Australian fast bowlers too hot for New Zealand

Riding on a sterling show of the fast bowler, Australia defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in a World Cup Group A match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here on Friday.

Nathan McCullum (52) and Daniel Vettori (44) revived New Zealand from a disastrous 73 for 6, but a below-par 206 was not enough to avoid a crushing defeat.

A flamboyant Brad Haddin (55) and an imperious Shane Watson (62) hit the Kiwi bowlers all over the park as New Zealand?s emotion-charged efforts to upset Australia came to little aagainst the world champions.

Haddin nd Watson fell in the 19th over to the bowling of seamer Hamish Bennett after a first-wicket stand of 133.Ricky Ponting was stumped off seamer Tim Southee?s bowling for 12 at 3-167, while Cameron White (22 not out) and Michael Clarke (24 not out) steered Australia home.

Earlier in the day, Mitchell Johnson (4-33) and Shaun Tait (3-35) bowled New Zealand out for 206 in 45.1 overs after Ponting won the toss in overcast conditions in Nagpur.

Australia extended their unbeaten streak in World Cup games to 31 after achieving the target with 16 overs to spare.

Earlier, New Zealand had lost four wickets for seven runs to be 6-73 but Nathan McCullum led the lower-order fightback with a gritty 52.

The lucky No.8 shared in a 48-run partnership with Jamie How (22) and another 54-run stand with Daniel Vettori (44) to help lift the tally over 200.