Pat Cummins’ all-round peformance and Adam Zampa’s bowling exploits were enough to see off a disheartened New Zealand side in the second T20 match in Auckland. The Australians put together a decent target that looked chaseable undee lights. However, the Kiwis never looked to be challenging the target with wickets falling at regular intervals. They also lost their inspirational wicketkeeper batsman Devon Conway to a finger injury.
Team Lineups
The hosts New Zealand made three changes to their team that was narrowly beaten by Australia in the first game. Rachin Ravindra picked up a knock and was replaced by Will Young in the team. Ish Sodhi also found his place at the bench with the veteran Trent Boult coming to the team. Young pace bowler Ben Sears has performed admirably in the last series against Pakistan. The 26 year old pace bowler replaced Tim Southee in the team. Kane Williamson remains sidelined with a knee issue.
Australia continued to experiment with their lineup in this game also. David Warner was rested for this game. He was replaced by long-time teammate and another batting stalwart Steve Smith. The 34 year old was chosen to open the innings with Travis Head as his partner. Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Tim David kept their places in the team.
Matt Short did not get his chance to either bat or bowl in the first game. He was replaced by Matthew Wade as the Aussie camp experimented to accommodate both him and Josh Inglis in the same eleven. Nathan Ellis also came to the team to replace Mitchell Starc in the team. New IPL sensation Spencer Johnson is yet to be given game time in this series.
Australia
- Travis Head 2. David Warner 3. Mitch Marsh (Cap.) 4. Glenn Maxwell 5. Josh Inglis (WK) 6. Tim David 7. Matthew Short 8. Pat Cummins 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Adam Zampa 11. Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand
- Finn Allen 2. Devon Conway (WK) 3. Rachin Ravindra 4. Glenn Phillps 5. Mark Chapman 6. Josh Clarkson 7. Mitchell Santner (Cap.) 8. Adam Milne 9. Ish Sodhi 10. Tim Southee 11. Lockie Ferguson
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bat first. The playing surface at the Sky Stadium in Wellington is batting friendly. The bowlers find it hard to contain the batters at this ground. The pitch offers true bounce that makes shot making easier for the batters. The small boundaries also work in the favour of the batting side. The power hitters can swing through the line easily on this ground.
The toss does not have a profound effect on the result at this ground. Out of the 21 matches played at this ground, the teams batting first won the game on 11 occasions. The teams that bowled first won on 10 occasions. The average first innings score at this ground is 150 and the average second innings score is 125. The highest ever total accumulated at this ground is 219 by New Zealand against India.
Fixture
This is the first series where Australia is playing T20 cricket after their T20 series win against West Indies earlier this month. On the other hand, New Zealand were triumphant against Pakistan in a 4-1 series win. The sides have met on 16 previous occasions. Out of these matches, Australia has won on ten occasions. West Indies emerged victorious in six matches.
In the ten games played on New Zealand soil, competition is intense. Australia have won six. matches. New Zealand won the other four. The two sides last met in the World Cup where Travis Head inspired Australia to victory with a stunning century in a final ball thriller.
| Venue | The third and final game of the three match T20 series took place at Eden Park in Auckland. |
| Date | The game started at 12:30 p.m. IST on Friday, February 23. |
Captaincy & Tactics
In a display of formidable prowess, Josh Hazlewood spearheaded Australia’s bowling attack with aplomb, wreaking havoc in the opening overs, while legspinner Adam Zampa, seeking redemption, resurged to dismantle New Zealand’s batting lineup, propelling Australia to clinch the T20I series in Auckland.
The first match, marked by a breathtaking chase, underscored Australia’s resilience, yet in this encounter, it was their disciplined bowling that stole the spotlight, epitomized by Hazlewood’s masterful opening spell that set an imposing tone. Exploiting the bounce of the surface, Hazlewood’s precision bowling stifled New Zealand’s top order, epitomized by his remarkable tally of 15 dot balls in his initial 18 deliveries.
As Mitchell Starc took a well-deserved rest, the spotlight shifted to emerging talent Nathan Ellis, who seized the opportunity to showcase his prowess, blending offcutters with searing yorkers to claim crucial wickets. Meanwhile, Zampa, determined to atone for previous setbacks, orchestrated a spectacular comeback, dismissing key batsmen with finesse.
New Zealand’s woes were compounded by Devon Conway’s untimely injury, depriving their batting lineup of stability. Despite skipper Mitchell Santner’s attempt to stabilize the innings, New Zealand faltered in the face of Australia’s relentless bowling assault.
Although Steven Smith’s audacious stroke play briefly illuminated Australia’s innings, their aggressive batting approach faltered, leading to a collapse in the latter stages. However, a resilient late flourish from Pat Cummins injected momentum into Australia’s innings, setting a competitive total.
Trent Boult’s return to international cricket was marred by a challenging spell, as Australia capitalized on his wayward deliveries to accumulate runs early on. Yet, Boult’s contributions in the field, including crucial catches, underscored his value to the New Zealand side. Lockie Ferguson, buoyed by his stellar performance in the preceding match, delivered another commendable display, ably supported by Ben Sears, whose astute variations posed a stern challenge to Australia’s batsmen.
Despite New Zealand’s valiant efforts, Australia’s collective brilliance, epitomized by Hazlewood’s early onslaught and Zampa’s resurgence, proved insurmountable, sealing a commanding victory and clinching the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with authority.
Batting Analysis
In a gripping display of bowling prowess on the compact grounds of Eden Park, Australia managed to retain the coveted Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, with Adam Zampa emerging as the standout performer, orchestrating a mesmerizing strangling of the New Zealand batting lineup. Despite a promising start by the home team, marred by the absence of Devon Conway due to a thumb injury, the Black Caps faltered on the bouncy surface, succumbing to a paltry total of just 102.
Zampa’s spellbinding performance, narrowly missing out on a hat-trick and ending with figures of 4-34, coupled with Josh Hazlewood’s stellar contribution (1-12 off four overs), set the stage for Australia’s resolute defense of their modest total of 174. However, it was Matthew Wade’s gravity-defying catch, sprinting past the 30-yard circle, that stole the limelight, showcasing the Australians’ unwavering commitment in the field.
Despite early setbacks, including missed opportunities by the Black Caps off the bat of Mitch Marsh, Australia maintained their composure, with Nathan Ellis making a formidable return from injury, clinching two crucial wickets. The New Zealand batting order, lacking depth in Conway’s absence, faltered against the relentless onslaught led by Pat Cummins and Marsh, leaving only a few batters reaching double digits.
Reflecting on their batting performance, Marsh conceded Australia’s initial assessment of being “50 short” of a competitive total, highlighting Lockie Ferguson’s formidable bowling display (4-12) that rattled the Australian middle order. Travis Head’s explosive start, propelled by five early sixes, provided a glimmer of hope, while Cummins’ aggressive cameo injected momentum into the innings.
Ben Sears’ spirited bowling effort, supported by Mitchell Santner’s economical spell, added pressure on the Australian batsmen, despite Santner’s underwhelming performance with the bat after promoting himself to No.3 in Conway’s absence. Trent Boult’s return to T20I cricket was marred by a fiery assault from Steve Smith, compounded by Conway’s unfortunate injury early in the innings.
As Sears triggered a flurry of wickets, including the dismissal of Head, Marsh’s survival amidst fielding lapses by New Zealand was short-lived, eventually falling to Santner’s guile. The match, characterized by ebbs and flows, showcased the competitive spirit of both teams on a stage renowned for high-scoring encounters.
Earlier in the day, Australia’s innings got off to a fiery start courtesy of opener Travis Head’s blistering knock of 45 runs off just 22 deliveries, injecting momentum into the proceedings. However, the middle overs witnessed a slump in Australia’s batting fortunes, as the formidable pace of Lockie Ferguson wreaked havoc, claiming a sensational 4-12 in a spellbinding display of bowling prowess.
Despite notable contributions from captain Mitchell Marsh, who notched up 26 runs, and a late surge from Pat Cummins with 28 runs, Australia’s innings stuttered amidst Ferguson’s relentless assault. The combined efforts of Santner, Adam Milne, and Ben Sears, each scalping two wickets apiece, further dented Australia’s progress, but ultimately fell short in thwarting the visitors’ dominance.
Bowling Analysis
In a resounding display of dominance at Eden Park, Australia emphatically retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy by dismantling New Zealand with a commanding 73-run victory in the second T20, solidifying their unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
Despite setting what seemed like a modest target of 175 runs, the tourists orchestrated a masterful defense, capitalizing on a lackluster batting performance from the Black Caps, who have now suffered four consecutive T20I defeats against Australia at the Auckland venue.
Led by the mesmerizing spin of Adam Zampa, who claimed a superb 4-34 in a relentless four-over spell, the Australian bowling unit suffocated the New Zealand lineup, restricting them to a paltry total of 102 in just 17 overs. While Glenn Phillips offered some resistance with a gritty 42 off 35 deliveries, wickets tumbled incessantly at the other end, leaving the Kiwis reeling.
Contributing to the onslaught, Tasmanian seamer Nathan Ellis showcased his prowess with the ball, snatching two crucial wickets with precision, while Josh Hazlewood’s economical spell conceded a mere 12 runs from his four overs, tightening the noose around the Black Caps’ batting order.
Expressing his satisfaction with the team’s performance, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh lauded the bowlers’ outstanding display during the post-match presentation, acknowledging their pivotal role in securing the emphatic victory.
In contrast, New Zealand’s run chase faltered right from the outset, with the hosts losing key wickets early on and struggling to find momentum, eventually limping to 4-29 by the seventh over. Despite valiant efforts from the likes of Mitchell Santner, who labored to 7 off 13 deliveries before falling victim to Ellis, the Black Caps failed to mount a substantial challenge against the relentless Australian attack.
With Zampa’s back-to-back wickets in the 12th over effectively sealing the fate of the match, Australia’s dominance was further underscored, leaving the Black Caps grappling for answers ahead of the series finale.
As the spotlight shifts to the third T20 at the same venue on Sunday, Australia’s depth in leadership was evident, with the likes of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, and Matthew Wade offering invaluable experience and guidance, complementing Marsh’s captaincy with their astute cricketing acumen.
Led by the astute spin of Adam Zampa, who orchestrated a masterful performance to scalp four crucial wickets for 34 runs, Australia’s bowling attack ruthlessly tore through the heart of the New Zealand batting order, restricting them to a paltry total of 102 runs in just 17 overs.
Despite a valiant effort from Glenn Phillips, who mustered a gritty 42 runs, the Black Caps found themselves grappling with the relentless onslaught from the Australian bowlers, with Zampa’s pivotal dismissal of Phillips extinguishing any hopes of a miraculous comeback for the hosts.
Compounding New Zealand’s woes was the unfortunate thumb injury sustained by Devon Conway while fulfilling wicketkeeping duties, further hampering their chances of mounting a substantial challenge in the match and casting doubt over his availability for the series finale and the upcoming two-Test series against Australia.
In a bid to salvage the innings, captain Mitchell Santner took a bold gamble by promoting himself up the order, only to falter and depart for a mere five runs, encapsulating New Zealand’s struggles as they succumbed to a barrage of loose shots, resulting in a string of dismissals for single-digit scores.
Fielding Analysis
The New Zealand team threw the previous game due to their lack of application in the field. Mark Chapman missed a chance to send Mitchell Marsh back early in his innings in this game also. Trent Boult took a sharp catch at long on to dismiss Glenn Maxwell. He followed that up with another impressive grab to send Marsh back. Chapman made amends for his earlier miss with a well-judged catch of Josh Inglis. Mitch Santner also completed two catches in the first innings.
Steve Smith made a rare catching error when he dropped Steve Smith at fine leg. The highlight of the innings was Matthew Wade’s catch to dismiss Will Young. The experienced wicketkeeper covered a lot of ground and timed his dive perfectly to take a well-judged catch. Tim David completed two grabs in the second innings as the Kiwis were bowled out well short of the target.
Key Performances
Travis Head has been misfiring with the bat after his historical knock in the 2023 World Cup final. The 30 year old started hitting the ball right from the start and scored 45 from 22 deliveries. Head hit five of the total nine sixes in the Australian innings. His opening partner Steve Smith failed once again with the bat as he managed to score only 11 in this match. Mitch Marsh never looked comfortable during his 21 ball stay that yielded 26 runs. The hero of the last game – Tim David scored 17 from 19 balls. Patrick Cummins continued his knack of playing invaluable innings as he scored 28 from 22 deliveries. Nathan Ellis added 11 runs to the total.
Lockie Ferguson is looking like a man transformed with fiery deliveries. The pace bowler secured four scalps for just 12 runs. His face and variety was too much to handle for the Aussie batsmen. Ben Sears also shone with the ball by taking two wickets for 29 in his four over spell. Adam Milne and Mitch Santner also ended with two wickets each.
Glenn Phllips was the only Kiwi batsman who managed to score some runs in the second innings. The all-rounder scored 42 from 35 deliveries as the Kiwis folded in the 17th over. Only Josh Clarkson and Trent Boult got to double figures apart from Phillps. Devon Conway did not come out to bat after injuring his finger during the first innings.
Adam Zampa has been the most consistent Aussie bowler across the white ball format. The 31 year old cost his captain 34 runs, but killed the game with a four-wicket haul. Nathan Ellis displayed the variety of deliveries he possesses and picked up two wickets. Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh ended the day with one wicket apiece.
Match Result
Australia won the match comfortably by a margin of 72 runs. The Aussies have secured the series with the final game still to play.
Player of the Match
For his vital contribution of 28 from 22 balls with the bat, Australian ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins won the player of the match award. He also bowled three overs and took one wicket for 19 runs.
Brief Scorecard
| Australia Total: 174/10 (19.5 overs) | New Zealand Total: 102/10 (17 overs) |
| Travis Head 45 (22) | Glenn Phillips 42 (35) |
| Pat Cummins 28 (22) | Trent Boult 16 (11) |
| Lockie Ferguson 4/12 (3.5 overs) | Adam Zampa 4/34 (4 overs) |
| Ben Sears 2/29 (4 overs) | Nathan Ellis 2/16 (3 overs) |
Match Highlights
Match Wrap-Up
It was another easy for the Australians despite the first innings total being below par. The Australians were dominant with the ball in the second innings as the Kiwis crumbled under the pressure of the climbing asking rate. Devon Conway’s absence casts a dark shade over the Kiwi camp with the T20 World Cup approaching fast. Australia would look to tweak their squad once again when the teams would meet for the third T20 match on Sunday.
