After the high run last ball thriller of the first T20I, Australia and New Zealand played their second T20I in Auckland. New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. Australia rested David Warner and gave Steven Smith chance to open. Steven Smith(11) fell early, but Travis Head(45) kept attacking New Zealand bowlers in the first powerplay.
Captain Mitchell Marsh scored slow 26 runs from 21 balls. Glenn Maxwell(6), Josh Inglis(5) and Tim David(17) remained ineffective. David could score only, 17 in 19 balls. Pat Cummins(28) could give huge momentum in the final overs of the innings. Still, Australia got bowled out for 174 in just 19.5 overs. Lockie Ferguson(4/12) bowled at his best for NZ.
Ben Sears(2/29), Mitchell Santner(2/35) and Adam Milne(2/40) took other wickets. In the chase, New Zealand did not get a huge start they desired. Finn Allen(6) and Will Young(5), Mitchell Santner(7) failed to give the aggressive start in the powerplay. Glenn Phillips tried to salvage the situation.
But his partners – Mark Chapman(2), Josh Clarkson(10) and Adam Milne(0) got out quickly. NZ struggled at 83/7 as Glenn Phillips(42) also fell trying to score quickly. Devon Conway couldn’t bat in the innings and he was absent hurt. So, New Zealand bundled out for 102 runs in 17 overs. Adam Zampa(4/34), Nathan Ellis(2/16) were instrumental in Australia’s big victory.
Australia won the match by 72 runs and Pat Cummins won the Player of the Match for scoring 28 runs and taking 1/19 in his 3 overs. New Zealand would be looking to win the last match and lose the series by 2-1 to avoid whitewash 3-0. Post the T20I Series, both the teams will play 2 Tests till 12th March.
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