New Zealand's fighting recovery to win last night's first game in the VB Series over Australia at Melbourne provided plenty for sports journalists to get their teeth into.

Chasing a target of 200, Australia fell over for 176 to hand New Zealand a surprise first-up victory.

The New Zealand Herald: "It could not have been a more astonishing turn-up, given that Australia had been coasting at the start of the chase, losing Mark Waugh early, but then piling on the runs courtesy of Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan - who all batted as though they had a bonus point in mind.

"The slightly reckless plan turned to custard through the middle of the innings, when Shane Bond first had Ponting caught by James Franklin at fine-leg and then enticed Bevan to slash high to the same fieldsman at third man.

"Australia's task may not have been helped by an eight-minute delay because of a crowd disturbance in the Great Southern Stand, where police evicted more than 200 spectators who had been hurling rubbish on to the field.

"Whatever the impact, Steve Waugh's side were unable to deal with the pressure applied by New Zealand during the second half of the chase, as Bond's good work was built on by Cairns, Vettori and Harris."

The Sydney Morning Herald: "Ponting and Michael Bevan, two of the fastest men between wickets in the world, pushed frenzied singles and slashed boundaries but the heady pace had an intoxicating effect.

"'I'm very disappointed, we batted very poorly,'" Australian captain Steve Waugh said.

"'Full credit to New Zealand and the way they came back after being 7-90, but we should have won the game from there.

"'It was really basically stupid play by all batsmen.'"

"The beneficiary was the previously humbled Bond.

"The New Zealand quick put his side back in the game with two important wickets.

"In the 19th over, with the score at 2-98, Bond slid a ball down the leg side and Ponting obliged by flicking it off his hip and down the throat of James Franklin on the fine-leg fence. His 45 was made from 54 balls.

"Six runs run later, Bevan fell slashing a wide ball high outside his off stump and top-edging to Franklin. Bevan's dismissal for 27 off 46 balls gave the Kiwis a sniff at 4-104."

Peter Roebuck, The Sydney Morning Herald: "Thanks to [Chris] Harris, the Kiwis gave their hosts something to chase, which they failed to catch, all-rounder Chris Cairns taking three key wickets as Steve Waugh's men fell 23 runs short.

"In this brand of cricket a batsman is obliged to keep the score moving along, like a drummer in a rock band keeping the beat going. A team batting first cannot predict the sort of score needed to trouble its opponents and can push too hard or too soft.

"Top-class bowling by the Australians pushed the Kiwi batsmen into error. Still, it was only one innings and, as was seen in the Test series and later in the evening last night, these New Zealanders can think up ways of putting the Australians on the back foot."

The Weekend Australian: "For years now, long-suffering Australian cricket fans desperate for a competitive home summer have been awaiting this season's showdown between the game's heavyweights.

"What few anticipated, however, was that the other fighter would be a recent graduate from the lightweight division and would be clad in the black trunks of New Zealand, rather than the eponymous green of South Africa.

"Last night's opening one-day international at the MCG provided a stark illustration of the difference between the repeatedly disappointing Proteas and the constantly surprising Kiwis.

"In short, the trans-Tasman opponents don't understand when they're beaten.

"Bounced out for 199 on a lively MCG pitch by Australia's menacing pace attack, New Zealand bounced back under the floodlights after Australia appeared set, not just for victory, but for the bonus point granted to teams who win in double quick time.

"To say the summer needed an Australian loss (just their third international defeat of any kind at home since 1999) might rattle the patriots, but would satisfy the realists.

"That it took the dogged Kiwis to finally inflict it should surprise nobody."

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