Australia cannot be stopped

Australia cannot be stopped

NOT even a hat-trick from New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond could slow the relentless Australia cricket machine yesterday.

The home side faced a new rival, but it was the same result.

After months of dishing out punishment to England, Australia continued its perfect summer with a first-up thumping of the Black Caps in Hobart.

A brutal late-innings partnership of 90 runs from 70 balls between Australia's enforcers Andrew Symonds and Cameron White proved the difference between the teams at Bellerive Oval, pushing the home side to a first innings total the Kiwis then collapsed trying to haul in.

Set 290 for victory, New Zealand folded for just 184 in the 39th over after a steady stream of wickets from Australia's pacemen, including a maiden scalp for local boy Ben Hilfenhaus, swept them to a bonus-point win and showed the suggestions of an unbeaten summer are not too fanciful.

New Zealand showed feint signs of becoming sterner opposition than England courtesy of some individual brilliance, including Bond's hat-trick and a quickfire 84 from rookie Ross Taylor, but it was unable to match the ruthless efficiency of the all-round team effort of Australia.

As displayed in the Ashes, Australia players across the board stepped up to collectively smother any sign of resistance from the traditionally plucky Black Caps.

Hilfenhaus, called in as a late replacement for Glenn McGrath, was given a huge ovation from his home crowd when he snared his maiden limited-overs wicket in just his second over, trapping Brendon McCullum leg before for five to throw the New Zealand run-chase into early trouble.

While the bowlers finished the job, it was Australia's batsmen who had laid the foundation with a perfectly weighted innings of power and caution.

Seeing the Bellerive Oval pitch as a good for batting, Ricky Ponting had no second thoughts about putting New Zealand in the field after winning the toss. Australia's opening batsmen confirmed Ponting's instinct, as Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden raced to 0-69 after 10 overs.

Gilchrist departed on 61 from 58 balls.

Australia trundled through the middle overs as the Kiwis did a fair job of containing Michael Clarke for 33, Mike Hussey for 20 and initially Symonds.

But when White joined Symonds with 10 overs to go in the innings and the score at 5-196, it sparked a Twenty20-style finale from the burly all rounders.

White showed the value of his power hitting at No.7 when he opened the shoulders and smashed three big sixes, including two in one Daniel Vettori over. Symonds said it was unlikely there was a cleaner hitter than White in Australian cricket.

"You'd have to say so after that Twenty20 effort the other night (40 off 20 against England) and today," Symonds said. "It's not like he's just clearing the rope. When he hits it in the middle, it's maximum."

Symonds took the cue and the pair added 90 from 70 balls. Bond finally managed to halt the carnage with a hat-trick in the 50th over, just the second hat-trick in the Kiwis' limited-overs history, snaring White, Symonds and Bracken in as many balls during the final over.

White was caught deep on the mid-wicket boundary chasing late runs, Symonds caught behind also attempting a slashing stroke and Bracken was finally clean bowled with a slower ball.