NZ quicks Boult, Henry destroy Aus

New Zealand strike bowlers Trent Boult and Matt Henry destroyed world champions Australia and set up a comprehensive 159-run victory in their opening one-day international in Auckland on Wednesday.

In reply to New Zealand’s 307-8, Australia were all out for 148 in the 25th over.

New Zealand, sent in to bat, made an aggressive start with Martin Guptill (90), Henry Nicholls (61) and Brendon McCullum (44) getting them past the 200 mark in 30 overs. The run rate slowed with the tailenders but a total in excess of 300 at Eden Park, even with its short boundaries, was competitive.

Australia were never seriously in contention with their reply. Their innings began to unravel at the very start as Henry and Boult ripped out the top order to have the tourists reeling on 41-6 after nine overs.

“Our bowling effort was one of the best we have put out for a while,” captain McCullum said, while Australian skipper Steve Smith felt 300 was a gettable target until Bould and Henry fired up.

“Losing six wickets in the first 10 overs you’re not going to win too many games when you do that,” he said.

Henry, a surprise omission from the New Zealand team for next month’s World Twenty20 championships, continued the form that made him New Zealand’s leading bowler in their recent series wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In his first over he had Shaun Marsh caught in the slips for five with a ball that moved across the left-hander.

He followed up with the dismissal of Steve Smith, bowled for 18, and George Bailey for two. Boult meanwhile removed David Warner for 12 and claimed Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh without either scoring.