4 Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 3rd ODI between Aus and NZ

The Australian team did well in the second match to deny the Kiwi team a win after they lost a few quick wickets with Mitch Marsh and John Hastings joining forces to deliver an easy win in the end. This last ODI match will be a chance for several of the players on both the sides to play the shorter format of the game for the last time before the test series begins which would be followed by the ICC WT20 mega event in India. There will be, like always, a few sub-plots brewing hot which would ultimately decide the course of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

4 Fantastico battles to look forward to in this match:

Usman Khawaja and David Warner Vs Trent Boult and Matt Henry

Usman Khawaja and David Warner combined well at Wellington to neutralise the threat posed by Trent Boult and Matt Henry. They took full toll of even marginally remote loose balls and dispatched them to the boundary with disdain. They raced away to 122 before their stand was finally broken by part time spinner Santner and the two will again be looking to tame the Kiwi new ball bowlers with their peppy stroke play combined with immaculate timing and raw power!

Steve Smith, George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell Vs Trent Boult and Matt Henry

Steve Smith, George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell have fallen to Henry and Boult collectively across all the six innings combined and have tallied 20, 2 and 6 runs respectively which is a fair reflection of their troubles against the Kiwi new ball pair. In the first match, the three failed to stall the decline after Warner and Khawaja had departed early and in the second they failed to capitalize on the strong start provided by the two thus failing on both the occasions. Henry and Boult would be looking to continue their stranglehold on the Aussie middle order and keep them quiet for the third game in a row.

Brendon McCullum Vs Josh Hazlewood and John Hastings

This will be the final ODI match for Brendon McCullum and he will be eager to thrill the fans all across the globe one final time with his uninhibited and audacious hitting. He has already provided a glimpse in the first two games with what the world will miss when he is gone. Those sashays down the wicket to quick bowlers and inside out drives for sixes and the fierce cuts or disdainful pull shots, the Hamilton Park crowd will be lucky enough to witness all the madness for the one last time. The Aussie bowlers, Hazlewood and Hastings will be hoping that the madness does not last long!!

Martin Guptill Vs Josh Hazlewood and John Hastings

Martin Guptill followed up his 90 off 76 balls at Eden Park with a 31 off 45 balls at the Westpac and it was his wicket in the second match off Mitch Marsh that gave the Australians that little opening in the second match. Guptill will be looking to make amends for his loose stroke and also give company to his captain for as long as possible.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.