Mitchell Marsh led Australia to a thrilling last-ball victory against New Zealand as the Aussies successfully won the first T20i by six wickets. They chased down the target of 216 runs in 20 overs and registered their third-highest run chase in the shortest format of the game.
The Men in Yellow’s highest T20i run chase came against the Kiwis as well in 2018, when, under the leadership of David Warner, the Kangaroos chased down a target of 244 runs with seven balls remaining. Their second highest successful run – chase was against India last year in Guwahati.
In the first T20i against New Zealand, the visitors needed 16 runs in the final over, and Tim David, in the final three deliveries of the 20th over, smashed Tim Southee for 12 runs, which included one six and a final delivery of four, as Australia sealed the victory in the first T20i.
Along with Tim David, Skipper Mitchell Marsh (72* runs in 44 balls) was unbeaten at the other end as the duo stitched a partnership of 44 runs for the fifth wicket, which helped the Aussies chase down the target of 216 runs.
Earlier in the Aussie innings, openers David Warner (32 runs in 20 balls) and Travis Head (24 runs in 15 balls), opening for the first time as a duo in the shortest format of the game, helped the Kangaroos get off to a good start. At the end of seven overs, both openers were sent back to the pavilion, but the visitors had already managed to score 69 runs at the end of seven overs.
Glenn Maxwell came into bat at number four and played an aggressive inning of 25 runs in 11 balls, which consisted of two fours and two sixes, before Kiwi seamer Lockie Ferguson dismissed him.
Earlier, New Zealand openers Devon Conway (63 runs in 36 balls) and Finn Allen (32 runs in 17 balls) stitched a partnership of 61 runs in 5 overs for the first wicket. Rachin Ravindra (68 runs in 35 balls) came in to bat at number three and ensured that the Kiwis didn’t lose the momentum provided by the openers, as he scored his maiden half century in the shortest format of the game.
Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips chipped in with useful cameos as the duo scored 31 runs in the last two overs of the New Zealand inning which helped the hosts put up a total of 215 runs on the board.
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