The last time Australia played New Zealand] in the World Cup, in 2007, Shaun Tait crippled the Kiwi batting with a handful of wickets.
The 2011 World Cup Group A game between the neighbours on Friday, at the VCA stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, witnessed an encore.
The quickie took three vital wickets (3-35) to help Australia restrict New Zealand to a paltry 206, the Black Caps failing to play their full quota of overs (they batted for 45.1 overs).
And akin to that match in the Caribbean, Tait, despite being the destroyer-in-chief, wasn't Australia's best bowler in terms of wickets taken.
That honour went to Mitchell Johnson , who snapped up four wickets (4-33). The duo helped Australia remain firm favourites to secure what would be their 30th straight win in the World Cup.
Had it not been for Nathan McCullum's defiant 52, the Kiwi scoreboard would have made for a miserable reading.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling fast due to overcast conditions -- it rained the night before. And his bowlers vindicated his decision.
In what can be termed as a devastating bowling display, Australia crippled the New Zealand batsmen with sheer pace.
While most teams have resorted to spin to make an impact during the tournament, the three-time defending champions defied all convention and stuck to what they do best -- intimidate the opposition with quality fast bowling.
To say that they were successful in their endeavour would be an understatement.
New Zealand got off to a tentative start, losing both their openers -- Brendon McCullum (16) and Martin Guptill (10) -- inside the first 10 overs.
Jesse Ryder (25) tried to ease the pressure a bit with a flurry of boundaries.
However, Johnson's twin strikes in the first over after drinks (14th) crippled New Zealand to a considerable extent.
Both Ryder and James Franklin (0) were dismissed, caught behind, in the space of three balls to reduce the Black Caps to 66 for four.
The astute mind in Ponting sensed the opportunity and he brought back Tait in a bid to inflict more damage on New Zealand.
The ploy worked. Tait induced an edge from Scott Styris's (0) blade and Haddin took his third catch in the space of nine balls.
The Black Caps had just 68 runs on the board after 15 overs, with half their side back on the pavilion.
And Tait inflicted more misery on them when he cleaned up Ross Taylor (7) in his fourth over, his second after drinks.
With New Zealand struggling at 78 for six, Ponting introduced Jason Krejza into the attack (in the 20th over), after Johnson had bowled seven overs in an uninterrupted spell.
The VCA ground was the venue where Krejza had impressed on his Test debut, taking 12 wickets against India in 2008. However, on Friday he was disappointing.
Jamie How (22) and Nathan McCullum put together a 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket to ensure some stability in the New Zealand innings.
However, just as things looked to settle down for the Kiwis, Steven Smith struck, having How out leg before.
In came captain Daniel Vettori and it took an impressive 54-run eighth wicket stand between him and McCullum to take the New Zealand total to a semblance of respectability.
In the process, McCullum registered his third ODI fifty, a timely knock to say the least.
Vettori was impressive as well in his 43-ball 44, an innings that comprised of five boundaries.
However, the damage that happened early on in their innings proved too much for New Zealand. They could never really recover from the same.
The 2011 World Cup Group A game between the neighbours on Friday, at the VCA stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, witnessed an encore.
The quickie took three vital wickets (3-35) to help Australia restrict New Zealand to a paltry 206, the Black Caps failing to play their full quota of overs (they batted for 45.1 overs).
And akin to that match in the Caribbean, Tait, despite being the destroyer-in-chief, wasn't Australia's best bowler in terms of wickets taken.
That honour went to Mitchell Johnson , who snapped up four wickets (4-33). The duo helped Australia remain firm favourites to secure what would be their 30th straight win in the World Cup.Had it not been for Nathan McCullum's defiant 52, the Kiwi scoreboard would have made for a miserable reading.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling fast due to overcast conditions -- it rained the night before. And his bowlers vindicated his decision.
In what can be termed as a devastating bowling display, Australia crippled the New Zealand batsmen with sheer pace.
While most teams have resorted to spin to make an impact during the tournament, the three-time defending champions defied all convention and stuck to what they do best -- intimidate the opposition with quality fast bowling.
To say that they were successful in their endeavour would be an understatement.
New Zealand got off to a tentative start, losing both their openers -- Brendon McCullum (16) and Martin Guptill (10) -- inside the first 10 overs.
Jesse Ryder (25) tried to ease the pressure a bit with a flurry of boundaries.
However, Johnson's twin strikes in the first over after drinks (14th) crippled New Zealand to a considerable extent.
Both Ryder and James Franklin (0) were dismissed, caught behind, in the space of three balls to reduce the Black Caps to 66 for four.
The astute mind in Ponting sensed the opportunity and he brought back Tait in a bid to inflict more damage on New Zealand.
The ploy worked. Tait induced an edge from Scott Styris's (0) blade and Haddin took his third catch in the space of nine balls.
The Black Caps had just 68 runs on the board after 15 overs, with half their side back on the pavilion.
And Tait inflicted more misery on them when he cleaned up Ross Taylor (7) in his fourth over, his second after drinks.
With New Zealand struggling at 78 for six, Ponting introduced Jason Krejza into the attack (in the 20th over), after Johnson had bowled seven overs in an uninterrupted spell.
The VCA ground was the venue where Krejza had impressed on his Test debut, taking 12 wickets against India in 2008. However, on Friday he was disappointing.
Jamie How (22) and Nathan McCullum put together a 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket to ensure some stability in the New Zealand innings.
However, just as things looked to settle down for the Kiwis, Steven Smith struck, having How out leg before.
In came captain Daniel Vettori and it took an impressive 54-run eighth wicket stand between him and McCullum to take the New Zealand total to a semblance of respectability.
In the process, McCullum registered his third ODI fifty, a timely knock to say the least.
Vettori was impressive as well in his 43-ball 44, an innings that comprised of five boundaries.
However, the damage that happened early on in their innings proved too much for New Zealand. They could never really recover from the same.
