New Zealand thrashed hosts and defending champions Australia by 89 runs in their Super 12 ICC T20 World Cup 2022 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground to break their 11-year winless run in Australia.
New Zealand openers Devon Conway carried his bat for an unbeaten 92 off 58 balls while Finn Allen smashed 42 off just 16 balls in the Power-play before James Neesham hit a cameo of 26 off 13 deliveries for the Kiwis to post a massive 200/3 in 20 overs.
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In reply, Tim Southee (3/6) and Mitchell Santner (3/31) restricted Australia and made sure they never got going in their chase as the hosts were bundled out for a meagre 111 in 17.1 overs, with none of their batters reaching 30 runs. The loss has left a huge dent in the hosts’ title defence in terms of net run rate, which will be a decisive factor every team’s quest to reach the semifinals.
Made to bat first, Conway missed his century by just eight runs but took the Australian bowling attack apart, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes to hold the New Zealand innings together.
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But his opening partner Allen, who was dropped at 18 by Adam Zampa, went on to smash a 16-ball 42 with five boundaries and three sixes before he was bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the fifth over – the scoreboard reading 56.
Skipper Kane Williamson and Conway put together a 69-run partnership off 53 balls for the second wicket, as the Black Caps looked headed for a huge score. Williamson and Glenn Phillips fell in quick succession, but New Zealand were able to score 200 thanks to Neesham’s cameo.
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Chasing, Australia had a nightmare start as David Warner tried to pull Southee in the second over, but the ball was inside-edged before hitting the stumps. Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh started well, but were dismissed in successive overs. Finch lofted straight to extra cover off Santner, before Marsh was deceived by a slower Southee ball, holing out to deep mid-wicket. Australia, thus, ended Power-play at 37/3.
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Australia were in further trouble as Santner picked up two more wickets including that of Marcus Stoinis, who went inside-out for a drive over cover and was caught sensationally by Phillips, and Tim David who holed out to deep mid-wicket.
Australia’s innings worsened after Matthew Wade nicked behind off Lockie Ferguson while Glenn Maxwell, who hit a 20-ball 28, was bowled out by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. Trent Boult then clean up Mitchell Starc and Zampa with slower deliveries while Southee took his third wicket with Pat Cummins’ scalp as Australia suffered their second-heaviest defeat in T20Is.
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Brief Scores
New Zealand 200/3 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 42, Devon Conway 92 not out, James Neesham 26 not out)
Australia 111 in 17.1 overs (Glenn Maxwell 28, Pat Cummins 21; Tim Southee 3/6, Mitchell Santner 3/13)
