers. Good evening to Mick Lewis if you’re reading on.

Just skip to the end. Or find a shorter clip.

3rd over: New Zealand 24-0 (Guptill 23, Latham 0) Target 379. Starc’s last ball of the over is the most eventful, whizzing past Tom Latham’s grill. He’s taking a far more conservative approach to the task, watching Starc once Guptill gives him a bit of the strike. A wide in there too from Starc, if you’re wondering how the other run came.

Manuka is the sort of joint where this can happy, by the way. India were eaaaasily on their way to 349 in January for victory this year, 1-for-277 with 13 overs to go. Before losing 9-for-46. That was a fun night in the the nation’s capital.

2nd over: New Zealand 22-0 (Guptill 22, Latham 0) Target 379. Martyyyyyy! He’s 22 before Latham is off the mark. A searing square drive high in his stance hits the advertising board in barely a second. Next up: he flicks Big Josh Hazlewood a solid 90 metres over the midwicket fence. You need forearms like Ricky Ponting to pull of tricks like. How’s this bloke’s form?

1st over: New Zealand 11-0 (Guptill 11, Latham 0) Target 379. Decent shout from Mitch Starc second up, was going onto the stumps but one of those where it is quite hard to tell if it was inside edge of pad first. Smith makes the right call, as it was edge first. To the two balls that follow Guptill strokes picture-perfect cover drives the rope, the second of which is on the up and everything. Another three to the same region follows after that. Eventful start. The Black Caps are ahead of the run rate. Not sure how long we’ll be able to say that for, so let’s embrace the contest.

Oh I forgot something. My plea. For you to talk to me. You know the good bit about my email Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com? It gives away that I will write for anyone who’ll pay me. For real. You give me cash, I’ll give you words. As for @collinsadam, it’s much like this: a stream of questionable consciousness. But it’s another place you can drop your hot takes on me. I want everything you’ve got.

Stop me, oh, stop me..

... stop me if you think that you’ve heard this one before.

Adam Collins taking the baton from Geoffrey. We spend a lot of time together. Safely more than with any other human on this planet. I sometimes feel the urge to call him Lemon Lyman, but then I don’t. Sure enough, he’s done a helluva job here this afternoon. I’ve enjoyed following his work while being be a real journalist up in Guardian HQ, where I join you from tonight having genre-spanned from blokes punching Kangaroos to airlines being airlines.

Meanwhile at Manuka. Highest score at home home ever. Ho. Third highest on record for any Australian team. Hum. Which isn’t to understate the performance the Australian batsmen have put together one. A mighty fine one, with Dave Warner adding to his redonkulous 2016 in the canary yellow PJs.

Smith did as he pleased. Another important half-ton for Head. More important than both of those, the rapid end from Mitch Marsh. Constantly out of luck for as long as he’s been an Australian player, but three big’uns on the spin in the 50th over has to help the confidence.

So, it’s Australia to defend a million. They’ll be out in a tic. In fact, they’re already there. Let’s have some fun.

‘I was delayed, I was way-laid’

New Zealand will chase 379 to win

Not exactly the result the visitors were looking for when they sent Australia in to bat earlier today. But this is a very high-scoring ground, as we saw when India and Australia both made 300-plus batting here in January this year. If New Zealand’s big guns can get firing, namely Guptill and Williamson in the top order, they won’t be automatically out of the contest.

Warner played the core innings today, rather than the brutal fast-scoring type, with Smith providing similar support. From there, it was the late explosion from Head and Marsh that took this from a decent total at just over 300 to a massive one closer to 400.

Should be some fireworks early in the chase at least, so stay tuned for those. Geoff Lemon departing your company to write a fan letter to Mitch Marsh, and your friend Adam Collins will be along shortly to walk you through the second half. Take his hand, he’s a stranger in paradise.

50th over: Australia 378-5 (Marsh 76, Bailey 0)

Six! After Marsh drives two from Henry’s first ball, he gets one outside off stump and drives it over straight long-on.

Six! Gets a straigher attempt at the yorker, but shimmies wideer of leg stump and plonks it slightly wider down the ground.

Six! Three in a row! This one was almost the right length but just gave him enough, and he Carlos Braithwaites it down the ground once more.

What should have been a wide follows, but the umpire takes pity on Henry, who then finishes off with a single.

76 from 40 balls for Mitch Marsh? Never doubted him for a second.

Amazing turnaround from such an awkward start.

Half-century! Marsh 54 (33 balls)

49th over: Australia 357-5 (Marsh 55, Bailey 0)

Who among us ever doubted Mitchell Marsh? He gets a brace of twos into the on side, then raises his fifty with a monster six, baseball style over midwicket as Boult gave him just enough room to get under it. Wade was then dismissed, and Bailey had the last ball bounce off his pad into the keeper’s area.

WICKET! Wade b Boult 11 (Australia 357-5)

Straight ball, Wade across the line, loses his off stump, and Boult doesn’t even react.

48th over: Australia 346-4 (Marsh 44, Wade 11)

Marsh goes again! Gets a low full toss angling in at the stumps from de Grandhomme, and Marsh has already cleared the front leg to go through the line and this time put it over long-on. The bowler slips up with a higher full toss pulled by Marsh for a run, and it’s another no-ball for height. Wade gets a slow bouncer for the free hit and absolutely pounds it into the crowd on the leg side. This is carnage now.

47th over: Australia 332-4 (Marsh 37, Wade 5)

Like an old car, Marsh has taken a good long while to warm up but now he’s starting to purr. Plays the simple swing through the line against Henry, clears the straight boundary easily. Hands the strike to Wade next ball, who belts four over midwicket.

WICKET! Head c Munro b Southee 57 (Australia 319-4)

46th over: Australia 319-4 (Marsh 29)

Well, he raised his half-century from 29 balls in that over, then walked down the wicket to flog Southee with a pull shot through square for four. But from the last ball Travis Head reaches wide and steers the square drive in the air to backward point, and has to go. Wade another batsman ahead of Bailey.

45th over: Australia 309-3 (Head 49, Marsh 27)

Boult in his second-last as well, and Head just cracks him straight over the umpire’s hat for four runs. Hands the strike to Marsh, and he so nearly holes out at long-on, but Neesham’s attempted catch misses by a couple of inches and the ball carries for six!

A single to Marsh, then a wide plus an extra as Boutl’s attempted slower ball is dragged way down. Marsh gets strike back, gets a couple of rusn down the ground, then hits his next attempt better and beats Neesham along the ground this time. Finally starting to find his range.

44th over: Australia 289-3 (Head 44, Marsh 14)

Southee bowling his second-last over, and he’s not helped when Williamson’s dive can’t stop Head’s drive down the ground. Four there, some singles and twos make nine from the over. How far past 300 can they go?

43rd over: Australia 280-3 (Head 38, Marsh 11)

Marsh looks absolutely woeful here. He’s played some good longer ODI innings the last year or so, but when he’s called on to come out and accelerate immediately, he just doesn’t seem to have it at the moment. He almost runs himself out twice in the Boult over, while Head almost runs himself out from the far end trying to get Marsh off strike. In between times, Marsh can barely lay bat on ball, missing or belting it straight to the field.

Well.... yes. A beardy guy wearing an orange vest today.

42nd over: Australia 275-3 (Head 36, Marsh 8)

Head still slogging away. Toe-ends Southee just over mid-on for four. Misses the next swipe, and the next ball is too wide to play. Singles from there on in.

Dan Christian has made 92 not out with the tail to take Victoria to 230, a 27-run lead over Tasmania. SA are 111-4 going after NSW’s 269. Queensland have just been bowled out for 353 against WA.

41st over: Australia 266-3 (Head 30, Marsh 6)

Head is really just going the old-fashioned slog now. Matt Henry returns, Head greets the first ball by kneeling and belting across the line. It goes high and straight off the top edge, and Neesham makes a mess of it coming across from long-off and can’t save the four.

Marsh manages to get off the mark with a low full toss, then Head is caught off a no-ball. That was for height, another full toss well outside his off stump. Head sliced it away to deep cover but the umpires’ saved him. It was almost a no-ball on the front foot as well.

Mitch Marsh gets the benefit of the free hit, and slices it off the edge through third man for four. That ball is called as an overstep as well! Two free hits for Marsh! Are these New Zealanders just trying to keep him in the team? I think that was a mistaken call from the umpire, too. Marsh only gets a single from it, another mis-hit that goes towards short fine. Head slogs and misses the last ball. What a chaotic over.

40th over: Australia 252-3 (Head 24, Marsh 0)

Another demotion for Bailey - I wonder if he’s calling the shots in the dressing room, or if this was a pre-existing plan. Smith couldn’t have made the decision from out in the middle. And it’s strange given that Bailey is such a good finisher and Marsh can take a while to get going.

Marsh is nervous starting. First there’s a shot for lbw as he just nicks on into his pad. Then he nearly edges down the leg side, and New Zealand burn their DRS review confirming that he missed the ball. Then he breaks his bat keeping out a full ball, as a chunky splinter comes off the bottom of the blade.

WICKET! Smith c Santner b Southee 72 (Australia 248-3)

Gets a bit of width, Smith, and flays at it without really getting his feet into position. An awkward shot, the kind that looks like it might give him a side strain from heaving so hard at the ball. It takes the outside half of the bat and skies all the ay out to deep backward point to be held.

39th over: Australia 248-2 (Smith 72, Head 21)

Travis Head is away! First ball he backs away from de Grandhomme and forehands him over mid-off for four. Then the bowler dials the length up a bit, and Head drops to one knee to wallop the half-volley over deep midwicket for six. Two singles later, Head backs away again, de Grandhomme tries to follow him with the yorker, but Head gets outside its line and drills it dead straight down the ground for four more. The over goes for 16.

38th over: Australia 232-2 (Smith 72, Head 6)

Smith gets a leg bye, Head plays a hockey flick to the on side for three. Trent Boult back, but after they trade two more singles, the main bowler falls for the Henry trap. He digs in short twice in a row, and Smith helps both those balls away towards fine leg for four. One off the bat, one off the body, but it doesn’t really matter when you’ve got that line to work with.

Ruth Purdue wants all-out attack. “They need to bowl yorkers at speed here, Geoff. Especially to Smith, his stance asks for it.” I suppose the issue is that perfect yorkers are hard to get right, and if you muck it up Smith is one of the strongest players in the world off his legs.

37th over: Australia 218-2 (Smith 67, Head 2)

Travis Head has been promoted ahead of George Bailey - Simon Katich on ABC Grandstand is suggesting that this would be to preserve a left-hand and right-hand batting combination and continue unsettling the bowlers. It works, as de Grandhomme gives Head enough room to run a single to third man and get off the mark, then bowls a wide past the legs of the right-handed Smith. Four singles and the extra from the over in the end.

WICKET! Warner c Williamson b de Grandhomme 119 (Australia 213-2)

The big hundred won’t come today. Warner slaps de Grandhomme through the covers, but Williamson is there to lean across to his right and haul in a very low catch. Warner waits a moment while the umpires confirm that it’s clean, but that doesn’t take long. Fine innings from the opener in his best ever ODI year.

36th over: Australia 213-1 (Warner 119, Smith 65)

Looks like the Warner Show may be gearing up for its big season finale. Six, as he swats at Boult across the line and gets a big top edge over the midwicket boundary. Then Boult fires in a high full toss at the pads and Warner just has to turn it around the corner for four through fine leg.

35th over: Australia 202-1 (Warner 108, Smith 65)

Ouch. Smith is clobbered by de Grandhomme - he’s not the fastest in the New Zealand team, but any speed still hurts when it cops you square in the bowl of Burger Rings. The umpires take the chance for a drinks break - like Jesus, Smith’s pain will alleviate the suffering of his fellow man.

When he’s finally back in operation, Smith offers a whack of his own, with an absurd pick-up shot over midwicket for six. He wasn’t in perfect balance there, but saw the straight-ish line of the ball, swung through it, and closed the bat face to lift it square and high so that it dropped almost vertically into the crowd.

A couple more on the pull, a couple of singles, and the 200 arrives. Maybe Smith should arrange to get whacked in the box more often.

34th over: Australia 192-1 (Warner 107, Smith 56)

Out! But not out. A couple of singles, then Southee beat Smith’s inside edge. The umpire gave him, Smith referred immediately, and the lack of Hot Spot, Snicko, or any deflection saw the third umpire discard the decision. That’s when the system works as intended.

Smith rubs salt in the would by shifting his front foot wide and flogging Southee’s next ball over mid-on for four. Rotates the strike into the covers, then Warner cuts another four fine through third man. This should end up as a really ugly chase for New Zealand.

Half-century! Smith 50 (59 balls)

33rd over: Australia 181-1 (Warner 102, Smith 50)

Back into accumulation mode with five singles all round the wicket from the de Grandhomme over, and Smith raises his minor milestone after making a huge hundred last time out. New Zealand are sick of him already.

CENTURY! Warner 100 (100 balls)

32nd over: Australia 176-1 (Warner 100, Smith 47)

A few nervous moments for Warner on 99, but he finally gets the rushed single off Southee from the third ball. Going at a 100 strike rate too, and he has plenty of time left to make this a big one. He’s determined to do so by the looks of things, as he blocks out the rest of the Southee over and attempts to reset his concentration.

That makes six ODI centuries this year for Warner, along with a couple of 90s. He’s made three of those hundreds in his last five hits. And it’s his tenth hundred overall.

31st over: Australia 174-1 (Warner 99, Smith 46)

Williamson hasn’t been very imaginative with his bowlers today. Everyone has been bowling long spells with few changes. Jimmy Neesham comes on for his first over in the match, and gets towelled up. Smith gets his favourite ball on the pads to flick for four, nearly gets another through point but for a diving save on the rope, then takes a single allowing Warner to belt a four and a one down the ground. Welcome to the crease.

30th over: Australia 162-1 (Warner 94, Smith 39)

Colin de Grandhomme is in that fine tradition of broad-shouldered, heavy-footed New Zealand medium pacers who could easily bunker down in a rugby front row. Muscles a ball down outside Warner’s off stump that takes the outside edge, but the lack of a slip means that it donates Warner a couple of runs. He recovers from that mis-hit with a perfect cover drive for four.

29th over: Australia 154-1 (Warner 87, Smith 38)

Santner finishes up his 10 overs with 1-47, a good spell that could have been a great one bar a couple of bigger overs. Only four singles from this one, and it’ll be up to the seamers from this point in.


28th over: Australia 150-1 (Warner 85, Smith 36)

They’re not having much luck on the boundary, New Zealand. Another Warner boundary, this time from a glance, and Henry getting across can’t save de Grandhomme the runs. Warner is abruptly threatening to make yet another ODI century this year.


27th over: Australia 142-1 (Warner 79, Smith 34)

Another boundary from the normally tidy Santner, as Boult can’t keep his foot off the rope sliding to stop Smith’s cut shot. A scattering of singles, too.

No wonder Williamson isn’t concentrating on his captaincy.

26th over: Australia 135-1 (Warner 77, Smith 29)

Dumb bowling from Henry. He’s beaten the bat several times today pitching it up at pace, but he goes short at Warner twice, and Warner smacks both of them via the pull shot for four.

Much smarter emailing from Brisbane Peter. “Could we call Glenn Maxwell “le Grande Vedette”? Apologies if I have buggered up the gender sepcificity demanded by the Francophiles out there. Does le Grande Vedette ever execute what the old-timers called the draw shot? AKA le coup Francais?”

I’m signing up for your bus tour of French castles.

25th over: Australia 126-1 (Warner 68, Smith 29)

Four! David Warner is getting his timing back. Gives Santner the charge and drives sweetly down the ground, before flicking a run square.

24th over: Australia 121-1 (Warner 63, Smith 29)

Henry is back, Williamson searching for a wicket, and he could have had it first ball as Warner tried to pound the bowler aerially down to long-off, but only just cleared the man in the circle. Couple of runs. Smith is the one who finds the boundary as he gets a ball that is just a touch short, but enough for him in his current form to crash it through midwicket. The 50 partnership between these two comes up.

Updated

23rd over: Australia 112-1 (Warner 59, Smith 24)

Just three runs to Warner from Santner’s first two balls, then the bowler manages to sit on Smith for the rest of the over. No mean feat.

22nd over: Australia 109-1 (Warner 56, Smith 24)

Smith just playing everything to the leg side here. He goes three times against de Grandhomme, first for a couple, then for two singles. Warner, conversely, is waiting behind the ball and steering his two singles to off.

Updated

21st over: Australia 103-1 (Warner 54, Smith 20)

Classic middle overs stuff here, spinner bowling, five singles worked around the ground. The hundred is up, and Smith is effortlessly to 20.

The women’s short form comp gets going for its second season this weekend, and it’s all available online via various video and audio streaming services. Well worth a look.

20th over: Australia 98-1 (Warner 52, Smith 17)

Colin de Grandhomme, the only cricketer in the world who may legally be called The Big Man, comes on with his tricky medium pace. He’s immediately into a line right on the stumps, which Smith doesn’t mind because he’s so strong off his pads. Gets a single there, Warner goes to cover, then Smith repeats his earlier shot.

Half-century! Warner 50 (56 balls)

19th over: Australia 95-1 (Warner 51, Smith 15)

Again, not a totally convincing shot, but Warner drags away the sweep shot along the ground from Mitchell Santner’s spin, and gets it fine enough to make the boundary rope. He gets a single to the same area, then Smith cuts a couple and gets another run on a misfield when he hits down the ground. Nine from the over in total, a better one for Australia.

Warner and Smith also collectively have palindromic scores, which is nice.

Newcastle Person is back. “I think if we’re going to get into the weird stuff - and lobster is weird, lets face it, nothing like the yabbies we used to pull out of the Murray with a bit of meat on a string - you should be watching Preacher, which is about a demon-infested preacher who looks for god with his best mate, an Irish vampire.” Done and done.

18th over: Australia 86-1 (Warner 46, Smith 11)

Becoming an interesting arm wrestle, this. Australia’s two most dangerous batsmen are at the crease, meaning they could launch at any moment. But New Zealand have kept them to less than five runs per over so far. Warner is getting a bit frustrated, as Southee is making it hard for him to score. Warner doesn’t want to get out to another rash shot, so he’s trying to stay composed, but he’s a bit discomfited at the same time. Just the two singles once more.

17th over: Australia 84-1 (Warner 45, Smith 10)

Another over worth just a couple of runs as the Aussies see off Santner before the drinks break. In the Sheffield Shield, Victoria are closing in on Tasmania’s first innings, currently 149 for 7 responding to 203. New South Wales was bowled out for 259, Nic Maddinson making 80, with South Australia 59 for 1 in reply. And Queensland are yet to resume, on 333 for 6 against WA, with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on a big hundred.

16th over: Australia 82-1 (Warner 44, Smith 9)

Southee’s finding his range now. Starting to move the ball around a bit outside the off stump, and Smith acknowledges the quality. Watches most of the over without attempting to score, before tapping a single into the covers from the last ball.

15th over: Australia 80-1 (Warner 43, Smith 8)

They’re batting cautiously against Santner: it goes to show how much respect he’s gained in his short international career. Four singles from the over, as he mixes up his flight, and the batsman wait back and just try to pick him off.

14th over: Australia 76-1 (Warner 41, Smith 6)

This chap Smith is in reasonable touch, hey? Gets a ball on his stumps from Southee and whip-drives it beautifully through long-on for four.

Peter is writing in, using the style of the day to sign as Former Brisbane Person. And finally someone answers my burning question.

“I watched The Lobster the other week. Seriously weird film about too much self pleasure causing you to be turned into an animal (or crustacean). I bought a lobster once - at the Festival du Homard in Quebec City. It was a runt and it was dry and it was $30 in 2001. Seriously overrated. Nothing like the muddies my granddad used to catch in the Brisbane River when I was a kid.”

We used to get some pretty good yabbies from the dams up in the hills around Research, in the northern Melbourne hills. These days they’re probably all housing estates. The Lobster was a pretty phenomenal film, though not for the faint-hearted.

13th over: Australia 70-1 (Warner 40, Smith 1)

Well, Finch was dropped by Watling from the first ball of Santner’s over, gloving a ball down the leg side on the sweep, then was bowled playing the same shot two balls later. Might need a tune-up in the nets there. Sniffer Smith is now the man in the middle.

We’ll all be relieved to know that an email has come in from Phil Withall titled Banana Update.

“The other half of the banana was taken by my mate Jack, who didn’t have the same appreciation of culturally significant pieces of fruit and proceeded to misplace his bit somewhere along Sharrowvale Road.”

WICKET! Finch b Santner 19 (Australia 68-1)

The spinner gets the breakthrough. Bit of a golden arm for NZ, and that’s the case today. He floats one towards leg stump, Finch is trying to sweep towards backward square, but he’s done in flight and misses it utterly. Loses leg.

12th over: Australia 67-0 (Warner 39, Finch 19)

Tim Southee finally on, but not much effect to begin with. Four singles, then his last ball is a touch wide and Warner cracks it through backward point for four. Classic Warner stroke.

11th over: Australia 59-0 (Warner 33, Finch 17)

Skipper Kane Williamson invoking the Santner clause, bringing his left-arm spinner on to bowl. Around the wicket to the left-handed Warner, and there’s a shabby bit of fielding at backward point second ball that lets an uninspiring cut shot dribble its way down to the boundary like nursing-home pudding. That shot was more viscous than vicious. Like too much of such a gelatine treat though, Santner then blocks Warner up. Three dots, then a single from the last.

10th over: Australia 54-0 (Warner 28, Finch 17)

Boult still attacking the pads, Warner gets another leg bye. Finch gets a single down the ground, Warner pulls one, then Finch cuts a couple. Working the New Zealand spearhead without undue alarm.

9th over: Australia 49-0 (Warner 27, Finch 14)

Henry, the Ninth. Over, that is. He’s having a very frustrating day. First Warner slaps him over backward point for a couple of runs. Then the umpire nails his bouncer for a wide. Then another good ball rips past Finch’s outside edge, before the next ball takes it and flies just wide of slip. Add another wide bouncer to that, then a near-lbw that concedes two leg byes to fine leg. Nine from the over.

8th over: Australia 40-0 (Warner 24, Finch 12)

Boult manages to wind things back with a quiet over. Couple of singles, a leg bye, and an lbw shout against Finch that they nearly refer to DRS, but decide against.

7th over: Australia 37-0 (Warner 22, Finch 12)

Finch gets given strike from the first ball, then is tied down for a couple more by Henry’s line on off stump. Eventually he finds a single, and Warner says thanks a lot. Belts a pull shot that nearly cleans up Kumar Dharmasena at square leg, but the umpire curves his upper body out of the way as though he’s just hit the cleanest free kick of the season.

An email: “I met my wife after an Essendon game: and she didn’t even follow the Bombers! (Does now of course).” Brendan, you’re a sadist.

6th over: Australia 30-0 (Warner 16, Finch 11)

Boult dishes up a horror ball, not too short but very wide with the left-hander’s angle, and Finch takes full advantage, slapping the cut shot for four. Two singles and a leg bye already make this a profitable over, then Boult slides the last ball just down leg. Wide. Has to bowl it again, and bowls fuller and wide. Finch has had enough waiting, and belts it just over cover for four more.

A dirty dozen from the over, and that good start slips away.

5th over: Australia 18-0 (Warner 14, Finch 3)

Oh, what a ball. Matt Henry rips one off the seam as Warner gropes down a leg-stump line. A bit of movement would have seen it crash into middle, but it jags further, beats the edge and the off stump.

Warner responds a couple of balls later by dropping low in his stance and muscle-slapping a drive back past the bowler for four. Saw the fuller length and whacked it with no finesse but plenty of grunt. Scrambles a single from the last.

Fair point on Twitter from Scott.

4th over: Australia 13-0 (Warner 9, Finch 3)

Ludicrous wide called by the ump, as Warner walks well outside his off stump, and Boult bowls a ball that misses leg stump by an inch, and would have cannoned into Warner’s pad in his original stance. I totally disagree with this idea that the batsman gets to decide the line of the legal delivery by where he moves just before it is released.

Phil’s banana is exciting some discussion. “I want to know what happened to the other half of the banana!” implores Dale Webster, while Scott Lowe writes “What I love about that story is that it was half a banana, as if a whole one would not have been believable.”

Just the Warner single from the bat that over, as the New Zealanders bowl tightly and the Australians keep biding their time.

3rd over: Australia 11-0 (Warner 8, Finch 3)

Henry to Finch, who doesn’t want any trouble. “Pick up the gun,” says Henry, but Finch is just crabbing across his stumps and blocking a couple out. He gets off strike with a straight drive in the end, then Warner pushes three, before Finch is rammed on the pad by one that flies away into the cordon. Henry has the speedometer cranked up.

2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Warner 5, Finch 2)

Missed! Finch gets off strike with a single, then Warner pushes hard at Boult outside the off stump and edges just wide of Neesham at second slip. I think that ball brushed his fingertips as the fieldsman flung himself wide to his left. Couldn’t do more than touch it away to the boundary though.

Question from Richard on Twitter:

Well, I think Smith would have in this case. He’s a pretty conservative Australian style of captain, and ‘bat first’ as a mentality is almost compulsory. It’s confirmation bias, of course: if you bat first and lose, no one blames it on the wrong call at the toss, but if you bowl first and lose, the toss is always the culprit.

1st over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 1, Finch 1)

David Warner often starts a Test innings with a couple of boundaries in the first over, but here he only manages a single after negotiating a few Matt Henry fast deliveries. Aaron Finch was bowled first ball by Henry in the last match, but he manages to squeeze a single through the covers this time around. Circumspect start.

Phil Withall is currently leading the confession stakes.

“For some years I kept half a banana in my freezer. It was a very special banana, removed from the Y fronts of the punk legend Captain Sensible at a gig in Sheffield and, with a cry of ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the fruit of my loins’, thrown to the masses.

“I carried that banana home, taking it to a pub on the way, and deposited it in the freezer. It sat there for about three years before my wife threw it out. I have a feeling this act may have contributed to the breakdown of the marriage.”

Updated

Australia
Warner
Finch
Smith*
Bailey
Marsh
Head
Wade†
Cummins
Starc
Faulkner
Hazlewood

New Zealand
Guptill
Latham
Williamson*
Neesham
Watling†
Munro
Santner
de Grandhomme
Henry
Southee
Boult

New Zealand win the toss and will bowl

Steve Smith happy with that, as he says he would have batted anyway. There’s some moisture in the pitch and some rain around, so the Kiwis are happier chasing in case there’s a score revision later via Duckworth-Lewis.

They have one change as well, Tim Southee in for Lachie Ferguson.

Manuka Oval
The scene at Manuka Oval before the start of play. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

Oh, here is a good one from Matt Harris. A little help, please?

“Hi Geoff, welcome to sunny Canberra. I’m slaving away a few kilometres from Manuka, wishing I was instead drinking a terrible coffee while waiting for the rain to clear.

“I met my spouse on Myspace. We’re coming up to 10 years – and two kids – soon. I find this embarrassing, and I’ve often thought we should come up with a better story to tell people – maybe the OBO crowd can help?”

Updated

Looks like James Faulkner has come in to replace Adam Zampa, so that’s left-arm seam-up and slower balls to replace right-arm leg-spin. Guess that’s to do with the pitch here, which might grip and assist Faulkner’s style. And no Glenn Maxwell:

Updated

“You asked for it,” warns a mysterious correspondent called Newcastle Person. “I once spent some months away in a Scandinavian country in the winter, and fell in love with a woman so much I still have a strand of her hair wound around an object at home.” I hope Durham Person never finds out.

Hello, gang. You can call me Kool. We don’t quite have a toss yet, as a slight rain shower at Manuka Oval has forced a delay. That also means we don’t have teams yet. But we do have each other. You can email me (geoff.lemon@theguardian.com) or tweet me (@GeoffLemonSport) and tell me a tale about you. How did you meet your spouse? Have you ever bought a lobster? What year did you fall in love with a construction worker who you never found the courage to speak to? I want your intoxicated 3am confessional stories that you won’t remember telling. Let’s go.

Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a quick reminder of how Australia went one up in the three-match series at the weekend:

Updated

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