Tim David and Mitchell Marsh were the stars of the show, producing blistering performances with the bat and helping Australia secure a thrilling last-ball win against New Zealand. The Aussies have taken a 1-0 lead, beating the Black Caps by 6 wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series. The Sky Stadium hosted this high-octane encounter, where New Zealand, opting to bat first, reached a formidable total of 215/3. The hosts’ inning was a display of sheer power-hitting, with the batters smashing 13 sixes and 10 fours.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra’s partnership was particularly noteworthy, dominating the Aussie bowlers to score 113 runs and propelling their side to a competitive total. Finn Allen gave the Black Caps a firing start, smashing 32 off 17 balls. Conway, breaking free from a series of underwhelming performances, struck a much-needed 63 off 46 balls. Rachin, who replaced Kane Williamson in the squad, was a great threat for Australia with a 35-ball 68. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman chipped in with 19 and 18 respectively.
Australia’s run chase received an early jolt as Adam Milne dismissed Travis Head (24) with just 29 runs on the board. David Warner (32) and Marsh slowly rebuilt the Aussie innings with a 40-run partnership. Glenn Maxwell provided some entertainment with his 11-ball 25, but it was ultimately down to Marsh and David to steer the ship home for the Aussies.
Australia’s run chase was perfectly anchored by captain Marsh, his unbeaten knock of 72 earned him the man of the match award. However, it was David who stole the limelight towards the end. With Australia needing 44 runs from the last 19 balls, David unleashed his fury, blasting two sixes and a four in the penultimate over. The drama peaked in the final over bowled by Tim Southee. After a couple of wide and a leg bye, David managed a miraculous six, leaving Australia with six runs needed off the last two deliveries.
The penultimate ball saw Marsh and David scampering for two, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. With four runs required off the final delivery, David faced Southee. The delivery, aimed full, was met with a powerful strike from David, sending the ball through mid-wicket and narrowly evading Phillips’ dive to reach the boundary. David’s unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls helped Australia secure their third-highest successful run chase in T20s at 216/4. The second match of the series will take place in Auckland on Friday, February 23.
