Boult stars in NZ victory

Silverware snatched.

New Zealand grabbed back the Chappell-hadlee Trophy series by winning the ‘‘decider’’ against Australia in Hamilton yesterday.

In front of a packed crowd of 9539 fans at Seddon Park, the hosts triumphed by 24 runs to win the three-match one-day international cricket series 2-0.

Chasing 282 to win and level the series at 1-1 – and keep the trophy – Australia were dismissed for 257 in the 47th over as the world’s topranked ODI bowler Trent Boult starred with 6-33 of his 10 overs.

Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner also played a critical role on his 25th birthday. Santner, charged with the major spin duties after New Zealand surprisingly omitted leg-spinner Ish Sodhi from their playing XI, took 2-50, despite giving up 31 runs in his final two overs as Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins swung for the fences.

The victory extended New Zealand’s home winning streak to 12 matches this season – as well as the two ODI victories against Australia, they’ve scored four consecutive test wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh and swept the latter in limited-overs contests.

Wickets fell in pairs throughout the Australian reply as the almosthero of Eden Park for the tourists, Marcus Stoinis, again had home fans worried. He got to 42 off 48 balls and appeared poised to possibly go one better than his Auckland effort before falling to the wiles of Santner.

Even hometown hero Ross Taylor acknowledged his side’s tally may have been 20 short of what it should have been at 281-9, but thanks chiefly to the veteran righthander and Boult’s bowling, it proved enough.

New Zealand’s score was built around 107 at better than a runa-ball from Taylor, while Dean Brownlie – getting his chance in place of the injured Martin Guptill – made a composed 63 off 78 balls to hint that his international career may have been kick-started.