Rain Helps Australia to Series Clean Sweep

Australia have won a rain-interrupted third T20I against New Zealand in Auckland.

Travis Head and Steve Smith opened up at the top of the order for Australia. Head got Australia off to a solid start as he smashed three fours from Trent Boult’s opening over.

Smith tried to do the same off Adam Milne but only managed four with Tim Seifert able to grab the catch to have Smith out for four and Milne the first wicket of the day.

The Australian top order showed intent early on with Boult being smashed for a six and four off Matt Short, but the Kiwi bowlers were not helped with some dropped catches by the fielders.

Short and Head kept attacking with 15 runs coming from Milne’s second over and 16 from Ben Sears’ first. Short however fell on the final ball of the powerplay to Sears for 27 as Seifert grabbed a second catch of the day.

Ish Sodhi faced a couple of big shots off Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Santner went for 11 from his first over.

There were also a few rain delays throughout the first ten overs with one at the 6.2 over mark and one at the 8.3 over mark.

Josh Clarkson managed to grab a maiden international wicket with Maxwell sending one straight to Will Young for 20. Then the rain started to get heavier and the players were forced off the field.

They only got back on for a couple of overs before the rain forced an early end to the Australian innings. In the couple of overs, Head fell to Santner for 33. 

Australia finished on 118/4 from 10.4 overs. New Zealand were set a target of 126 from ten overs.

Young got the Kiwis off to a good start with 14 runs from just seven balls, before falling to Short in the second over. 

Spencer Johnson then had Tim Seifert for two and New Zealand were 29/2 after 2.5 overs.

Finn Allen tried to use his aggressive nature at the top of the order, but was never able to get going as he tried to take on Adam Zampa but the hands of Mitchell Starc were found, Allen out for 13.A

Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips tried to smash out the target, but ultimately they had too many runs needed and not enough time.

Phillips finished on 40* whilst Chapman made 17*.

The 27-run win for Australia meant they took the series 3-0 win.