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SYDNEY - A blazing 89 from a rejuvenated Craig McMillan propped up another dire New Zealand top-order showing as the tourists posted 218 against Australia in a tri-series one-day cricket match here today.
McMillan posted his first half-century in 11 innings for New Zealand and his highest score
against Australia after arriving at the crease with his side 53 for four at a sweltering Sydney Cricket Ground.
He rode his luck, being given not out on one by Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf when he clearly edged a ball from Glenn McGrath, but he never looked back in an 87-ball innings which may well have sealed his World Cup spot.
His innings ended controversially in the 46th over when he was caught and bowled off a McGrath full toss which appeared over waist height but wasn't called a no-ball by the umpires.
Chasing just the third century of his career and the first since 2002, McMillan stood his ground but was given out after cracking seven fours and three sixes.
New Zealand were dismissed with 14 balls remaining in their 50 overs.
McMillan's heroics in his 181st match couldn't mask a now-familiar top-order collapse which continues to sound alarm bells as New Zealand eye a must-win match against England in Adelaide on Tuesday.
After winning the toss on a bouncy surface, they shelved the experiment to open the batting with wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum but were quickly seven for two when Nathan Astle and the recalled Hamish Marshall were both nicked out for nought by paceman Brett Lee, who reached speeds of 155km/h.
Captain Stephen Fleming spent 63 minutes gathering 12 runs as he tried to break his form slump, before a loose drive at Stuart Clark saw him sky a catch to mid off.
Then Ross Taylor, who started brilliantly with consecutive cover-driven boundaries off Lee, played a similarly loose shot to Fleming against Clark and was caught for a breezy 26.
Clark took some stick but ended with four for 54 off his 10 overs while McGrath took an impressive three for 24.
Enter McMillan, whose international career hung in the balance in June when he lost his New Zealand Cricket contract after the selectors deemed him unfit for international cricket.
After surviving the caught behind it seemed McMillan's day as he set about charging the Australian bowlers, hitting Clark over long on for six en route to 50 off 64 deliveries.
It was his first half-century since his 66 against South Africa in Bloemfontein in late 2005, and he went on to top his previous best against Australia of 63 in Napier in 2004-05.
He kept running out of partners before James Franklin helped him add 57 off 39 balls for the eighth wicket and New Zealand at least had a semi-respectable total.
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath.
Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan), Simon Taufel (Australia).
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).
- NZPA