Men's Major Semi: Australia storm into 12th straight Grand Final

Summary

Men’s Major Semi-Final:

Australia 87 (3) defeated New Zealand 27 (1) by 60 runs

Highest Contribution: Jamie Diener (AUS) - 1/3, 22 runs

Australia will enter their 12th straight Men’s Grand Final and look poised for their 12th World title, after definitive 60-run win over New Zealand in the Major Semi-Final earlier this afternoon at U-Pro Colombo.

Australia 87 (34-29-9-15)

After Matt Floros won the toss and opted to bat first, his team got right into their work, not conceding a wicket in the first eight overs. Jamie Diener and Tim Floros got off to a flyer, scoring 34 in the first four overs, before Rhys Dearness and Kieran Perkins added a further 29 untroubled to have the Australians well-placed at 63 after just eight overs.

With Justin Perkins and Luke Ryan just getting settled into the third pair, a bizarre delay where a gaping hole was created in the front net caused a 15-minute halt to proceedings, enough for the Kiwis to regroup and get back into the contest. Luke Ryan was run out three times over two overs, with the introduction of back-to-back overs of pace from Braden Gardner and Ryan Jackson working a trick for the Kiwis.

With 84 on the board and two overs to bowl, Dion Joll brought a double breakthrough, having Brock Winkler caught twice, the first a fantastic reflex catch by Jackson after Winkler hit the cover off the ball. A run out in the final over from Matt Latham held Australia to 87, just a few runs more than they scored earlier in the week against New Zealand in their round-robin match.

New Zealand 27 (12-17-11 -13)

With Victor Davies not in the line-up, possibly to rest an injury, Joll and Latham opened up and were immediately met with an aggressive Australian front court. Luke Ryan effected the first wicket on the fourth ball of the innings, a run out off his own bowling, and Rhys Dearness added another the next over. By the time Joll was run out by Winkler at the end of the fourth, New Zealand were already on the back foot with 12 runs on the board.

Stacy Hyndman and Michael Barry followed to consolidate proceedings for the Kiwis, with Barry looking especially assured. Despite a late wicket to Matt Floros, they made 17 to take the team total to 29.

With 59 needed off 48 balls, Ryan returned for the ninth over, and his aggressive bowling was backed up by an equally aggressive field. Two second ball plays first saw Micah Conroy play and miss, before a fantastic effort from Matt Floros effected the second run out of the over.

New Zealand were playing catch up at this and Winkler’s third run out of the match in the Justin Perkins’ second over at the top of the third pair put the game in Australia’s favour.

Set 48 to win off the last 24 balls, Jackson and Braden Gardner were then forced to contend with a confident Australian field, and the wickets tumbled- six falling in the pair - including two wickets apiece to Winkler and Kieran Perkins, as the game petered out.

Australia will have the rest of the day off as they go into Grand Final tomorrow at 3:00pm local time, whilst New Zealand will regroup as they take on the winner of the Minor Semi-Final contest currently in play between Sri Lanka and India, in the last session of the day, at 8:45pm local time.

The Open Men join both the Open Women and Under-22 Men as Australian sides to have qualified for the Grand Finals tomorrow.

Image: U-Pro Indoor Cricket