New Zealand helped South Africa hold onto the number 1 position in ODI cricket today by beating Australia in the first of five games in the Commonwealth Bank Series.

Playing at the WACA in Perth, the Australians never settled after their series defeat at the hands of the South Africans. They could only manage to put up a total of 181 all out after 46.4 overs. Both Ponting and Clarke were run out as the confidence of the Australians continued to nose dive.

But the never say die attitude of the Australians was on display as they came out to defend the below average total. New Zealand’s opening batsman Brendon McCullum was given out on the second ball of the innings lbw b Tait, in an absolute shocker of a decision by the umpire, the ball clearly hit his pads from and inside edge. Some tight bowling by Bracken and Johnson had the New Zelanders under pressure and by the 41st over the run rate required by above 6 per over.

New Zealand then took the batting power play in the 42nd over, which immediately resulted in Bracken going for 12 runs, followed in the next over with a massive 6 hit by New Zealand’s premier batsman Ross Taylor. The ability to score during the power play seemed to be the only difference between the teams. New Zealand won the game by 2 wickets by hitting a four off the last ball. Ross Taylor’s top scored with 64 from 97 balls.

Adding salt to the wound was Australia’s slow over rate, costing the caption 10% of his match fee per over that they were behind, the rest of the player con seed 5% of their match fee per over.

The next game in the Commonwealth Bank Series is on the 6th of February.