Australia sweep T20 series against New Zealand in rain-affected clash

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February 25, 2024
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AUCKLAND (Agencies): Australia completed a clean sweep of New Zealand in an ominous warning ahead of the T20 World Cup after a comfortable victory in a truncated series-finale at a gloomy Eden Park on Sunday. After being sent in amid overcast conditions, Australia made 67 for 2 in the powerplay before showers interrupted play on several occasions as their innings ended at 118 for 4 from 10.4 overs. Australia’s disciplined pace bowlers then relished the seaming conditions as New Zealand fell well short of their amended target of 126 from 10 overs. Both teams took a cautious approach ahead of their Test series starting on Thursday with a number of players resting. Australia won their 100th T20I and celebrated lifting the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy having dominated the three-match series, which has been vital preparation for both teams as they look to settle on squads for the World Cup. It was Australia’s final hit-out ahead of the tournament in June, while New Zealand are set to travel to Pakistan in April for a five-match T20I series to wrap up their preparations.

With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood given a breather, left-arm quick Spencer Johnson grabbed his opportunity by bowling with fire to end the three-over powerplay. Bowling at speeds over 140 kmh, Johnson bowled a nasty short of a length before accounting for the recalled Tim Seifert with a vicious delivery. He then produced an even better delivery that cut back sharply into Glenn Phillips and flew past stand-in captain Matthew Wade behind the stumps. Johnson backed up in his second over with a menacing mix of short and full deliveries, while fringe quick Nathan Ellis also performed well with tight bowling to underline Australia’s bulging pace stocks.

New Zealand were missing several key batters with opener Devon Conway ruled out due to a thumb injury sustained in game two. But their batting fell off over the past two games played in Auckland. Batting was not easy on a lively surface as the hosts never really threatened in the chase. Their top order could never get going against Australia’s miserly attack and they weren’t helped by continually picking out fielders in the deep as the scoreboard pressure mounted. Much like in game two, New Zealand’s hopes rested with Philipps who whacked 40 off 24 balls but he lacked support. Steven Smith does not appear to have a place in Australia’s first-choice starting XI stacked with power-hitters. He made just 11 off seven balls in game two in a brief innings marked by inventive strokes on almost every delivery he faced. Smith had another opportunity at the top of the order when David Warner was ruled out with an adductor injury and he started with a first-ball boundary after whacking a bouncer from Adam Milne. But Smith fell two deliveries later when he nicked off a brute of a delivery that spat off the surface. With skipper Mitchell Marsh resting, batting allrounder Matthew Short was given an opportunity at No. 3. Fighting for a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, Short unfurled the type of beliggerent batting that has seen him dominate the BBL in recent seasons. He clubbed Trent Boult for a second-ball six before consecutive mighty blows off Milne landed in the crowd in the fifth over. Short’s whirlwind 27 off 11 balls ended when he was undone by a slower delivery from quick Ben Sears.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Travis Head c Sodhi b Santner 33

Steven Smith c Seifert b Milne 4

Matthew Short c Seifert b Sears 27

Glenn Maxwell c Young b Clarkson 20

Josh Inglis not out 14

Tim David not out 8

Did not bat: Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

EXTRAS (B 4, LB 2, W 6) 12

TOTAL (10.4 overs) 118-4

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-16 (Steven Smith, 1.3 ov), 2-67 (Matthew Short, 5.6 ov), 3-95 (Glenn Maxwell, 8.3 ov), 4-99 (Travis Head, 9.1 ov)