Australia in final after 34-run win

Mohali — Daniel Vettori's valiant 79 went in vain as Australia booked their spot in the final of the Champions Trophy, beating New Zealand by 34 runs. Australia nearly had the match sealed as their seamers had New Zealand reeling at 35 for 6, but a 103-run stand between Vettori and Jacob Oram caused a few anxious moments. However, Oram's dismissal for 43 brought Australia right back into the game, and New Zealand were eventually wrapped up for 206.
Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori brought New Zealand back into the contest with an amazing 103-run seventh-wicket partnership, but Andrew Symonds finally broke through to leave Australia on top again. Coming together with New Zealand reeling at 35 for 6, the two staged an outstanding recovery, but Oram's dismissal for 43 left New Zealand on 138 for 7, needing 103 more runs to win in just under 15 overs with only three wickets in hand. Australia would have thought they had the contest sealed when they snared six wickets within 15 overs, but Vettori and Oram had other ideas. Not only did both batsmen get the runs, they also got them quickly, driving superbly when the bowlers offered width, and flicking anything that strayed on the pads. The seam movement that was so pronounced early on died away, and with the ball coming on to the bat, both Oram and Vettori drove cleanly through the line of the ball.
The one opportunity Australia had to nail a wicket came early in the stand. The total was only 48, and Vettori was only on 5, when a regulation edge off Nathan Bracken was put down by Michael Hussey at slip. With the fast bowlers not getting the breakthrough, Ricky Ponting was forced to turn to Symonds's offspin, and finally he broke through, drawing Oram forward, and beating him with turn. Adam Gilchrist completed a smart stumping, and the Australians heaved a collective sigh of relief.
Big wicket. Australia celebrate as Stephen Fleming walks back to the hutch © Getty Images Fleming's wicket was the crucial one for Australia - he alone seemed to possess the technique and the heart to battle the seam attack - but he too fell in the 11th over, as Bracken joined in the fun. Fulton then showed shocking technique, leaving a straight delivery which duly crashed into off, and when Brendon McCullum too fell, inside-edging a flick, it was all getting rather embarrassing for New Zealand.
Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee made early inroads into the New Zealand top order as they stuttered to 30 for 3 after ten overs, needing a further 211 at an asking rate of 5.25. Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle and Hamish Marshall all fell cheaply, leaving Stephen Fleming with another monumental rescue operation to execute. Vincent and Fleming started cautiously, both intent on seeing off the new-ball without too much damage. McGrath, though, kept probing around off and finally forced an edge from Vincent, which gave Ricky Ponting at second slip a regulation catch.
Lee then got into the act with a screaming indipper which was far too much for Astle - the ball rushed through between bat and pad and took middle and off. And when McGrath induced another outside edge from the hapless Marshall, New Zealand's innings was in tatters, and an upset was looking less and less likely.
The first semi-finals of the Champions Trophy was enthrallingly poised at the halfway stage as Australia posted 240 for 9 at Mohali. Half-centuries from Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds.—Agencies