The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Despite Stoinis’ stunning century, Aussies fall short
Newzealandscrapedhomeinthefirstonedayer against Australia but only after rookie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis' fell agonisingly short of dragging his team to victory with an unbeaten 146. In just his second ODI, Stoinis took three wickets then flayed the New Zealand attack as the Australians chased a target of 287 runs at Auckland's Eden Park.
He came to the crease with Australia reeling at 54 for five and calmly set about rebuildingafterhismoreexperiencedteammateshad squandered their wickets. His 146 was a record Odiscoreforanaustraliannumbersevenbatsman and included 11 sixes and nine fours. Remarkably,the27-year-old'slastpartnership with Josh Hazlewood was worth 54, but Hazlewood did not face a single ball as Stoinis stayedonstriketryingtoguideaustraliahome. Hisheroicspreventedatrouncingintheopening match of the Chappell-hadlee Trophy, sparing Australia's blushes after they rested their star batsmen for the series.
The tourists left David Warner and Usman Khawaja out of the squad to protect them for theupcomingtestseriesinindia,thenlostcaptain Steve Smith and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade to injury. But the players expected to offer leadership in their absence failed to step up and the Australians crumbled before Stoinis arrived. Their woes were largely causedbyrashorcarelessshots,notdemonsin a pitch on which the New Zealanders had batted solidly. Relative newcomers such as Travis Head(5)andpeterhanscomb(4)couldbeforgivenforarushofbloodtotheheadatthesight of the short Eden Park boundaries. However, stand-incaptainaaronfinch(4),shaunmarsh (16)andglennmaxwell(20)--allwith50-plus ODIS – are likely to face tough questions over the performance. Boult dismissed Head and Finch in the fourth over, with the acting skipper falling to an acrobatic Jimmy Neesham catchtryingtopullpastsquareleg.marshwent after a lazy dab at Mitchell Santner's spin and Maxwelltriedtocollarrookiespeedsterlockie Ferguson, only to nick the ball to the wicketkeeper. Soon, they were in more disarray. REAL MADRID extended their La Liga lead to four points and still have a game in hand over their title rivals as Cristiano Ronaldo was on target in a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Earlier, Barcelona were left to rue La Liga's lack of goal line technology as they weren't awarded a clear goal in a controversial 1-1 draw at Real Betis. However, Barca still moved up to second on goal difference as Sevilla were reduced to 10 men after just two minutes in a 3-1 defeat at Espanyol.
Madrid had won only one of their previous five games and were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Celta Vigo in midweek. However, even without six first-team regulars through injury, Real took a huge step towards a first La Liga title for five years against an in-form Sociedad, who remain just one point off the top four in fifth.
“After a few difficult days we were back to being ourselves tonight. It was a complete performance against a strong opponent," said Real boss Zinedine Zidane.
"We can say it has been a good night for us because our rivals have drawn or lost."
Mateo Kovacic opened the scoring with the only real chance of the first-half as he timed his late run from midfield perfectly for Ronaldo's through ball and slotted low beyond Geronimo Rulli.
The roles were reversed six minutes into the second-half as this time Kovacic's pass split the Sociedad defence and Ronaldo coolly chipped the onrushing Rulli for his 20th goal of the season.
Sociedad's uphill task was made impossible 15 minutes from time when Inigo Martinez was sent-off for a second bookable offence. And Alvaro Morata made the 10 men pay as he bulleted home Lucas Vazquez's cross for the third eight minutes from time. There was far more drama at the Benito Villamarin as Barca were largely outplayed by Betis, but still felt hard done by after referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez failed to award them an equaliser when the ball crossed the Betis line shortly after Alex Alegria's opener 15 minutes from time.
"We have to help the referees," Barca boss Luis Enrique told BEIN Sports Spain.
"The technology can help them. I say that for all situations not just ones that go for me, but against me too." Luis Suarez did at least rescue a point in the dying seconds, though, as he slotted home Lionel Messi's through ball for his 21st goal of the season.
However, he was less understanding as he claimed the ball was a metre over the line." The hosts dominated opening 75 minutes as Dani Ceballos saw a dipping long-range effort come back off the bar before Ruben Castro struck the post with Marc-andre ter Stegen beaten at his near post.