Black Caps struggle after winning toss

The Black Caps were dealt a huge blow ahead of the match with captain Daniel Vettori, arguably their best player, ruled out through a hamstring strain. That meant they were taking on their Trans-Tasman rivals without four of their first-choice XI - after Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Daryl Tuffey succumbed to injury earlier in the tournament.

Those that were left were restricted to 112 for five just past the halfway stage of their innings, with strokemaking difficult on a used pitch against the excellent Australian attack.

Things got off to a terrible start when stand-in captain Brendon McCullum, the Kiwis' most destructive batsman, was caught behind for nought off Peter Siddle in the fourth over.

With the clouds gathering around the ground, the New Zealanders were restricted in their scoring and they managed just 22 runs from the mandatory first powerplay, the lowest total by any team in the two-week event.

Although second-wicket duo Martin Guptill and Aaron Redmond stuck around to share a 61-run stand, Nathan Hauritz struck a double blow to remove both batsmen.

Redmond, in only his second one-day international, was stumped giving the off-spinner the charge, while Guptill chipped a return catch, having fought his way to 40.

Ross Taylor was then brilliantly held at point, high above his head by Michael Hussey, off left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson, while Grant Elliott was trapped lbw by a superb Brett Lee delivery.