Australian captain Aaron Finch signed off on his One-Day International career with a 3-0 series win over New Zealand, after a tight third match ended as a 25-run victory for Australia.
Finch, who announced his retirement from the 50-over side before the match but will continue to lead Australia’s T20 team, scored just 5 from 13 balls in his final match, underlying the run of low scores that have led to him stepping aside a year out from the next Men’s World Cup in India.
There was a glimpse of the future when Finch, sent into bat by New Zealand, opened the batting with Josh Inglis in the absence of David Warner, who was rested for the dead rubber.
But Finch’s farewell innings was cut short in familiar fashion when Tim Southee’s full delivery angled in and found the gap between bat and pad and into the stumps as Finch shaped to drive.
Inglis didn’t last much longer, out for 10 runs off 5 balls also attempting to drive, as Trent Boult shaved the edge of his bat and Tom Latham completed the catch.
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In what has been a challenging series for batting at the top of the order, Steve Smith’s busy style of accumulation came to the fore and his 118-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne offset the early losses and built the foundation for Australia’s total of 267/5.
Smith backed up his 61-run innings in the second ODI with a steadying century, while Labuschagne chipped in with a handy 52 off 78.
When Labuschagne miscued a pull shot off Boult for Lockie Ferguson to claim at mid-on, Alex Carey chimed in with a more sprightly unbeaten 42 off 43 and, when Smith was bowled by Mitchell Santner on 105 off 131, Carey steered Australia through their remaining overs with contributions from Glenn Maxwell (14 off 8) and Cameron Green (25 n.o. off 12).
Steve Smith launching a filthy slog over the fence because he knew it was a no-ball due to the number of fielders outside the circle 🤯#AUSvNZ #PlayOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/T3LFFjsCB8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
New Zealand made steady progress in the chase but Australia chipped away and kept things tight enough that Kane Williamson’s side was never able to take complete control of the run rate.
Finn Allen (35 off 38) and Devon Conway (21 off 26) put on 49 runs for the opening stand before Conway was caught by Smith at point off the bowling of Sean Abbott. The decision was not without controversy; Conway refused to walk after Smith claimed the low catch and the umpire’s soft signal was not out. But several replays suggested Smith’s fingers were underneath the ball and the third umpire overruled to give Australia their first wicket.
Their second came soon after when Allen prodded Green to a diving Josh Hazlewood at mid-on and led to a frustrating period for New Zealand, with Williamson scoring at a strike rate of less than 50 and wickets falling at the other end.
Tom Latham (10 off 15) and Daryl Mitchell (16 off 23) came and went while Williamson batted patiently, but it was only after he was run out for 27 off 56 that New Zealand’s chase picked up speed.
Glenn Phillips (47 off 53) was culpable in Williamson's demise, although combined with James Neesham (36 off 34) for a 61-run partnership that brought New Zealand to within striking distance of a successful finish before Neesham was out swinging, mistiming a hefty heave that failed to clear Smith at long-on.
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Abbott had a harder job of taking a catch on the fine leg boundary when Phillips used Mitchell Starc’s pace to flick the ball high in the air; moving backwards towards the rope, Abbott just managed to toss the ball back before his boot made contact with the boundary and he completed the catch, but it was a touch-and-go decision as to whether the ball had left his hands first.
Once the umpire ruled in favour of Australia, it felt the match had turned back their way and, despite a fighting 30 off 33 from Santner, the total was fast slipping out of New Zealand’s reach.
When Santner holed out to long-on off Abbott it was left to Starc to carry out his usual task of mopping up the tail and he obliged with the wickets of Ferguson and Boult to leave New Zealand all out with one ball remaining in the match.
The search for a new Australian captain will carry on as Finch and his T20 troops prepare for their T20 World Cup defence at home but, after a lean run of scoring, here was some consolation in bowing out with a victory.
“It means I don't have to field 50 overs anymore,” said Finch after the match. “It’s been a fun ride. I've loved every bit of it.
“Sitting around having a beer with your mates after winning a match or series is the thing I'll miss the most, but we'll enjoy tonight.”
