Warner ton and handy fifties take Australia to 378

Warner ton and handy fifties take Australia to 378

As if to say, David Warner's tenth One-Day International hundred wasn't enough, Australia unleashed the wrath of their lower-middle order on New Zealand, in a bid to seal the series at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday (December 6). Riding on a brilliant hundred at the top of the order with meaty contributions from Steven Smith, their skipper, and then Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, Australia continued with the trend of big scores at the Manuka by posting 378 for 4 - their second-highest total at home.

Put in to bat first on an overcast morning, Australia brought in James Faulkner to replace Adam Zampa. Aaron Finch (19) got off to a decent start in the morning before missing an attempted sweep shot off Mitchell Santner to be bowled in the 13th over. Warner, though, wasn't bogged down by it and together with Smith, put on a 145-run stand for the second wicket.

Smith (72) registered yet another fifty while Warner (119) brought up his ton in front of his family and celebrated in typical style. The flurry of sixes set the tone for the lower-order to capitalise but few would have thought that Head and Marsh who came in to bat at numbers four and five would crank up fifties at more than a strike rate of 150.

As many as 126 runs were scored in the last ten overs with sixes and fours flying off the bat, as New Zealand continued to suffer on a listless day at the office. Marsh remained unbeaten on 76 to hand Australia a meaty total. It looks highly unlikely that New Zealand would be able to chase it down but with the wicket looking good to bat on, they would fancy their chances in what is essentially a do-or-die battle.

Brief Scores: Australia 378/5 in 50 overs (David Warner 119, Mitchell Marsh 76*; Tim Southee 2-63) vs New Zealand.