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New Zealand: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand won the toss and sent Australia in to have a bat.
The decision didn’t pay off very well as Travis Head and David Warner disciplined the poor New Zealand. Being 60/0 after five overs, showed the Aussie’s intent and the way they were going to go about the game.
The runs kept on coming through the early overs of the game, with Warner and Head reaching their 100 partnership within the first 9 overs and the 150 inside 15 overs. The New Zealand bowlers of Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips had no answers inside the first 19 overs of the match.
Phillips then struck twice in the span of four overs, first removing Warner for 81 from 65 and then the big wicket of Travis Head for 109 from 67 balls. Sitting at 201/2 after 23 overs clearly demonstrates the intent that Australia had through their opening partnership.
Phillips was then able to strike a third time as he had Steve Smith gone for 18, Australia now 230/3.
Mitchell Marsh lasted 51 balls and contributed 36 runs, having not been at his best work today as he was bowled by Santner.
Santner then had second in his following over, Marnus Labuschagne hitting the ball to Rachin Ravindra. Australia were now in an interesting position at 279/5 after 39 overs, having slowed down massively.
Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis got to work, finding the boundary basically every over during their partnership, Maxwell finding the hands of Trent Boult and giving Jimmy Neesham his first wicket of the day.
Just when it looked like New Zealand may be able to keep Australia under 370, the pressure got to them and they started bowling just like they had at the start of the game. Neesham conceded 27 runs from his second over, but both Phillips and Ravindra did drop Cummins in the over.
400 was looking on the cards for Australia, but some great death bowling by Trent Boult saw him send Inglis (38), Cummins (37) and Zamp all packing, whilst only conceding one run in the 49th over.
Matt Henry was able to clean up Mitchell Starc in the last over and Australia were all out for 388. Head top scored with 109 whilst Warner made 81 and Maxwell 41. Phillips took 3/37 and Boult 3/77.
Devon Conway and Will Young opened the batting for New Zealand. They got off to a relatively fast start with Conway finding the boundary four times during the first two overs.
Unluckily for Conway he was dismissed inside the first 8 overs, falling to Mitchell Starc for 28 from 17.
Will Young fell in the 10th over and it looked like Australia might be able to take the opportunity to slow the New Zealand scoring rate down, as they were going at 7.3 per over.
This however didn’t happen as Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell batted very well for New Zealand and found ways to attack the Australian bowlers.
Sitting at 168/3 in the 24th over after losing Mitchell, it looked like their may not be enough batting support and time left for the Kiwis to get close to the target.
With Latham falling in the 31st over and New Zealand on 224/4, still around 150 runs behind, they were going to need some good batting from Phillips, Neesham and Santner.
Phillips didn’t really add much to the score, only making 12 runs during this 30 run partnership with Ravindra.
With 10 overs to go, Ravindra holed out in the deep to Labuschagne and the Kiwis were still 95 runs behind and under 60 balls left to face. Santner only lasted a couple of overs, but both he and Neesham were attacking throughout, with 27 runs in the partnership from 19 balls.
The game was looking like it would go down to the wire if Neesham stayed at the crease, as he was able to keep the score ticking over and boundaries coming.
Two overs were left and New Zealand had two wickets up their sleeve and still 31 runs required for victory.
13 runs came off the penultimate over. 19 required from the last. 6 came from the first ball (one was a wide that went for four). 13 now from 5. 11 from 4. 9 from 3. 7 from 2.
Just when it looked like New Zealand would do the unthinkable, Neesham was run out by Labuschagne on the second to last ball for 58 from 39 and New Zealand needing a six to win from the last ball.
Unfortunately, Lockie Ferguson couldn’t find the boundary and Australia won by 5 runs.
Ravindra top scored for New Zealand with 116 whilst Neesham made 58. Zampa took 3/74 and Hazlewood and Cummins both got two wickets.
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