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AUS beat NZ by 7 wickets (D/L method) | New Zealand vs Australia, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st T20 Match - Commentary
Trans-Tasman T20I Tri-Series, 2018
Date: Feb 03, 2018 Start Time: 13:50 IST | 08:20 GMT | 19:20 LocalVenue: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
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New Zealand vs Australia Highlights And Cricket Score 1st Match - T20 Commentary
2139 local - Spoke too soon. The rain returns and the covers are back on as well. Nothing much to report other than that. Stay with us for latest updates...
2131 local - The rain has stopped and the groundsmen are getting the field ready for play. We will get the chase underway soon. Stay tuned...
2110 local - IT'S RAINING. That's the latest we are getting from the ground. In for a delayed start. Let's hope it's not too long. Stay tuned for more updates...
Australia bowled and fielded with energy and made life difficult for their rivals. They maintained pressure throughout the innings and apart from a few overs towards the end, the Aussie bowlers ruled the roost. Stanlake did the early damage while Tye was lethal at the death, finishing with a 4-wicket haul. The pitch certainly has some spice for the bowlers and the Australians will have to approach this tricky total sensibly. In Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the opposition also possesses a good attack. Do join us in a short while...
A mediocre batting show by the Kiwis but somehow they have managed to put some runs on the board, all thanks to Colin de Grandhomme's blitz towards the end. Put into bat, the visitors found it very tough to deal with the extra pace and bounce of Billy Stanlake. The giant bowler removed the top half in a jiffy and the Kiwi innings never recovered after that.
Andrew Tye to Ish Sodhi. OUT! Bowled! Tye keeps it full and straight, good pace too, Sodhi shuffles a bit to smash it across the line but it ends up being a nothing shot. He misses the ball completely and the stumps are disturbed. New Zealand end on 117/9!
Andrew Tye to Ish Sodhi. Keeps it full and outside off, a swing and a miss by Sodhi.
Andrew Tye to Ish Sodhi. Swings and a miss and they cross for a bye. The keeper misses his shy at the striker's end and with no one backing it up, they cross for the second too. A bit strange. de Grandhomme should have looked to keep strike.
Andrew Tye to Colin de Grandhomme. Knocks a full ball down to long on for a run.
Ish Sodhi comes out to bat.
Andrew Tye to Tim Southee. OUT! Finds the fielder with accuracy. A low full toss on middle, angling in, Southee swings it over backward square leg and it goes low down to the fielder in the deep. Stoinis makes no mistake.
Andrew Tye to Colin de Grandhomme. The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total.
Kane Richardson to Tim Southee. SIX! Southee showing that he can hit it miles as well. Slower delivery, a bit short and on middle, Tim picks it, gets on top of the bounce and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie. New Zealand getting the much-needed impetus here, 20 odd runs in the last two overs.
Kane Richardson to Tim Southee. Well bowled, slower in pace and on a length outside off, Southee gets across, swings and misses.
Kane Richardson to Colin de Grandhomme. The batsman has played it to the point region. One run added to the total.
Kane Richardson to Tim Southee. Angles in a length ball on off, Southee winds up for a big shot but gets a big inside edge onto the pads. It rolls beside the pitch and they cross.
Kane Richardson to Colin de Grandhomme. Opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Kane Richardson to Tim Southee. Fullish around off and it's hit straight back. The bowler fails to make a clean stop and the ball rolls to mid off. They cross.
Kane Richardson is back on.
Andrew Tye to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Oh lord, he has nailed it deep into the stand. Fuller length ball around off, de Grandhomme leans across a bit and uses his powerful wrists to pummel it over square leg. Boom! 11 from the over. 100 up for the Kiwis!
Andrew Tye to Colin de Grandhomme. Wide! This one is too wide outside off, Colin de Grandhomme swishes and misses.
Andrew Tye to Colin de Grandhomme. Exceptional piece of fielding by Ashton. He saves FOUR runs for his team. Tye angles in a full length ball on off and Colin decides to go downtown. Makes a good connection and it's destined to fly over the ropes. But........ Ashton Agar has different ideas. He flies himself near the fence and parries it back. The batsmen take two. Efforts like these just lift the entire team.
Andrew Tye to Tim Southee. On a good length outside off, Southee plays it down square of the wicket on the off side for a run.
Andrew Tye to Colin de Grandhomme. Whips it over mid-wicket and takes a single.
Tim Southee is in next.
Andrew Tye to Mitchell Santner. OUT! The pressure was building and it results in a wicket. Tye delivers it on a fuller length on middle, change in pace again, Santner clears his front leg to heave it over the leg side. But he gets more elevation than distance behind his shot. Warner settles underneath it at deep mid-wicket and the rest is history. He pumps his fists in celebration. Warner is loving the captaincy role.
Andrew Tye to Mitchell Santner. Slower and fuller on off, it's defended back to the bowler.
Andrew Tye returns.
Marcus Stoinis to Colin de Grandhomme. Brilliant over by Stoinis. He ends it with a short delivery, slower in pace on middle and leg, Colin tries to hook but misses.
Marcus Stoinis to Mitchell Santner. Shortish and around off, Santner punches it unconvincingly towards backward point where the fielder dives to his right to stop the ball. A single taken.
Marcus Stoinis to Mitchell Santner. Nearly a return catch! Stoinis delivers a length ball around leg and middle, Santner tries to work it on the leg side but gets a leading edge. It pops out but dies in front of the bowler.
Marcus Stoinis to Colin de Grandhomme. Bowls it full and on middle and leg, Colin knocks it down to long on for one.
Marcus Stoinis to Colin de Grandhomme. Once again Stoinis manages to fool the batsman with a slower one. It's in the zone outside off, de Grandhomme is completely deceived and misses the ball.
Marcus Stoinis to Colin de Grandhomme. Appeal for a catch, not given. A slower delivery by Stoinis. On a length and outside off, Colin is early into the shot and misses. The keeper collects the ball and appeals but the umpire remains unmoved.
Mitchell Santner strides in next. While Marcus Stoinis will bowl his first over.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. OUT! The in-form Taylor has to go. He could have been the difference in the final overs. Agar bowls this short outside off, Taylor charges down the wicket for a flashy shot but gets a slight bottom edge to it. A very good catch by Carey and then he whips off the bails too. Had that not been given caught out, Rosco would have been stumped. A very good partnership of 30 runs comes to an end but New Zealand needed more.
Ashton Agar to Colin de Grandhomme. De Grandhomme hits this past mid-wicket to rotate strike.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Worked away through mid on by Taylor for one.
Ashton Agar to Colin de Grandhomme. De Grandhomme flicks this to deep square leg and they hare back to pick up three runs.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Leg bye. The batsman has been hit on the pads as he tried to sweep it. They have run through for a single. The umpire signals Leg Bye.
Ashton Agar to Colin de Grandhomme. De Grandhomme pats this through mid on for one.
Ashton Agar to bowl now.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Taylor hits this back to the bowler.
Adam Zampa to Colin de Grandhomme. Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Adam Zampa to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Another one in the over. This time on the on side and even bigger. Tossed up and de Grandhomme goes on one knee to slog sweep this over mid-wicket for a maximum.
Adam Zampa to Colin de Grandhomme. Darts this outside off, de Grandhomme misses his cut and the ball goes to the keeper.
Adam Zampa to Colin de Grandhomme. SIX! Loopy ball around off, Grandhomme lofts this over the deep cover region for the first biggie of the innings.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Taylor plays this through mid-wicket to rotate strike.
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Quicker delivery, straighter in line, Taylor works it through the gap on the leg side for a run. Billy Stanlake has bowled out, 4-0-15-3! Wonderful effort by him.
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Shortish outside off, cut straight to point.
Billy Stanlake to Colin de Grandhomme. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Billy Stanlake to Colin de Grandhomme. Angles in a length ball on off, it's defended back.
Billy Stanlake to Colin de Grandhomme. FOUR! Cracking shot! Once again Stanlake is on the shorter side, de Grandhomme stands back to get on top of the bounce and pulls it powerfully over mid-wicket for a boundary.
Billy Stanlake to Colin de Grandhomme. Back of a length ball outside off, tapped down to point.
Billy Stanlake to bowl his last over.
Adam Zampa to Colin de Grandhomme. Floated ball, de Grandhomme works it past mid on for another run.
Adam Zampa to Colin de Grandhomme. Loopy ball, around off, de Grandhomme goes for the loft but misses it. Carey takes off the bails in a flash but nothing doing.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Finds the gap this time, Taylor milks this through covers for a run.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Taylor drives this to covers.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Wide. The ball is down the leg side but the batsman still goes after it. The umpire signals a wide.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Taylor plays the square cut.
Colin de Grandhomme walks in next. My colleague, actually my manager, says he looks like Roger Federer.
Adam Zampa to Tom Blundell. OUT! New Zealand lose half their side. Zampa tosses this up and Tom charges down the wicket and looks to go over the top. He doesn't time it well and the ball goes to the long on region where Richardson takes another good catch near the fence.
Ashton Agar to Tom Blundell. Blundell dances down the wicket and hits it through mid-wicket for a run. Tidy stiff by Agar.
Ashton Agar to Tom Blundell. Blundell reverse sweeps this to the fielder at short third man.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Taylor works this down to the leg side to pick up a run.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Wide. The batsman tries flicking a ball that is down the leg side. Wide signalled by the umpire.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Taylor punches this on the off side and they pick up a brace.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Wide outside leg, Taylor goes after it but misses and the ball is collected by the keeper. Must have struck the thigh pad on the way. No wide signalled.
Ashton Agar to Tom Blundell. Blundell charges to Agar and lofts it over covers to give his partner the strike.
Adam Zampa to Tom Blundell. Blundell guides this to third man to rotate strike.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. Taylor flicks it away with a wristy shot. One run added to the total.
Adam Zampa to Tom Blundell. Blundell works it on the leg side for one.
Adam Zampa to Tom Blundell. The short of length delivery has been cut away through square on the off side.
Adam Zampa to Ross Taylor. NOT OUT! It always looked like the impact was an issue. Interesting to know why the Aussies went for it. Bowls this around off, Taylor comes down the wicket by a step and looks to work it on the on side. The ball hits him on the pads and goes to the short third man region. They run through as they appeal. The umpire shows no interest and Warner goes for the DRS. The replays show that the impact was outside off and even the ball was going to miss the timber. Waste of a review!
A review for LBW is being referred. Looks like it has hit him outside the line. Let's see.
Adam Zampa to Tom Blundell. The batsman has driven it through mid-off. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Adam Zampa to roll his arm.
Andrew Tye to Ross Taylor. Slower ball, Taylor misses his shot outside off. After 10 overs NZ are 49/4. They will need a big turnaround to get a competitive total from here.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. Blundell lofts this over covers for a run.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. Blundell pulls this ball to the mid-wicket fielder.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. Back of a length ball, swings away from Blundell who misses his shot.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. Smart cricket from NZ. Length outside off, Blundell shuffles on his crease and works it to the deep square leg region. They hare back for the second run.
Andrew Tye to Ross Taylor. Taylor cuts this ball through point to move to the other end.
Ashton Agar to Tom Blundell. Slower delivery, nice loop, lands around off and Tom defends it towards cover-point.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. A conventional sweep by Taylor, he places it behind square leg and crosses.
Ashton Agar to Tom Blundell. Out comes the reverse sweep from the bat of Blundell. He makes nice connection and sends it running to third man. Stanlake gives it a chase and slides near the fence to save a run. Good work by the tall guy!
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Turns it off his pads to mid-wicket and crosses for a run. Confusion over the second run but they eventually decide not to take risk.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Walks forward, gets deceived a bit in flight but does well to defend it with the spin to the off side.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Flighted on off, defended.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. In the air...but safe. Fuller in length, Blundell chips this over mid off and the ball is in the sky for some time. The mid off fielder hares towards it but the ball falls safely. The pick up two runs.
Andrew Tye to Ross Taylor. Taps it on the point region and quickly completes the run.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. Blundell guides this to third man for one.
Andrew Tye to Tom Blundell. Wide. The ball is down the leg side but the batsman still goes after it. The umpire signals a wide.
Andrew Tye to Ross Taylor. Taylor punches this ball off his back foot past the cover region for a run.
Tom Blundell walks in next.
Andrew Tye to Kane Williamson. OUT! The skipper has to depart. Tye gets a wicket in his first over. Back of a length ball on middle, Williamson tries to flick it on the leg side by going on his toes but gets a leading edge due to the extra bounce. The ball skies high towards the cover region and Warner runs back to take a wonderful catch. Never easy to do that but the Aussie skipper is an exceptional fielder. The visitors slip further.
Andrew Tye to Kane Williamson. Starts off with a good length ball in line of the stumps, Williamson defends this off his back foot.
Andrew Tye to bowl his first over.
Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson. Uses his feet to come down the track and flicks it through mid-wicket. Looks for the second run but the fielder in the deep is quick to the ball and they have to satisfy with only a run.
Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson. Flighted and full outside off, Williamson reaches out but drives it straight to covers.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Quicker and fuller on leg, it's helped towards mid-wicket for another run.
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. This time Taylor eases it through the gap at mid-wicket and comes back for the second run. Good running by the pair!
Ashton Agar to Ross Taylor. Advances down to the pitch of the ball and mistimes his drive back to the bowler. Immediately runs back inside the crease, Rosco.
Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson. Flatter and on the pads, worked through backward square leg for a single.
Ashton Agar to roll his arm.
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Short ball, Taylor tries to pull it but doesn't connect. The ball flies to the backward point fielder. End of the Powerplay, NZ are 29/3.
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Taylor gets a bottom edge to this trying to pull it on the on side.
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Slow ball around off, Taylor goes for the big heave and misses it completely. Smart bowling by Billy!
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Fat inside edge to this too. Fuller in length, Taylor gets an inside edge and the ball goes to the wide fine leg region. They come back for the second run.
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Williamson punches this on the off side for one more.
Billy Stanlake to Ross Taylor. Good pace and very well bowled. Yorker from Stanlake and Taylor does well to keep it out. The ball goes to the square leg region and they pick up a run.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Edged again...Wide of the keeper this time. Outside off, Williamson edges this to the third man region and the fielder does well to restrict it to two runs.
Kane Richardson to Ross Taylor. Drags his length back, Taylor pulls this to mid-wicket for one.
Kane Richardson to Ross Taylor. FOUR! Taylor gets off the mark but not in the most convincing ways. Tries to cut this ball too close from his body. Gets a healthy edge to it and the ball flies between the keeper and the wide slip fielder to the fence.
Kane Richardson to Ross Taylor. Edged but safe. Length outside off, Taylor gets an edge to this but it falls short of the wide slip fielder.
Kane Richardson to Ross Taylor. Taylor defends this ball outside off.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Length on the legs, Williamson flicks it to the deep square leg region to move to the other end.
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. One run to end the over. Length delivery on the pads of Williamson, who flicks it away in front of square on the leg side. So, just the one run and a wicket for Stanlake. His bowling figures at the moment, 2-0-5-3!
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Length outside off, Williamson happy to just tap it on the off side.
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Kane defends this off his back foot.
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Williamson cuts this one to the point fielder.
Ross Taylor joins Kane in the middle.
Billy Stanlake to Tom Bruce. OUT! Stanlake gets his third wicket. The tall bowler is troubling the batsmen with his pace and bounce. Bangs this short, Bruce looks to hook this but gets a fat top edge. The ball skies to the fine leg fielder, Richardson who takes a good reserve cup catch close to the boundary line. New Zealand in trouble. Billy is on fire.
Billy Stanlake to Tom Bruce. Fires this full in line of the stumps, Bruce gets the bottom edge to this and the ball goes to mid on.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Length around off, Kane defends this solidly.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Williamson cuts this to the point fielder.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Drags his length a bit behind the good length. Williamson misses his stroke and the ball hits his thigh pad.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Fuller in length, Williamson plays it to mid-wicket.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Jaffa! Nips in back after pitching. Richo bowls this on a good length around off, comes back to Kane and just misses the inside edge. Hits him near the groin region.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson. Wide. Richardson is struggling to find his line. Bowls this on a length outside leg, Williamson misses his flick and the ball goes to the keeper. Wide signalled by the umpire.
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Fullish and outside off, pushed in the gap at covers for a run. Outstanding over by Billy Stanlake!
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Good length ball on middle and off, defended off the back foot.
Billy Stanlake to Kane Williamson. Another delivery in the 150s, that's quite rare. An outswinger, Kane tries running it down to third man but misses.
Billy Stanlake to Tom Bruce. Almost a hat-trick! Spears in a very full ball on middle, at a lightning speed of 151.1 kph, Bruce does well to bring his bat down in time. He works it across through mid-wicket and collects a brace.
Tom Bruce to face the hat-trick ball.
Billy Stanlake to Martin Guptill. OUT! Wow, what a delivery! The stumps are disturbed and New Zealand have both their openers back in the hut in a space of two balls. Stanlake delivers it on a good length around off, excellent pace once again and this time it shapes away a bit too. Guptill is caught inside the crease as he opens up in defense. It whizzes past his bat and rattles the timber. The SCG crowd is on fire.
Kane Williamson is the new batsman.
Billy Stanlake to Colin Munro. OUT! It's a big wicket for Australia as Colin Munro has shown some lethal form of late. Big Billy digs in a sharp shortish ball on middle, 144 kph, Munro tries to pull it across the line but gets a top edge due to extra pace and bounce. It balloons behind and the keeper moves across to his right to take the skier. They are all delighted, what a start for the giant bowler!
The big guy with enormous pace - Billy Stanlake is back in the team and he will share the attack from the other end.
Kane Richardson to Colin Munro. Excellent work in the deep from Tye. Richardson drags his length a tad shorter, Munro cuts it past point and Tye hares to save the boundary. He dives and does enough to pull it back in play. The umpire checks for the boundary but the replays show that it's very well done by Tye. The batsmen pick up three runs. End of the first over. 11 from it.
Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill. Overpitched ball, Guptill taps it to mid on for a run.
Kane Richardson to Colin Munro. Leg bye. Stifled appeal from the players but nothing from the umpire. Length ball in line of the stumps, just swinging away from Munro who misses his flick. The ball hits his pads and they run through.
Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill. Leg bye. Length on leg, Guptill misses his flick and the ball goes on to hit his thigh pad. They run through for a single.
Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill. FOUR! First of the innings. Easy pickings for Guptill. Bowls this full around leg, Guptill just helps it on its way to the fine leg region for a boundary.
Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill. Full again, outside off, gets a bit of outside swing. And Guptill jams it out.
Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill. Wide. Kane steams in and starts off with a full ball, outside leg. Guptill goes for the flick but it is far away from him. Wide to start with.
All set to get underway. The power-duo, Colin Munro and Martin Guptill stride out to open for the Kiwis. Kane Richardson, with a big smile on his face, takes the new ball. He has a slip in place. Here we go...
New Zealand (Playing XI) - Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Tom Bruce, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Blundell(w), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.
Australia (Playing XI) - David Warner(c), D'Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake.
Toss - Australia have won the toss and have opted to field first. Ricky Pointing has handed the team cap to D'Arcy Short and Alex Carey. So, two debutants for the hosts. The visitors are more or less playing the same XI like they did against Pakistan. Colin Munro, who was struggling with his fitness, is declared fit.
Welcome to the first match of the T20I tri-series between Australia and New Zealand. After a rather poor ODI series, Australia will now look to take control in the shortest format, something they have not done enough. The visitors, too, were handed a series defeat by Pakistan in the T20Is and will hope they do not repeat their mistakes. The home team will be without the services of their Test skipper so David Warner will lead the team. We might get to see some new faces donning the national jersey for the first time. Stay with us for more updates...
Billy Stanlake is declared the Man of the Match. His spell at the start decided the fate of this match as New Zealand never recovered after that. That's all we have from this game. We look forward to your company on 7th February for the clash between Australia and England in Hobart. Do join us at 1940 local (0840 GMT) for all the action. Cheers!
Glenn Maxwell gives a quick interview on his way back. He says that he is happy with the team performance. Adds that many of their players have played a lot of domestic cricket and were looking good. On the chase, he replies that they didn't get much from the Powerplay so they tried to score quick runs after that. Mentions that they played to their strengths and he is delighted that Lynn took the pressure off him. On team selection, he says that the players were chosen on current form and good performance in the Big Bash League. He reckons that they want to see more success in this format. On being asked about taking tips from Ricky Ponting, Maxwell replies that he is his idol and he always looks up to him.
The tourist got two early wickets in the game but didn't apply enough pressure to bottle up Australia. They didn't get the bounce that Stanlake produced which allowed Maxwell and Lynn to go after them. 117 is less on any pitch and after the revised target it became even more difficult for New Zealand. Just the first game of the series, they will take positives from it, if any, and will try to bounce back.
A commanding win for this new-look Australia! After a delayed start to the chase, Australia were set a revised target of 95 runs in 15 overs. The hosts approached it with aggressive intent and tried to score quickly. They lost a couple of quick wickets but that didn't stop Maxwell and Lynn from playing their shots. Their partnership worth 77 off 53 balls sealed the deal for the visitors.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! Maxwell finishes it off in style. Southee pitches it full and around off, Maxwell pounces onto it and spanks it over mid off. One bounce into the fence. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS (D-L method)!
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Bouncer by Tim, Glenn ducks.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! My lord, that's power for you. A length ball around middle, Maxwell walks across the stumps and bludgeons it through square leg. There is a fielder in the deep but before he can react, it has crossed the fence.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Wide! Short and angling down the leg side, Maxwell tries to work it around but misses.
Tim Southee to bowl...
Alex Carey is in next.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. OUT! Lynn falls to a short ball. He once again attempts to power his pull shot but fails to get on top of the bounce. As a result, his shot lacks the desired venom to sail into the stand. Sodhi catches it in the deep backward square leg region. For a moment, we thought he misjudged it. But no, was always in control, it's just he didn't bring his body behind and caught it sideways.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. That's a mishit but it still goes like a rocket. Short in length on middle, Lynn powers it with great bat speed, doesn't middle but it races to wide long on. A couple taken.
Trent Boult to Glenn Maxwell. Spears it very full around off, Maxwell digs it out to mid off and pinches a run.
Trent Boult to Glenn Maxwell. A length ball on middle, Maxwell goes on his toes and defends it back.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. Almost identical to the last delivery, this time Lynn makes connection and slaps it to backward point for a run.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. Boult runs in from over the wicket and delivers a shortish ball outside off, Lynn stays back and tries to smash it down the ground but misses.
Trent Boult is back.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! No stopping Lynn, he hits it straight back past the bowler for another boundary to end the over. 12 more runs needed.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Easy runs for Australia. Another shot driven through covers to get closer to the total.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell cuts this ball through point to rotate strike.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Lynn drives this past covers for another run.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Lynn is in a hurry, pulls this short ball to the deep square leg region for a boundary. 19 more needed.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. Darts this full, Maxwell lofts it over covers for one.
Mitchell Santner to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell rocks onto his back foot and punches this to pick up a run. 12 off the over. Australia need 24 more to win.
Mitchell Santner to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! Maxwell goes hard at this full delivery. Floated ball, Maxi drives it through covers for a boundary. Drilled.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. In the air...but safe. Nicely tossed up again, Lynn goes for the sweep and the ball gets a bottom edge to it and flies high towards deep square leg. It falls safe and they run through.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. Fires this one. Good change of pace. Lynn hits it back to the bowler.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. Tosses this one too after being hit for a biggie. Lynn drives this to mid off.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. SIX! Tossed up, Lynn goes on one knee and slog sweeps this over mid-wicket for a biggie! That's the fifty-run stand between the two.
Mitchell Santner to bowl.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Lynn cuts this past point for another run.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell punches this ball on the off side. Good effort from the cover fielder to restrict it to one.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. On the legs of Maxwell who flicks it away to deep square leg for a brace.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. Cracker of a leg break. Bowls this in line of the stumps and goes past the outside edge of Maxwell. Glenn was completely bamboozled by the turn. There is some turn and grip if the spinners get their pace right.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Short ball, Lynn punches this one and crosses over.
Colin de Grandhomme to Chris Lynn. De Grandhomme punches the ball close to his body past mid on to end the over with a run.
Colin de Grandhomme to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell cuts this through point for a quick run.
Colin de Grandhomme to Chris Lynn. Pitched up, Lynn works it past mid on to rotate strike.
Colin de Grandhomme to Glenn Maxwell. A bit behind the good good length, Maxwell punches this for another run.
Colin de Grandhomme to Glenn Maxwell. SIX! Effortlessly done! Fuller this time from de Grandhomme, Maxwell extends his arms and lofts it over long on for half a dozen.
Colin de Grandhomme to Chris Lynn. Starts off with a back of a length ball, Lynn punches it on the off side for a run.
De Grandhomme to bowl his first over.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Lynn plays it through mid-wicket to retain strike.
Ish Sodhi to Glenn Maxwell. Enough time for Maxwell to ease it away on the leg for one more.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. Lynn flicks it away with a wristy shot on the leg side. They pick up a single.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Wrong one from Sodhi, Lynn cuts it with fast hands and the ball runs away to the backward point region for a boundary. Santner from the deep hares to stop it but his dive too is not enough.
Ish Sodhi to Chris Lynn. A bit short from Sodhi, Lynn taps it on the off side.
Ish Sodhi comes into the attack.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! Cheeky by Maxy! Southee bangs in a short ball outside off, Maxwell stays put inside the crease and just uses the pace of the bowler to ramp it past the keeper. A boundary at third man results, 9 from the over, 36/2 in the Powerplay, 59 needed off 60 balls.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Jumps on the back foot to a shortish ball and taps it down to point. One more ball left in the Powerplay.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Shortish and around leg, cramping Maxwell who tries to glance. It takes his gloves and rolls past the diving keeper to fine leg. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Back of a length delivery outside off, Glenn steers it through backward point for a couple.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Wide called for height! Southee follows the batsman with a bouncer, Maxwell ducks and lets it through with his bat hanging right up. Not a good technique.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Short and around leg, angling down, Maxwell moves across to pull but misses.
Tim Southee to Glenn Maxwell. Angles in a length ball on middle and off, Maxwell defends it from the crease.
Tim Southee gets a change of ends.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Pierces the gap this time. Flatter delivery in the line of the stumps, Lynn hops back a bit to create room and packs a punch past the cover fielder for a boundary.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. Quicker ball wide outside off, Lynn smashes it through the line but finds the cover fielder.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. Santner slows it up this time. He lands it around middle and off, gets some spin as well. Lynn defends it with an angled bat to point.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Santner drags his length short and bowls it around middle, Lynn gets down on one knee and thwacks it through square leg for a boundary. He picked the length very early there.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. Tossed up ball on middle, Lynn stays back footed in defense.
Mitchell Santner to Chris Lynn. Quicker one, around leg, almost a yorker, Lynn digs it back.
Mitchell Santner to bowl inside the Powerplay.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. Fullish and on middle, eased to mid-wicket for a run.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Slashes and slashes hard. Looking in fine touch, Chris. He attacks the delivery outside off and smacks it over point for a boundary.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. FOUR! Powerfully struck! Boult angles a length ball away from the batsman, outside off, Lynn chances his arms and muscles it over covers for a boundary.
Trent Boult to Chris Lynn. Around off, Lynn defends it from the back foot.
Glenn Maxwell arrives. One big hitter after the other, Australia have plenty of them but who will stay and steer the side home?
Trent Boult to David Warner. OUT! Fantastic catch in the deep by Bruce to dismiss the Aussie skipper. Body blow to the home team. Boult digs in a sharp short ball on middle, Warner goes for the pull shot and makes decent connection as well. It flies to the deep square leg region where Bruce settles underneath it and takes the catch close to the rope. He realizes that the momentum is taking him behind and hence he tosses the ball up, steps behind the rope and then comes back to complete the catch again. That's smartness for you.
Tim Southee to Chris Lynn. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Chris Lynn, another batsman known for his big hitting, walks in next.
Tim Southee to D'Arcy Short. OUT! Short's debut innings is cut short. Southee persists with a short of a length delivery outside off, D'Arcy stays back to unfurl another powerful pull shot but fails to middle it well. Still it goes like a rocket to Taylor at short mid-wicket who pouches it easily. Those bucket-like hands of Rosco... Made it look so effortless. New Zealand get the first breakthrough. They need to keep chipping away at the wickets to stay in hunt.
Tim Southee to D'Arcy Short. Angling away from the batsman, Short tries another pull shot but misses.
Tim Southee to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! What a shot, Mr. Short! We saw plenty of these in the BBL and now the young man is displaying his talent on the big stage. He rocks back to a shortish ball outside off and blazes his pull shot through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Tim Southee to David Warner. Straighter in line, Warner turns it through square leg and takes a single.
Tim Southee to David Warner. FOUR! Southee drops it short first up, wide outside off, Warner exercises his arms and slams it over covers for a boundary. Tim needs to be right on the money as they are not defending a big total.
Tim Southee will bowl from the other end.
Trent Boult to D'Arcy Short. Punched off the back foot by Short. End of a good over by Boult.
Trent Boult to David Warner. Length around off, Warner plays it to mid on and they quickly run through. First run on the board.
Trent Boult to David Warner. Drags his length back a bit, Warner goes for the pull and the ball hits his arm before dying on the ground.
Trent Boult to David Warner. Length ball in line of the stumps, Warner hits it to mid on.
Trent Boult to David Warner. Effort ball from Boult, outside off, Warner goes for the cut but it is high and wide above him.
Trent Boult to David Warner. Starts off with a fuller ball in line of the stumps, Warner taps it on the leg side.
We are back for the chase. The umpires and the Kiwis take the field. David Warner and debutant, D'Arcy Short will open for the hosts, whereas Trent Boult will have a first go with the new ball.
Good news - The rain has stopped. And the players are getting ready to come out. The revised target is 95 and Australia will have to get it in 15 overs.