Thursday, December 08, 2005
Australia trounce Kiwis... at something
It was close – 3 runs – but Australia have finally managed to get one over its smaller (but obviously invariably more talented) neighbour, New Zealand.

After dumping the prodigious All Blacks out of the Rugby Union World Cup in 2003 and holding their own in the 2004 Tri-Nations series, Australia’s rugby team has fallen apart, suffering the indignity of being completely written-off before the final game this year.

Also since then, the mighty Kangaroos have been beaten at their own game; by a precocious Kiwi side built on a dominating defence and peppered with experienced and cool heads; all whilst missing two of the best players in the NRL.

But last night, with the Kiwi cricketers needing 35 off the last 3½ overs, I was beginning to take some comfort that we could still beat them at something. A few minutes later, when they needed just 7 off the last 6 – after a shocker 8-ball over from Lee in the penultimate – I was thinking maybe we should start inviting the Kiwis over for a game of Aussie Rules; a game at which we might stand a chance.

But an inspired piece of fielding from Michael Clarke saved the game for the Australians; the Kiwis were beaten; sanity - and at least some pride - was restored.

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