Adam Zampa’s five-for dismantles New Zealand as Australia defends 196 to win the series.

Sean Abbott and Mitchell Starc each claimed two wickets as Australia rallied from 117 for 8 to raise their own morale. Australia came back from a deficit, this time with both bat and ball, to win the Chappell-Hadlee series in Cairns as New Zealand was destroyed for 82, leaving them to ponder when they successive defeated the hosts in their own backyard.

Australia was 117 for 8 when the final two wickets fell, adding 78 runs; Josh Hazlewood then made the second-highest ODI score by a No. 11 for Australia, which they then expertly fielded to defend the total. With a wicket in the opening over, Mitchell Starc set the tone. Sean Abbott then returned to the team and started with two wickets in five balls, followed by four straight maidens.

The pressure put on the New Zealand batters was then exploited by Adam Zampa, who finished with a career-high 5 for 35, even if Kane Williamson missing a massive full throw and getting caught in front wasn’t the greatest course of action.

Despite the victory, it was not all good news for Australia. Aaron Finch resumed his awful streak by driving Matt Henry to mid-off on the second ball. It was Finch’s fifth ODI duck of the year, a record for an Australian hitter, and a return to form appears to be as far off as it has ever been.

This home season, he has 26 runs in five innings against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, giving him 169 runs at 13 in 2022. His ODI career may soon be decided, either by himself or the selectors.

In general, Australia’s top order put on yet another lackluster performance as Henry and Trent Boult again caused issues after they were reduced to 72 for 5 in the first ODI and 44 for 5 in the third ODI against Zimbabwe. However, in their defense, the batting conditions were difficult, and Australia’s bowlers made it appear even more difficult.

In the opening over of the chase, Martin Guptill made a poor decision by edging a reckless drive to Finch at slip. The top of the New Zealand batting order scarcely made an offensive move. With his second ball, Abbott, who had taken over for Cameron Green, who had been unable to recover from the effects of cramp, scored when Devon Conway whipped to long leg. Three deliveries later, Tom Latham edged to slip.

As New Zealand was mainly held scoreless, it would be 29 balls before Abbott gave up a run. After 10 overs, they had 14 runs, which was their lowest powerplay total since 2002, and after 20 overs, they were 36 for 4. Williamson had already left after trying to handle the pressure by scoring 17 runs off of 58 balls and then missing a pull off a full toss from Zampa.

Williamson, who could not understand what had transpired, beseechingly requested a review; even though the ball had barely touched a leg stump, it was sufficient to uphold the ruling. After Daryl Mitchell missed a reverse sweep and nothing New Zealand did seem to be able to loosen the chains, Zampa soon had another lbw.

Marcus Stoinis joined the wicket-takers when Jimmy Neesham flipped to midwicket to give Finch his third catch. Jimmy Neesham was the fourth seamer and was obviously a bowler New Zealand targeted to attack. Before Zampa cleaned out the bottom order, Michael Bracewell, who recently brought New Zealand home in a few thrillers, was trapped in the gully by an inside edge into his pads.

After all, New Zealand had one more game left on this trip to win across all formats in Australia for the first time since 2011.

The bowlers took control of the game from away, with Steven Smith scoring the lone half-century with a methodically accumulating 61. Following Finch’s early exit, in which practically everything appeared out of sync, David Warner likewise drove a catch to mid-off before falling.

Further concerns were expressed about Australia’s DRS usage following both of Boult’s early wickets. When the ball hit Marnus Labuschagne on the knee roll, a review revealed three reds. In Boult’s succeeding over, Stoinis was caught in front but chose to review the incident, ostensibly at Smith’s urging.

One of the stars of the tight run chase two days prior, Alex Carey, briefly supported Smith’s innings before departing due to a line-call stumping after failing to reverse sweep Mitchell Santner. As Smith and Glenn Maxwell attempted to create the same stand that Carey and Green had accomplished on Tuesday, progress was slow against tight bowling.

Smith reached fifty from 83 balls when Maxwell, once off Santner, cleared the leg-side boundary. Australia reached 100 in the 31st over, their slowest score since 2014.

The innings appeared to be headed for an early end until Maxwell was removed in the 33rd over and Smith in the 37th. However, after playing a crucial role in helping Australia secure victory two days prior, Zampa once more contributed with valuable runs, adding 31 with Starc before Hazlewood joined in for a partnership of 47. During this partnership, both fast bowlers hit sixes in the final two overs to help Australia complete the 50 overs.

At least it provided them something to bowl at, was the original notion. However, they ultimately had a lot.