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After facing two heavy defeats from Australia at an empty Sky Stadium, New Zealand came back strongly in the series decider on Sunday with the crowd roaring in favour of the home side. The Black Caps regained their confidence amid the presence of the fans and defeated Australia in the fifth T20I to win the Trans-Tasman series by 3-2.
After opting to bat, Australia could only manage to post 142/8 on the scoreboard in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to disciplined bowling by Kiwis. Matthew Wade, who struggled to score runs in the whole series, smashed his team’s maximum in the Sunday afternoon fixture.
The wicketkeeper-batsman contributed 44 from 29 deliveries and formed a crucial partnership of 66-runs with skipper Aaron Finch for the second wicket. Finch was the second-highest scorer for the visitors, with 36 off 32 balls. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis also made a valuﷺable contribution by making 26 as the touring side scored 142 with the loss of eight wickets.
Ish Sodhi was again the pick of the bowlers for the hosts after he bagged as many as three wickets for 24 in his quota of 4 overs. Apart from Sodhi, Tim Southee and Trent Boult took two scalps each, while Mark Chapman earned one wicket.
In reply, New Zealand had a tremendous start as the pair of Devon Conway, and Martin Guptill added 106-runs for the opening wicket to completely demolish Australia’s hopes for making a comeback in the game.
Although Aussie pacer Riley Meredith picked up two in two balls after he dismissed Conway (36) and Kane Williamson (0), but i🐓t was too late for the tourists to bounce back in the contest. Guptiꩵll went on to score 71 from 46 deliveries laced up with seven fours and four sixes as the home team chased down the target in 15.3 overs with seven wickets in hand.
Guptill was named Player of the Match, while Sodhi, who bagged 13 wickets in the series, was given the Player of the Series award.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
New Zealand wins the T20 series, beating Australi🌠a today by 7 wickets. A tough match this one for the Aussies. But huge congratulations to the Kiwis. A great series.
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB)
Big ups to the fans who came out today to support the 👏👏👏 a𓆉nd see them win by 7 wick🐻ets against
So great𒐪 to have perfect conditions and see 𓆏a series win!
📸:
— Sky Stadium (@skystadium)
New Zeala𒁏nd have claimed the T20I series 3-2 over Australia.
The Black Caps have now won the♓ir last three T✃20 series.
— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus)
Highest strike rate against spin in T20I history (min 500 rꦑuns):
1. C. Munro: 158
2. A. Finch: 156
3. G. Maxwell: 153
4. S. Watson: 152Top fourꩵ exclusively comprised of New Zealand & Australian players.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst)
Player of the match: Martin Guptill (71 off 46) 👊
Player of the series: Ish Sodhi (13 wickets) 👏
📷 =— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
How wonderful is it to see ༺crowds in the sta♈dium? 😍
📍 Wellington, New Zealand
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia)
Not sure this series help✃ed much re WCT20 selection given few actually played. From this squad I think Marsh is out & Tanveer, won’t get a look. Then you need to find spots for Warner, Smith, Starc & Cummins so McDermott 🌼& Stoinis look shaky
— Brett Graham (@worldofBG)
Best bowling:
6/30 – Ashton Agar (G3)
4/28 – Ish Sodhi (G1)
4/31 – Mitchell Santner (G2)
3/19 – Kane Richardson (G4)FOLLOW LIVE:
👉 👈— 🏏Flashscore Cricket Commen൲tators (@FlashCric)
//twitter﷽.cꩲom/SoorajAyyappan_/status/1368383867485261824
Most wickets in T20I bilateral series (max: 5 matches):-
13 – I SODHI🇳🇿 v AUS in 2021
11 – A Malik🇳🇱 v NEP in 2015
11 – R Khan🇦🇫 v IRE in 2019
11 – M Santner🇳🇿 v ENG in 2019Sodhi's 13 are also highest by a New Zealand player in any T20I series (bilateral/touranament).
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
New Zealand win the game and the series 👏
A 106-run opening stand sets up a seven-wicket vic🦩tory for the hosts. |
— ICC (@ICC)
THE WELLINGTON CROWD, HOWEVER SMALL, STANDS UP AND APPLAUDS GUPTILL.
WHAT A MOMENT!— stuart broad apologist (@cricketpun_duh)
Congratulations NZ for the series win. No doubt that 142 was less and I think the pitch was for both bowlers and batsmen. Finch and Wade scored good and no t20 finsih was there. The bowlers also gave runs…
— Nikhil B (@nikhil_positive)
//twittওer.com/SteadyTheShip/status/1368389894905630723
Coasting to an easy match Win and convincing 3-2 Series victory. Well done 👏 Played with class. Good fight bac⛎k by AUS but Kiwis played better in all areas. 🏏
— Amar Trivedi (@Mr_Madness)
Been very ꦅmuch an all or nothing approach from Aus in this T20 series vs NZ. Inconsistent to the extreme.
— Rahul Puri (@rahulpuri)
