The Commonwealth Bank Series, 2006-07

At Sydney, January 21, 2007 (day/night). Australia won by two wickets. Australia 4 pts. Toss: New Zealand.

For the second match running Hussey showed his mettle as a Michael Bevan-style "finisher", his unbeaten 65 ensuring a narrow victory and almost certainly a place in the finals. Australia were again made to fight, after falling to 17 for three: Hussey blamed the sluggishness on the tougher training regime imposed in preparation for the World Cup. The batsmen were mildly put off by a thin green line outside off stump, caused by a dip in the surface where the grass grew thicker. And 39° heat didn't help anyone. New Zealand might still have won, but for two bad fielding errors: Clarke was dropped on 16 by Franklin at fine leg, and at 116 Hussey would have been run out if Vettori had taken a throw from Marshall cleanly. Fleming delayed the second powerplay until the 33rd over, but Clarke eased the pressure with four boundaries in its five overs. After Clarke miscued to midwicket, Gillespie set up a nervous finish by removing White and Lee. But Hussey pulled a six - Australia's only one of the day - to end the contest. Earlier, New Zealand's 218 had relied on 89 from McMillan, who hit his highest one-day score since April 2002, after surviving a confident caught-behind appeal off McGrath when he had one. Clark took four wickets for Australia on his return to the side.

Man of the Match: M. J. Clarke. Attendance: 36,269.