AUS vs NZ, 1st T20I: Australia registers its third-highest profitable run chase, beats New Zealand in last-ball thriller

Australia pulled off an exhilarating last-ball win over New Zealand within the first T20 International on the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Wednesday.

The Aussies chased down a 216-run goal with six wickets in hand in 20 overs, registering their third-highest profitable run-chase within the format.

Australia’s highest profitable T20I run-chase additionally got here towards the Kiwis, in 2018 in Auckland, when the David Warner-led aspect overhauled 244 runs with seven balls to spare. Its subsequent greatest was towards India, when it hunted down 223 in Guwahati final yr.

With 16 runs wanted off the final over, Tim David smashed veteran speedster Tim Southee for 12 runs off the final three balls, together with a six and a last-ball 4, to seal Australia’s win.

David had skipper Mitchell Marsh, unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls, for firm on the different finish. The duo solid a 44-run partnership off simply 19 deliveries after the dismissal of wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, within the seventeenth over, left Australia with an uphill activity.

Openers Travis Head and David Warner, partnering for the primary time on the high of the order in T20Is, helped the guests get off to a brisk begin. By the top of seven overs, each have been again within the hut, however Australia had 69 on the board.

Glenn Maxwell struck a quickfire 11-ball 25, that included two fours and as many sixes, earlier than being castled by a searing yorker from pacer Lockie Ferguson, who was New Zealand’s most economical bowler, conceding simply 5.75 runs an over in a high-scoring match.

Earlier, the Black Caps opening duo of Finn Allen and Devon Conway was off the blocks in a flash, placing on 61 runs in 5.2 overs for the primary wicket. Rachin Ravindra ensured the host didn’t lose momentum, notching up his maiden T20I fifty off 29 balls. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman additionally chipped in with breezy cameos, ransacking 31 off the final two overs to assist the Kiwis to a frightening 215 for 3, which wasn’t sufficient ultimately.