New Zealand vs Australia 1st T20: Warner, Marsh Guide Australia to Six-Wicket Victory
New Zealand vs Australia 1st T20: Warner, Marsh Guide Australia to Six-Wicket Victory
In the first T2O International match in a three-T20 match series, Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh and Tim David guided their side to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand at Sky Stadium in Wellington on February 21.
The Australian batsmen attempted to play attacking strokes but continued losing wickets as they attempted to chase a target of 216 runs to win.
Nevertheless, Travis Head (age 24) and David Warner (age 32) put in a strong first innings before being removed by Mitchell Santner and Adam Milne.
After that, Mitchell Marsh (72*), the captain, stayed at the crease and formed a little partnership with Josh Inglis (20) and Glenn Maxwell (25). However, Tim David (31*) persevered through it all and guided the Australian side to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand.
Mitchell Marsh, the skipper for Australia, was named the “Player of the Match” for his 72 unbroken runs and one wicket claimed in the opening innings.
Mitchell Santner got two wickets for the Kiwis, while Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne each claimed one.
The Kiwis, who batted first, finished the first innings in Wellington with a total of 215/3, which is their second-highest score ever at this location. Before Finn Allen was removed with a score of 36, Devon Conway and Allen gave the Kiwis an outstanding start. The Kiwis then passed the 150-run barrier when Conway and Rachin Ravindra pieced together a partnership of more than 100 runs. Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips added the finishing touches to the innings, enabling the Kiwis to surpass the 200-run milestone.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Mitchell Marsh each took one wicket for Australia.
At Wellington’s Sky Stadium, Mitchell Santner chose to bat first after winning the toss earlier in the day. The final Twenty20 match for both nations before the T20 World Cup begins later this year is scheduled to take place.
After winning the most recent Twenty20 series 2-1 against the West Indies, the Australians are likewise in scorching form and will be looking to continue this success against their neighbors. Additionally, this youthful Australian team would like to bid a fond farewell to David Warner on his final bilateral T20 series.
On the other side, New Zealand defeated Pakistan 4-1 in their most recent Twenty20 International series and will be looking to dominate their opponents in the final Twenty20 matches before the World Cup.
Given the prominent players on both teams, the inaugural Twenty20 match between Australia and New Zealand is sure to be a high-scoring match. Even though the pitch at Sky Stadium offers something for bowlers, it is probably more in the batsmen’s favor, hence a large score would be expected.
New Zealand and Australia playing XI:
New Zealand XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Mitch Santner (c), Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson
Australia XI: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Matt Short, Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Conclusion:
It was a well-fought match with both teams showcasing their potential. Australia’s batting depth and composure in the chase proved decisive, while New Zealand’s strong batting display wasn’t enough to secure victory. This match served as a good warm-up for both teams before the upcoming T20 World Cup.
