It's 41 degrees celcius at the WACA, in the centre of the ground Ricky Ponting wins the coin toss and decides to bat on a pitch which at first looked like a 230-260 total. Shane Bond & James Franklin where rested and in came Jeetan Patel & Kyle Mills for his first game since the Champions Trohpy. Stephen Fleming played two spinners in Vettori & Patel to everyones suprise. Australia where talking up of posting 300+ with only 7 times has a team passed 300 on this ground in an ODI.

Out came Adam Gilchrist & Matthew Hayden to begin the innings alot at stake for Hayden after a string of bad performances he needed a good knock to keep his place. Kyle Mills who's last game was against Australia in the Champions Trophy where he took 4/38 was to open the bowling. He started off well with a maiden and at the other end Mark Gillespie shared the new ball who had Matthew Hayden dropped on 0 by Vettori who dived to his left but couldn't hang onto it. A costly blow for the Kiwis as poor fielding came back to haunt them on the other hand they had Australia scoreless after 2 overs. But then Gilchrist unleashed some lovely shots for four. It was one shot to many as he smashed one like a rocket straight to Jeetan Patel who took a fantastic catch Mills struck and Australia where 1/28 after the 5th over.

Ricky Ponting joined Hayden at the crease, Hayden was given another life when Ross Taylor dropped him on 4 off the bowling of Kyle Mills who could have had both openers. The 1st change was made after the 8th over in came Jacob Oram who was welcomed to the crease with 4 runs off his 1st ball after bowling a short delivery it then followed up with 8 more runs in the over and finished with 12 runs off his 1st over. Daniel Vettori came into the attack at the 11th over Fleming deciding not to use his powerplay. In his final ball of the over he had Hayden attempting to sweep and rebounded off his shoe and McCullum caught it, the players appealed but Taufel went to the third umpire. Replays showed that it hit the pitch first then came off the shoe and in the end a excellent decision from the ump in form Simon Taufel. Jeetan Patel came in at the other end bowling in tandem with Vettori to slow the rate down. After 20 overs Australia reached 1/97 thanks to some tight spells from the spin duo Vettori & Patel. Fleming finally decided to take on 1 powerplay. Then Mark Gillespie replaced the economical Vettori and at the other end the expensive Oram replaced Patel.

Matthew Hayden brought up a gritty 50 who punished New Zealand for dropping his wicket twice. Also Ricky Ponting brought up a brilliant 50 half through the innings. Vettori & Patel came back into the attack but couldn't get the breakthrough as Patel was replaced by McMillian after a 2 over spell. Six singles in his over showing some fantastic running between the wickets in extrodinary heat. Ross Taylor was introduced into the attack for the 1st time in his career and started with a poor delivery pitching short and wide outside off stump. Hamish Marshall came onto the field as sub fielder and made an immediate impact as he dropped Hayden once a more who denied Ross Taylor's first wicket in international cricket. At this stage after 35 overs Australia where in total control at 1/186 with Hayden (84) & Ponting (73) with a partnership of 158 and bulding. A change of socks, gloves and other gear saw a more aggressive Hayden who smash Mills for 16 in his 8th over and in the same over brought up a terrific century his 6th in ODI cricket. It soon followed the next over as he smashed three consecutive boundaries off Oram who had figures of 5-0-50-0.

Vettori was brought back into the attack and made an immediate effect as he beat Hayden in flight and turn and was eventually bowled on a wonderful 117 from 111 balls. Michael Clarke came to the crease looking to push Australia to a big total. Ponting lofted Patel over his head straight down the ground for the first maximum of the innings taking hit tally to 95*. Vettori ended a brilliant spell of 10-0-34-1 but he would be still kicking himself for dropping Hayden on 0. Ricky Ponting flicks one down legside for a single notching up a terrific century. Michael Clarke stepped on the accelarator and tried clearing the mid-wicket boundary but Hamish Marshall made up for his dropped catch and held on to this one.

Andrew Symonds recieved a rousing applause with some fireworks expected from him he didn't dissapoint as he lofted Patel over long-on fence for a huge six. Ricky Ponting mammoth innings came to an end as he mistimed a pull shot straight to Fulton who was safe as a house earning McMillian his first wicket. But the fireworks didn't end there in came Michael Hussey and at the other end Symonds with brutal force smashed McMillian down the ground with a cross bat for his 2nd big six. Mark Gillespie fired a yorker into Symonds who swinged at it and missed crashing into the stumps. Cameron White came in at the last few overs of the innings, Hussey launched another six with Oram getting a finger tip to it but falling short. The last ball of the 48th over Cameron White hit the rope umpire referring to 3rd umpire who signalled it a six abit unlucky because in Adelaide Jacob Oram did the same thing only to be signalled a four! Michael Hussey smashes it over extra cover for another six and then followed up with another six in the final over. Australia completed the innings at 5/343 recording the highest ODI score at the WACA. Matthew Hayden (117) & Ricky Ponting (111) top the runs for the aussies while wickets where shared around for the kiwi bowlers.

New Zealand had a huge task ahead with 344 needed to win, Lou Vincent into replace the retired Nathan Astle opened the batting with Stephen Fleming. A slow start for the New Zealand as they reached 8 after 3 overs. A brilliant drive off the back foot from Lou Vincent was in vain as an equally superb fielding effort from Andrew Symonds saved that from going to the fence. Suddenly the out of form Fleming smashed four 4's off Brackens over resulting in 18 runs off the over this was exactly what New Zealand needed. Glen McGrath was introduced into the attack after the 8th over and Lou Vincent decided to smash him for six over long off fence with sheer power. As Fleming was looking in fine touch 28*(26) got a start but as usual didn't build on that and got a edge to Gilchrist off McGrath's bowling, New Zealand where 1/47 and Fulton walked out in the middle. Some breath taking strokes saw New Zealand reach 100 for the loss of one wicket but Mitchell Johnson for the first time came into the attack and had Fulton caught at slip by Hayden on 23. Youngster Ross Taylor came in at 4 but had problems with his right hand.

A lovely french cut from Vincent brought up a wonderful 50 and a great return to cricket. New Zealand where doing better at this stage after 20 overs they where 2/109 whereas Australia where 1/97. An economical Michael Clarke trapped Vincent LBW but replays suggested it was a poor decision as the ball hit the glove then pad costing Lou Vincent what could have been a colossal innings but never the less he made 66 in his comeback game. Craig McMillian joined Taylor in the middle with the required run rate over 8 they needed some big shots from the pair.

Mitchell Johnson fired in a direct hit at the bowlers end running McMillian out on 5. Adelaide hero Jacob Oram needed another big innings if New Zealand where any chance. New Zealand went 7 overs without a boundary and the required run rate was just under 10 an over. Finally Oram broke the shackles slogging it over fine leg soon followed with Ross Taylor flicking it over short fine leg for four more runs. Michael Clarke got the breakthrough bowling Taylor around his legs he couldn't believe it he thought that Gilchrist attempted a stumping but he was clean bowled. Then Jacob Oram just went the smack launching Clarke for consecutive sixe's which followed up with a four, 17 runs came off Clarke's 9th over. Following over McGrath copped the full treatment from Oram for the 2nd time in the innings after he pulled it over square leg for a massive six. Jacob Oram brought up a 39-ball 50 and was in career best form. New Zealand still required 107 runs off the final 10 overs with 5 wickets in hand Brendon McCullum needed to up the ante if they where to get home.

Brendon McCullum stood his ground and hit McGrath straight over his head with alot of power going for four more runs. Bracken soon tasted another one of Oram's gigantic sixe's. But a storm was brewing over the the WACA a slight drizzle which became heavier caused a delay with 8 overs left. Players came back on the field and vital boundaries and extras gave New Zealand some chance though they still needed 60 runs off the last 5 overs. Jacob Oram hit his 5th six off Lee over long on fence it was a nail biting finish on the cards. Only 7 runs conceded in the 3rd last over meaning 35 was needed from 12 balls. Brendon McCullum got underneath a fuller length delivery from McGrath and slammed it over extra cover for a vital six. Everyone was on the edge of there seat as New Zealand needed 25 runs off the final over. A single from McCullum to begin with which followed by another six from Oram who sliced a full toss at long off. Jacob Oram (96) ran hard for two runs but a direct hit from Mitchell Johnson went to the 3rd umpire. He was given not out and moved hit score to 98 he ran anothe two the next ball to bring up his maiden century and what a terrific innings it was coming off just 71 balls which featured six huge 6's, becomin the fastest century by a kiwi. New Zealand needed two 6's to win but Oram could only manage a single followed up by four runs from McCullum.

New Zealand finished there innings on 5/335 it was a magnificent effort by the kiwis Vincent & Oram in particular. New Zealand can take alot out of this game heading into Tuesday's clash against England they would be steaming full of confidence. Ricky Ponting announced man of the match and thurely deserved it too but don't take anything away from Oram as that was one of the best centuries you will see in a losing cause.