Green and Carey weather collapse, drag Aussies to win

A sublime 158-run partnership from Alex Carey and Cameron Green has saved Australia from a dire situation in the opening Dettol ODI against New Zealand in Cairns.

Joining forces at 5-44 in response to New Zealand's 232, Carey (85 off 99 balls) and Green (89 not out off 92 ball) flourished on a Cazalys Stadium pitch where almost every other batter had issues.

Although hampered by cramp to his left leg, a hobbling Green powered on as he and Adam Zampa's 26-run ninth-wicket partnership got Australia across the line by two wickets in a tense finish.

Green and Carey's 158-run stand is the second-highest ever for the sixth wicket in Chappell-Hadlee Trophy history behind Brendon McCullum and Craig McMillan's 165-run stand in Hamilton in 2007.

Their stunning partnership evoked memories of Carey and Glenn Maxwell's incredible rescue act against England in Manchester 2020, when the two Australians scored centuries after coming together at 5-73.

Carey's driving on the up was a feature while Green showcased his brute strength with a string of devastating pull and sweep shots to the leg-side boundary.

But it wasn't a comfortable five-wicket win for Australia – Carey's dismissal with 31 runs required prompted a mini-collapse with Maxwell (two off eight) and Mitch Starc (one off three) following in quick succession.

There was a seven-minute break in play with 23 runs left to get as Green required medical attention on his left leg and then with four runs to get, a brief rain interruption. 

Green finished unbeaten at the non-strikers end on a career-best 89 as a leg-side wide from Lockie Ferguson gifted Australia a thrilling victory.

Carey and Green came together in the 12th over after Trent Boult (4-40) and Matt Henry (2-50) rocked Australia's top order with a new-ball blitz.

Boult found plenty of swing and grabbed the wickets of Aaron Finch, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in his first four overs. 

Both Finch and Labuschagne were lbw to in-swinging deliveries while Smith was bowled as he chopped on attempted a drive on the up.

It left Australia's chase in disarray at 3-27, a situation that only got more desperate as David Warner departed two balls later, caught on the square leg boundary off Henry.

Melbourne Stars recruit Boult finished his scintillating opening spell with figures of 3-12 from five overs, adding to his impressive ODI record against Australia against whom he averages 18.12 with the ball.

Image Id: D140091B08FB4B42ACB748EB123A1A45 Image Caption: Smith walks off after chopping on to Boult // Getty

Henry's method of attacking the stumps and relying on seam movement also came to fruition as the workhorse right-armer bowled Marcus Stoinis (five off 11) through the gate with a ball that came in just enough.

Earlier, Australian captain Finch opted to bowl first at the toss due to the unknown conditions facing them on the Cazalys Stadium wicket.

None of the New Zealanders passed 50 however there were solid partnerships all the way throughout the innings.

Batting was difficult from the outset, with openers Martin Guptill and Devon Conway struggling to find fluency.

Perhaps sensing that, both leg-spinner Adam Zampa and off-spinner Glenn Maxwell were brought into the attack during the powerplay, an uncharacteristic move by Australia.

Guptill's innings (six off 19 balls) ended in spectacular fashion as Maxwell pulled in a stunning one-handed catch at backward point.

Player of the Series against Zimbabwe, Zampa was again brilliant with the ball. While the pitch did not offer a great deal of turn, he proved tough to get away with his first three overs costing only five runs.

Both Conway and Kane Williamson made it obvious they were keen to attack Cameron Green or at least shift him off his length. The allrounder was superb against Zimbabwe with eight wickets at 7.12 apiece, taking a wicket every 13.5 balls, but his five overs in Cairns cost him 33 runs.

New Zealand's captain Williamson looked to go large off Glenn Maxwell in the 30th over only ended up hitting a simple catch to Warner at long on.

Image Id: 123F8EFEF2834D81B646DF7766C3EE42 Image Caption: Williamson miscues a sweep to deep midwicket // Getty

But the wicket of the Kiwi legend wasn't Maxwell's biggest impact with the ball.

The decision to bring him back into the attack in the 42nd over was a gamble by Finch, as the partnership between Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell had just crossed 50 and was accelerating.

It paid immediate dividends, with Mitchell clipping the first ball of the over to Steve Smith at mid-wicket, proving the impetus for a run of dismissals.

Four balls later, Latham swept straight to Zampa at short fine leg.

Maxwell finished with 4-52 from his 10 overs, his second-best figures in ODI cricket and the third time he'd taken four wickets in an innings.

When Jimmy Neesham ramped Josh Hazlewood straight to Alex Carey in the 47th over, any hope of a 250-plus score for the Kiwis evaporated.

In their last nine overs, New Zealand scored just 6-53 to finish with 9-232.

Both sides will have just one day's break before facing off again on Thursday at Cazalys Stadium.

Men's Dettol ODI Series v New Zealand

Tuesday, Sep 6: Australia won by two wickets

Thursday, Sep 8: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm

Sunday Sep 11: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm

Australia squad: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch (c), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

New Zealand squad: Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson (c)

Buy #AUSvNZ tickets here