Warner’s back-to-back tons power Australia

MELBOURNE: Opener David Warner smashed his second straight hundred to spearhead Australia´s 264 for eight in the third Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-dayer in Melbourne on Friday.

The destructive left-hander was run out on the last ball of the innings for 156 off 128 balls with 13 fours and four sixes.

It follows Warner´s 119 off 115 balls against the Black Caps in Canberra on Tuesday.

The Australian vice-captain raised his 11th ODI century and seventh for the year when he tickled Mitchell Santner to the fine-leg boundary in the 38th over, bringing up his hundred off 95 balls.

Only Indian great Sachin Tendulkar, with nine in 1998, has hit more ODI centuries in a calendar year.

Warner was the difference after New Zealand had made early inroads into the Australian batting.

He was involved in partnerships with George Bailey (62) and Travis Head (105) which helped Australia fight back from 11 for two and 73 for four.

Warner gave a tough chance on 18 when he pulled Lockie Ferguson to deep mid-wicket, where a diving Henry Nicholls couldn´t take a difficult low catch.

Aaron Finch lasted just eight balls for his three in yet another batting failure, when he cut Trent Boult to Nicholls at square leg, bringing skipper Steve Smith to the crease in the second over.

The Black Caps had a plan and it came off after seven balls when Smith was caught for a duck by Nicholls leaping high at square leg off Boult, leaving the home side 11 for two.

Bailey revived the innings with Warner before spooning a catch to Santner at mid-wicket off Colin de Grandhomme for 23.

Two balls later Mitchell Marsh was out in bizarre fashion when he inside-edged off his back pad and onto his stumps for a duck, after his power-hitting 76 off 40 balls in Canberra.

Head maintained his consistent series with a fighting 37 off 70 balls before he was bowled by spinner Santner, after scores of 52 in Sydney and 57 in Canberra.

Matt Wade chipped in with 14 and James Faulkner 13 before Warner was the last man out attempting a single off the final ball only to be run out by Boult, who finished with three for 49.

New Zealand made two changes with Nicholls replacing the injured Jimmy Neesham, who was struck on the forearm by Mitchell Starc in the last game, and young paceman Ferguson coming in for Matt Henry. Australia were unchanged.