Neesham played a crucial role with both bat and ball, as New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.
During 34 overs in the contest, New Zealand felt it was on its way to a comfortable victory. Then a three-more round by Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams gave Australia a chance for a win from behind in the 219 chase. Eventually, the hosts walked away with a four-run win and a 2-0 lead. in the series. after James Neesham defended 15 in the final. Martin Guptill returned to form with 97 while Kane Williamson scored half a century. Neesham (45 * versus 16) provided the last push off the bat, which proved to be enough to keep New Zealand ahead.
Bowling roulette
In the first fives overs, after Australia chose the field, Aaron Finch used five different bowlers to keep the batters guessing. The play seemed to be working, as Tim Seifert fell in the fourth to Kane Richardson and New Zealand was able to score just 30 in the first five. Ashton Agar’s second over, however, helped Guptill up the scoring rate and ultimately took the game away from the visitors.
Guptill’s fire, Williamson’s ice
Guptill and Williamson teamed up in the fourth and smashed 131 to 70 to propel New Zealand to a dominant total. In the seventh plus, Guptill crushed Adam Zampa by two sixes and reached his half century with 27 balls. It was a welcome return to form for the starter who had struggled in Super Smash and had failed to touch 30 even once in his last eight T20 innings. It was only on the tenth that Williamson got going. He faced Hagar and scored a limit and a six to take the 85-for-1 side at the half mark.
Marcus Stoinis leaked 17 on his first over and was hit by two sixes by Guptill as New Zealand began to take control. At 12, Kane Richardson was hit by two sixes and a four by Guptill to push Australia off with his back foot. Guptill took 23 balls to run from 50 to 97 before getting caught on the ground trying to get his century. Williamson fell in the next to Adam Zampa 53 of 35 after establishing a solid platform for a late round.
The Neesham Show
Neesham came out at bat and smoked his first three balls for six. At 17, he lined up Kane and sent the ball flying over the fence to pass to 26 of 8. There was a brief lull as Australia gave up just 10 on 18 and 19 and picked up three wickets. Daniel Sams received two sixes in the final over, which was 20, as the all-rounder finished undefeated at 45 against 16.
Australian stop-and-go tickets
At the end of five overs, Australia was 50-1. Matthew Wade had given the team a quick start, but had lost to Tim Southee in the fourth over. In the eighth, Finch was fired by Ish Sodhi. From there, Mitchell Santner continued to torment hitters to pin the visitors to the canvas. Glenn Maxwell’s reverse sweep found the outfielder when Santner opened his account. He then fired Philippe, Ashton Agar and Mitchell Marsh in an over, 13 in innings, to leave the visitors reeling at 113 of 6.
Stoinis, Sams provide some late drama
Australia was 122 of 6 at the end of 14 overs and needed 98 of 36. The round started against Ish Sodhi when Stoinis broke the wheel for 20 in the over. Tim Southee leaked 25 in the next over, as the pair managed to score 45 in two overs to stay in the chase. Stoinis entered his half century with 22 balls, while Sams broke them with a strike rate of more than 300. The 17th over went to 17, as they were left needing 36 in the last three. Trent Boult stood his ground and gave away just six when Stoinis and Sams went with 30 in the last two.
However, Southee failed to make a comeback and gave away 15 in the penultimate to make things easier for the Australian pair. Neesham fired Sams on the first ball of the final and then threw three point balls to keep the hosts on the hunt. The pressure came to Stoinis when he failed to execute and was caught in the long run.
Quick Scores: New Zealand 219/7 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 97, Kane Williamson 53, James Neesham 45 *) won Australia 215/8 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 78; Mitchell Santner 4-31) for four runs.
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