After winning the first match of the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia by 5 runs on January 30, the New Zealand team would be aiming to get through the 2nd game scheduled to be held at McLean Park on February 2 and clinch the series by 2-0. While on the other hand, it would be a do-or-die situation for Australia as they will definitely fight back to win the next game and maintain the hold over the ongoing series. The live cricket streaming of the match is available on Hotstar, while the live telecast of the match is available on Star Sports.
The last game was one of the terrific games ever happened in the cricket history when a player came at the number 7 spot and after the entire top order failed and he played a massive knock of 146 runs. Despite Marcus Stoinis’ stunning knock of 149 runs, the Kiwi bowling attack plundered win from Australia and in a nail-biting finish, New Zealand won by six runs.
However, Aron Finch will again be leading the Aussie side while the Kiwi opener, Martin Guptill, will not be playing the 2nd game as he has been ruled out due to injury.
In the last game, the middle order did the rest of the job as Neil Broom and James Neesham scored 73 and 43 respectively and helped the team to move ahead of the score of 250 runs. New Zealand, by the end of the innings, managed to put a massive total of 286 runs and set a target of 287 for the Australians to chase.
While chasing, by the end of 13th over, the Australian side was reduced to 54 for 5 and half the top order was back to the pavilion. Then came the giant of the game, Marcus Stoinins. After returning a three-wicket haul to restrict New Zealand in the middle overs, he batted with extreme poise under tremendous pressure in his 117-ball knock. Marcus Stoinins then scored an unbeaten 146, his maiden One-Day International ton only in his second game, to keep Australia afloat for most parts of the innings but with next to nothing coming from the top order, he was left with a little too much to do.
The setting for the Aussies’ net session in Napier today #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/7t5XQ97acz
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 31, 2017
Team News:
Australia: Matthew Wade, the Australian wicketkeeper and stand-in captain, has been ruled out of the series due to a back injury meaning Aaron Finch will once again take on the role as skipper. It also means Peter Handscomb will take the gloves, having been handed the role in the opening match.
Sam Heazlett, who made 4 on his ODI debut in game one is almost certain to retain his spot in Australia’s middle order.
New Zealand: In a major blow for the hosts, opener Martin Guptill has been ruled out of game two due to a hamstring injury. Dean Brownlie, who has not played international cricket in over two years, has been called into the squad and is likely to make a comeback in Napier.
