Australia pulled off a thrilling last-ball win over New Zealand in the first T20 International at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Wednesday.
The Aussies chased down a 216-run target with six wickets in hand in 20 overs, registering their third-highest successful run-chase in the format.
Australia’s highest successful T20I run-chase also came against the Kiwis, in 2018 in Auckland, when the David Warner-led side overhauled 244 runs with seven balls to spare. Its next best was against India, when it hunted down 223 in Guwahati last year.
With 16 runs needed off the last over, Tim David smashed veteran speedster Tim Southee for 12 runs off the last three balls, including a six and a last-ball four, to seal Australia’s win.
David had skipper Mitchell Marsh, unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls, for company at the other end. The duo forged a 44-run partnership off just 19 deliveries after the dismissal of wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, in the 17th over, left Australia with an uphill task.
Openers Travis Head and David Warner, partnering for the first time at the top of the order in T20Is, helped the visitors get off to a brisk start. By the end of seven overs, both were back in the hut, but Australia had 69 on the board.
Glenn Maxwell struck a quickfire 11-ball 25, that included two fours and as many sixes, before being castled by a searing yorker from pacer Lockie Ferguson, who was New Zealand’s most economical bowler, conceding just 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, putting on 61 runs in 5.2 overs for the first wicket. Rachin Ravindra ensured the host didn’t lose momentum, notching up his maiden T20I fifty off 29 balls. Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman also chipped in with breezy cameos, ransacking 31 off the last two overs to help the Kiwis to a daunting 215 for three, which wasn’t enough eventually.
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