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This was the toughest victory of all, but they did it: five wins out of that many series at home for the men in black and beige.
We rate the 12 Black Caps from the 3-2 win over Australia, sealed in Wellington and highlighted by a redemption story alongside two underperforming players scratching their heads.
MARTIN GUPTILL
5 innings, 218 runs to 43.6, strike rate 159, highscore 97
Classification: 9
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Another heads skyward from Martin Guptill’s bat during his stellar hit at Dunedin.
What is that f word again? Ah yes, fickle. From a hitter who didn’t seem to know where his next career would come from, to the swaggering Guptill of yesteryear, in the space of three days. Isn’t that the great Twenty20 cricket? Coach Gary Stead endorsed him unconditionally and was rewarded on the ‘class is permanent’ condition, which also saw Aaron Finch go from not running to being destructive. Guptill’s form streak deserved scrutiny, and it was a reminder of how a drop in the shorter format can be a great shot away from ending.
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* Black Caps vs Australia: Martin Guptill ‘as good as anyone in the world’, say his defeated rivals
* Black Caps vs Australia: ‘We didn’t fire a shot’, coach Gary Stead not happy with ‘passive’ hitting
* Black Caps vs Australia: Martin Guptill leads the hosts to series victory as the crowd returns
TIM SEIFERT
4 innings, 27 runs at 6.75, SR 63, HS 19
Classification: two
A downward shift in the order for Game 5 was revealing for Seifert, who barely fired a shot and is now unable to play another T20 international until September, when he heads to the IPL. His place in an extended T20 World Cup squad seems secure, but he faces downtime, albeit under the tutelage of Brendon McCullum in India. Devon Conway is so good with gloves and he’s a compelling plan B as a starter / wicketkeeper in the top XI.
Mark Tantrum / Getty Images
Another rough night at the office for Tim Seifert as Australian Kane Richardson celebrates.
KANE WILLIAMSON
5 innings, 82 races at 4:45 p.m., SR 122, HS 53
Classification: 6
Two cheap layoffs in lbw for whirlwind Riley Meredith at Wellington, and a quick 53-of-35 at Dunedin that almost went unnoticed amid Guptill’s onslaught. Strong captaincy in the fifth game with quick bowling changes and the use of part-time Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips on a spin-friendly pitch, mixed in with their veteran pacemakers. Keeping Australia under 150 was essentially the victory of the game.
DEVON CONWAY
5 innings, 192 runs at 48, SR 140, HS 99th
Classification: 8
He finished his series with an impressive winning shot in Christchurch and then a calm and collected supporting role for Guptill in Wellington. The left-right combination was effective and we could see more against Bangladesh, with Conway looking the most effective at the top after dominating the Firebirds as a starter.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Devon Conway hits during his 99 no out in the series opener in Christchurch.
GLENN PHILLIPS
5 innings, 86 runs to 21.5, SR 156, HS 34th
2 overs, 0-21, economic rate 10.5
Classification: 6
He seemed grumpy with the bat by his high standards, then a horror run in game four, before finding his rhythm in the decider with a solid platform. He proved his worth as a finalist by throwing the Black Caps home in pursuit and he will have gained confidence from that. Offspin is a work in progress, but it will be better for the race and is a definite option for the subcontinent later in the year.
MARK CHAPMAN
2 innings, 19 races in 19, SR 158, HS 18
2 envelope, 1-9, ER 4.5
Classification: 6
He played a cameo for the ailing Mitchell Santner and then the fired Kyle Jamieson, but did well in his brief appearances. He hasn’t thrown much since shoulder surgery, but he offers a lot as a third or fourth spinner when spinning, and he can hit more than 150 with the bat as he proved for the Aces. A valuable and versatile member of the team who has a great chance of winning the World Cup.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Phew: Jimmy Neesham and Trent Boult celebrate the victory in the second game after Neesham’s final over came.
JIMMY NEESHAM
4 innings, 74 runs at 24.66, SR 200, HS 45th
6 overs, 2 wickets at 39.5, ER 13.16, best pins 2-10
Classification: 6
Did we say fickle in the same sentence as T20 cricket? From being the overall winner at Dunedin to New Zealand’s second most expensive T20 bowling alley (0-60 in four) at Wellington it was a trip for Neesham against teammate Glenn Maxwell. Dunedin at least showed his courage at the side with impressive hitting power and a cool kill with 15 runs to play, qualities that earned him another shot at the IPL.
MITCHELL SANTNER
15.3 above, 6 portholes at 16.16, ER 6.25, BB 4-31
3 innings, 10 races at 5, SR 91, HS 7th
Classification: 8
Ironically, the game he missed with a cold was the biggest indication of Santner’s immense value to the side, when the bowlers were tied up in game three and there was no one to apply the brakes. His economy rate speaks for itself and when he was touring in Wellington he was even more dangerous along with Ish Sodhi. Potentially the player who could least afford to lose to injury / illness at the World Cup.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
It didn’t quite work out in beige for Kyle Jamieson in a tough T20 series against Australia.
KYLE JAMIESON
15 overs, 1 wicket at 175, ER 11.66, BB 1-32
3 innings, 41 runs at 20.5, SR 152, HS 30
Classification: 3
A return to earth with a thud for Jamieson, whose fairytale start to test cricket continued in a multi-million dollar IPL deal. He has all the attributes of an effective T20 bowler and has done it nationally, but struggled to reach the right lengths and show enough variation when Finch coldly dispatched him in Wellington. He fell for the fifth game, and with Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne returning to the mix he faces stiff competition later in the year when he heads to Bangalore to hone his craft.
TIM SOUTH
19 overs, 6 wickets at 27.33, ER 8.63, BB 2-10
Classification: 7
He pitched better than his numbers suggested, and only inches from catching Finch’s first ball in Game 3 and continuing his running drought. Questions about Southee’s effectiveness at the T20 level have been eased, especially when he’s on the move and he and Trent Boult go to work like they did in Christchurch.
John Cowpland / Photosport
Ish Sodhi of New Zealand was named a T20 series player after catching 13 wickets.
ISH SODHI
19 overs, 13 wickets at 12.07, ER 8.26, BB 4-28
Classification: 9
Consistency was Sodhi’s job and he delivered with a wicket-fest in all five games, winning the series man gong in the process. Australia’s short side limits and batting change made him more difficult in Wellington, but he adjusted his line, varied his flight, and was helped by some super catches. Prepared to make a big impact at the World Cup with Santner, as they did in 2016.
TRENT BOULT
19 overs, 7 wickets at 20.57, ER 7.57, BB 2-22
Classification: 8
Champion of the IPL with the Mumbai Indians last year and ready to defend that title, after a magnificent series for his country. Still one of the best new bowlers in world cricket, he did some damage early and showed his versatility in the last few spells to finish the series strong in the capital.
Not used:
Hamish Bennett: He deserved at least a chance, but Wellington’s field played against him. He will have his chances against Bangladesh and remains a solid bet for the bigger T20 teams for the rest of this year.
