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AUS vs NZ, 1st ODI: Warner, Finch, Labuschagne’s fifty help Australia to 258/7

Marnus Labuschagne’s gritty 56 off 52 saw Australia reach a modest total by the end of allotted 50 overs.

AUS vs NZ, 1st ODI: Warner, Finch, Labuschagne’s fifty help Australia to 258/7

Australia's batsman Marnus Labuschagne plays a shot. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

Riding on 67 and 60 from David Warner and Aaron Finch, respectively, Australia posted a total of 258/7 in the first ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.

Earlier, Australia skipper Finch won the toss and opted to bat first against the Proteas.

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Warner and Finch started all guns blazing and almost took the match away with a 124-run stand in 24.1 overs between them for the opening wicket. However, once Warner fell, the Australian camp stumbled as Finch too joined the southpaw.

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Wickets fell in regular intervals for Australia and South Africa came back into the game with great thrust.

Marnus Labuschagne’s gritty 56 off 52 saw Australia reach a modest total by the end of allotted 50 overs.

Ish Sodhi was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand with the figures of 3 for 51 while Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson claimed two wickets apiece.

In the wake of the novel coronavirus, Cricket Australia has announced that Australia’s ongoing three-match ODI series against New Zealand will be played in front of empty stands. As a result, the ongoing first ODI between the two sides has no spectators at the SCG.

Notably, Australia pacer Kane Richardson has been quarantined after reporting a mild sore throat on Thursday night. As a result, the right-arm fast bowler has been ruled out of the ongoing match.

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