Damien Martyn led a combined assault on New Zealand bowlers as Australia posted a huge 296 for seven in a Group A league match of the Champions Trophy cricket tournament here today. Martyn made a 87-ball 73 with eight boundaries after Australia had elected to bat and were given a flying start by the openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

Gilchrist scored a blistering 44 off just 30 balls with seven fours and a six and laid the foundation of a big score. Every recognised batsman chipped in with useful scores as Australia dominated the proceedings almost throughout their innings. However, New Zealand did well to restrict the damage in the final overs by dismissing Martyn and dangerman Michael Bevan (21) and contained the Australians within the 300-mark, which looked a distinct possibility at one stage.

The Australian opening pair put on 68 runs in just 9.2 overs before Daryl Tuffey gave New Zealand the breakthrough by dismissing Gilchrist. But the Australian juggernaut continued without much problems as every subsequent partnership also yielding good results. Hayden and skipper Ricky Ponting, who made 37 off 31 balls with eight boundaries, added 61 for the second wicket and kept the run rate well in excess of six an over. 

Martyn took the centre stage and dominated the New Zealand attack in the company of Darren Lehmann who made 35. The two added 74 runs for the fourth wicket in 17 overs. Australia were 217 for four in the 41st over when Michael Bevan joined Martyn at the fall of Lehmann. The stage was set for some big hitting and a 300-plus score looked a distinct possibility.

But one-day specialist Bevan looked slightly out of sorts today even though he managed 21 runs off 23 balls. With Bevan unable to get going, Martyn, who had already crossed his half- century, took on the responsibility to push the accelerator and came up with some powerfully hit boundaries. New Zealand bowlers did well in the last five overs to dismiss both Bevan and Martyn in quick succession but Shane Watson smashed an unbeaten 19 runs off just nine balls with a four and a six to undo the good work.

In contrast, none of the New Zealand batsmen were allowed to settle down with Jason Gillespie trapping opener Nathan Astle leg before wicket for nought in the second over of the innings to claim his only wicket of the match. It was a McGrath show all the way after that as he claimed the next five wickets to clean up the New Zealand middle order as the Kiwis crashed to 51 for six in the 13th over. McGrath was later declared the man of the match for his effort.

Chris Harris (19) offered some resistance but wickets continued to tumble at the other end, and at 82 for nine, New Zealand were in real danger of suffering their biggest ever defeat. 

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