Warner continues century binge, hits seventh of year

Opener David Warner smashed his second straight hundred and Mitchell Starc bowled lethal reverse swing to spearhead Australia to a third big win over New Zealand in the Chappell-hadlee Trophy here on Friday.

The Australian vice-captain was run out on the last ball of the innings for 156 off 128 balls — more than half of his team's 264 for eight total — with 13 fours and four sixes.

It follows Warner's 119 off 115 balls against the Black Caps in Canberra on Tuesday. Starc then led Australia to a series clean sweep helping to skittle New Zealand for 147 off 36.1 overs to reclaim the Chappellhadlee Trophy.

Starc bowled Henry Nicholls and Colin Munro with unplayable yorkers and then trapped Mitchell Santner leg before wicket with reverse swing to finish with three for 34. Warner was named man of the match and man of the series after raising his 11th ODI century and seventh for the year. Only Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, with nine in 1998, has hit more ODI centuries in a calendar year. Warner was the difference after New Zealand had made early

inroads into the Australian batting. He was involved in partnerships with George Bailey (62) and Travis Head (105) which helped Australia fight back from 11 for two and 73 for four. Warner gave a tough chance on 18 when he pulled Lockie Ferguson to deep mid-wicket, where a diving Nicholls couldn't take a difficult low catch. BRIEF SCORES: Australia 264 for 8 in 50 ovs (D Warner 156, T Head 37; Boult 3/49) vs New Zealand 147 all out in 36.1 ovs (M Guptill 34, T Latham 28; Starc 3/34)