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Cricinfo staff
September 22, 2008
Australia A 145 for 2 (Hussey 78) beat New Zealand A 144 (Fulton 65, White 4-32) by eight wickets
Scorecard
Australia A secured a place in the A Team Triangular Series final after allrounder Cameron White triggered a New Zealand A collapse that left his side needing 145 runs in 50 overs. Australia did the needful in 24.5; David Hussey hurrying matters with a 56-ball 78.
New Zealand chose to bat but were down to 2 for 2 in the second over. Marcus North was involved in the dismissal of the openers: he ran out Aaron Redmond for a duck and took a catch to get rid of Martin Guptill. A 97-run partnership between Peter Fulton and Greg Hay revived the innings before Shaun Tait broke the stand by bowling Hay for 36.
However it was White's dismissal of Fulton - in the 30th over - that shook the base. New Zealand collapsed from 127 for 3 to 127 for 6 in seven deliveries. The lower order couldn't withstand White's legspin and Tait's pace, and New Zealand were dismissed in 37.3 overs for a disappointing 144. In all, only three New Zealand batsmen reached double figures.
Hussey and Phillip Hughes scored at more than six an over and their 112-run second-wicket partnership took Australia within touching distance of a win. Hussey's innings included ten fours and three sixes. Australia will now play India A on Wednesday before the final between the same sides on Friday.
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