| 0.0 : Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! We're all set for the second clash in the 5-match T20I series between New Zealand and Australia. The touring team was humbled in Christchurch by a counter-attacking knock by Devon Conway and then by an exemplary piece of swing bowling by Trent Boult and Tim Southee. The caravan has moved to Dunedin now and the University Oval is ready to become the 9th venue to host T20I games in this part of the world in men's cricket. Australia will be eyeing a comeback this afte |
| The pictures on social media from the ground suggest that it's bright and sunny and the entire ground is bathed in sunshine. Looks like a perfect day for batting. The pitch also appears quite flat and it has a history of producing big totals. Let's hope we get to see a high-scoring humdinger. Meanwhile, Mitchell Santner is getting claps and hugs in the NZ huddle, this is going to be his 50th T20I. We wish him well. Toss coming up shortly. |
| Australia (Playing XI) - Aaron Finch (C), Matthew Wade (WK), Josh Philippe, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Daniel Sams, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa. |
| New Zealand (Playing XI) -Â Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (WK), Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult. |
| Ish Sodhi catches up for a quick interview. The leggie says that it's always good to start off with a win especially against a team like Australia which is stuffed with quality players. On overtaking Nathan McCullum in the list of leading wicket-takers for the Blackcaps, Sodhi replies that he has always looked up to Nathan and it's a special achievement. |
| Toss - Aaron Finch has won the coin-toss and AUSTRALIA ELECT TO FIELD! The Aussie skipper talks about doing the basics right and not getting carried away. The Kiwi skipper would have bowled first as well but now that they are batting, he wants his team to assess the conditions and put up a good total on the board. Both teams are unchanged! |
| Pitch report -Â Great batting surface. Nice even covering of grass. 161 is the average first innings total here in domestic cricket. If you bowl into the wicket, you will get some value. With short boundaries, expect a lot of big shots. |
| We're moments away from getting underway. The players are on the field. Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert are the Kiwi openers. The former is under big pressure to perform and the hosts would be hoping that he strikes gold with his form in this match. The conditions looking ripe for batting. Let's see how the Aussies bowl on this batsman-friendly strip. Daniel Sams to begin proceedings with the ball. Will he get to shape a few into the right-handers? One slip in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Guptill is underway with a beautiful cover drive. Sams goes searching for the movement first up and over-pitches it outside off, Martin drives it delightfully through the gap on the off side. New Zealand underway in style! |
| 0.2 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, On a length and close to off, Guptill gets forward and pushes it with an angled bat to point. |
| 0.3 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, Beaten this time! Sams takes a length ball away from the batsman, with the natural angle, Guptill pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 0.4 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, A length delivery outside off, tapped down to point and a loud shot of 'no' follows. |
| 0.5 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, Uppish but safe! This delivery holds up a bit from the surface, on a length close to off, Guptill checks his shot and pushes it aerially towards mid off. Not carrying to the fielder. They cross. |
| 0.6 : Daniel Sams to Tim Seifert, Fuller in length and outside off, Seifert drives it through extra cover and the mid off fielder makes a superb diving stop to his left. Saves three. |
| Ashton Agar to bowl from the other end. |
| Last time it was Adam Zampa, today it's Ashton Agar to bowl the second over of the innings. |
| 1.1 : Ashton Agar to Tim Seifert, Fires in a flatter ball on middle, an ugly swish from Seifert and it goes off the inner half to mid-wicket. A single taken. |
| 1.2 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, Quicker arm ball on middle, cramping the batsman, Guptill defends it back. |
| 1.3 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, Slower through the air, full and on off, Guptill gets forward and defends. |
| 1.4 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, Tickles a full ball in the gap at mid-wicket and rotates the strike. |
| 1.5 : Ashton Agar to Tim Seifert, A touch short and outside off, Tim cuts but finds the point fielder. |
| 1.6 : Ashton Agar to Tim Seifert, Pitches it up and outside off, Seifert drives this time but fails to pick the gap at covers. Top over. |
| Jhye Richardson is into the attack. |
| 2.1 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, SIX! That's Guptill at his very best. A harsh welcome to Jhye. Full in length and around off, Guptill puts it away with a good flourish of his bat. Good arm extension and it flies over long off. |
| 2.2 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, Back of a length ball on middle, MG turns it on the leg side, a bit uppish but in the gap at mid-wicket. A single taken. |
| 2.3 : Jhye Richardson to Tim Seifert, Risky singe! Fullish and on middle, Seifert forces it down to mid on and scoots to the other end. Maxwell misses his shy at the bowler's end and Tim makes it with a dive. |
| 2.4 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, A length ball on off, angling in, Guptill keeps it out from the leading half of his bat to covers. |
| 2.5 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Dismissed over the bowler's head. Fullish and on middle, Guptill brings down a straight bat and smashes it down the ground for a boundary. |
| 2.6 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, Beaten! Back of a length ball close to off and holding its line, Guptill pokes inside the line and misses. 12 from the over! |
| Kane Richardson is on. |
| 3.1 : Kane Richardson to Tim Seifert, OUT! Soft dismissal! Kane strikes immediately. Serves a back of a length ball around off, it sits in the wicket and cramps the batsman for room, Seifert jumps and tries to punch it through the line. But he mistimes it in the air and it's a simple catch for Finch at covers. |
| 0.0 : Kane Williamson is the new batsman in. |
| 3.2 : Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson, Angles in a length ball on off, Williamson pushes it with an angled bat to point. |
| 3.3 : Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson, A typical Williamson shot to get underway. On a good length and around off, Kane dabs it down to third man to open his account with a single. |
| 3.4 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, Fractionally short and on off, Guptill is on his toes as he plays it down to point. 'Wait in' is the call and it stays like that. |
| 3.5 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Guptill is looking in the mood. Fuller in length and around off, Guptill gives a little shimmy and punches it over mid off. Not a big followthrough of the bat but he has nailed it. |
| 3.6 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, Was there an outside edge? Doesn't matter though as it didn't carry. A length ball outside off, Guptill flashes his bat at it and possibly gets a thin outside edge. It drops in front of Wade who does well to collect it on one bounce. 5 runs and a wicket from the over. |
| Adam Zampa is into the attack. |
| 4.1 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Starts with a high full toss on middle, Kane lofts it over mid-wicket and picks up a single. Zampa gets away with a poor first ball. |
| 4.2 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, Short and around off, Guptill cuts but finds point. |
| 4.3 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, Possibly a googly. Full and around off, Guptill tries to hit straight but it takes the inside edge and goes past short fine leg for two. |
| 4.4 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, Very full and on leg, it's knocked down to long on for one. |
| 4.5 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Advances down the track to a full ball and then Williamson decides to defend it on the leg side. |
| 4.6 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Quicker and flatter on middle, Kane punches it down and it goes past the diving bowler to mid on for a run. 10 runs in the last two overs, good going for Australia. |
| 5.1 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, Loopy and full around leg, Williamson flicks it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 5.2 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, SIX! Guptill does it again! Full and floated around off, Guptill stays leg side to this delivery and lofts it nonchalantly over long off. Not trying to hit it too hard, that's the key. |
| 0.0 : Ashton Agar is back on. |
| 5.3 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, Gently works a full length ball in the gap at mid-wicket and picks up a brace. |
| 5.4 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Good timing! Agar fires it around off, a touch short in length, Guptill uses the depth of his crease and cracks it through covers. |
| 5.5 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, Quicker one on middle, helped on the leg side for one. |
| 5.6 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, Arm ball on off, skidding in, Kane allows it to come to him and then taps it down to short third man for a run. 45/1 in the Powerplay, both teams will be relatively pleased with their efforts so far. |
| 6.1 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Tossed up ball on middle, Williamson goes back and forces it down to long on for a run. |
| 6.2 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, SIX! Audacious! Guptill is back. A shade of arrogance in this shot as he doesn't bother even seeing it. Full and floated on off, Guptill once again puts it away with the extension of his arms. Dispatched over long on. |
| 6.3 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, Zampa goes flatter and quicker on middle, a bit of extra bounce there as Guptill defends it back. |
| 6.4 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, SIX! Into the parking lot! Guptill now becomes the leading six-hitter in T20Is, goes past Rohit Sharma. Use of the feet this time by him, opts to go with the spin and smashes it over long off. |
| 6.5 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, FIFTY FOR GUPTILL, off just 27 balls. Flatter and on middle, Martin turns it on the leg side and switches ends. He raises his bat to celebrate his knock. Welcome to form, Guppy! |
| 6.6 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, The batsman has just watchfully blocked this out. |
| Jhye Richardson is back on. |
| 7.1 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, Good length ball on off, tapped down to point for a single. |
| 7.2 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Williamson frees his arms! This is just delightful. Short and wide outside off, Kane goes on his toes and crashes it over point for a boundary. |
| 7.3 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, Fuller in length and on off, Williamson drives it down to mid off, straight to the fielder. |
| 7.4 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, Short and wide, cut through the line but straight to the fielder again, this time at backward point. |
| 7.5 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, A touch short and on middle, Williamson nurdles it through backward square leg for a run. |
| 7.6 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, Uppish but safe! Slower delivery, full and on middle, angling in, Guptill pushes it aerially over his partner and down to long on for a run. 7 from the over, 21 after the Powerplay. |
| Daniel Sams is back on. 1-0-6-0 are his figures so far. |
| 8.1 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, Sams steams in from 'round the wicket and angles a full ball down the leg side, Guptill nudges it down to fine leg where the fielder slides to stop the ball. The umpire gets it checked upstairs and the replays find that Kane Richardson has done a reasonable job near the fence. Two runs saved. |
| 8.2 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, Short and wide outside off, Guptill slaps it to point where the fielder dives and parries it to sweeper cover. A single taken. |
| 8.3 : Daniel Sams to Kane Williamson, 50-run stand up! Williamson dabs a length ball to point for one. A good partnership of intent. |
| 8.4 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, Short and on middle, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 8.5 : Daniel Sams to Kane Williamson, Short again and outside off, Kane cuts it through point and rotates the strike. |
| 8.6 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, A low dipping full toss outside off, Guptill tries to go hard at it and swings it off the inner half to short mid-wicket. 6 from the over, a tidy one by Sams. |
| Ashton Agar is back on. |
| 9.1 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, 'CATCH' is the shout from Wade, just short! Tossed up ball around middle, Williamson makes room and drives it uppishly towards the cover fielder. Doesn't carry. |
| 9.2 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, FOUR! Clever batting. Shows his back leg to the bowler, prompting that he would shuffle across. Agar ends up serving a full ball down the leg side and the Kiwi skipper puts it away to the fine leg fence. |
| 9.3 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, Knocks a full ball down to long off for a run. |
| 9.4 : Ashton Agar to Martin Guptill, Flatter and on middle, helped in front of square leg for a run. |
| 9.5 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, SIX! Quick feet from Kane as he goes straight and long. Dances down the track to a full ball and hammers it into the sightscreen. |
| 9.6 : Ashton Agar to Kane Williamson, Hangs on the back foot and punches it square of the wicket on the off side for a run. 13 coming from this over. |
| Marcus Stoinis is on. |
| 10.1 : Marcus Stoinis to Kane Williamson, Jumps down the track to a shortish ball and powers it over mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 10.2 : Marcus Stoinis to Kane Williamson, In the air... SAFE! Risky shot! Williamson shuffles across the stumps to a length ball and tries to play the paddle scoop. It brushes his left arm and loops behind. Doesn't carry to Wade. A single pinched. |
| 10.3 : Marcus Stoinis to Martin Guptill, Shortish and on middle, forced to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 10.4 : Marcus Stoinis to Kane Williamson, Fuller in length on middle, drilled down to long on for another single. |
| 10.5 : Marcus Stoinis to Martin Guptill, SIX! Into the crowd! Back of a length ball on middle, Guptill rocks back and pulls it disdainfully over backward square leg. The way he opened up his body on that shot was amazing. |
| 10.6 : Marcus Stoinis to Martin Guptill, SIX! Dismissed from his sight! Stoinis dares to pitch it short again, this time it's around off and Guptill pulls it handsomely off his front foot. Goes the distance over wide long on. 17 from Stoinis' first. |
| Kane Richardson is back on. 1-0-5-1 are his figures so far. |
| 11.1 : Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson, Slower delivery, shortish and outside off, Williamson taps it down to point for a quick run. The fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end, Kane wants the second but Martin is not interested. |
| 11.2 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, A full toss outside off, Guptill forces it down to long off for a run. |
| 11.3 : Kane Richardson to Kane Williamson, Short in length and outside off, Williamson hangs on the back foot and steers it through backward point for three runs. Sams does well in the deep. |
| 11.4 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, SIX! Off the top edge! Guptill can't do anything wrong. Short and on middle, Guptill top edges his attempted pull shot and it travels all the way behind the keeper for a biggie. |
| 11.5 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, SIX! Putting on a clinic, Guptill. Moves into the 80s! Kane overdoes his length this time, around off, Martin thwacks it over the bowler's head this time. |
| 11.6 : Kane Richardson to Martin Guptill, FOUR! One bounce into the fence and that's the 100-run stand on the board! A length delivery outside off, Guptill blazes it over extra cover for a cracking boundary. 38 runs in the last two overs, the Kiwis are on the march! |
| Jhye Richardson is back on. |
| 12.1 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, Fuller in length outside off, Williamson drills it through extra cover for a run. |
| 12.2 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, Short and outside off, punched aerially past the in-ring fielder at extra cover for another single. |
| 12.3 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, SIX! Whoosh! Williamson moves to 40! He picks the line and length early, finds it to be in his half, shuffles across slightly and smokes it over square leg. |
| 12.4 : Jhye Richardson to Kane Williamson, Direct hit would have been curtains for Kane! Fullish and on off, Williamson rockets his drive to extra cover, straight to Finch at the edge of the circle. He crosses and would have been a goner had Finch hit the bull's eye at the bowler's end. |
| 12.5 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, FOUR! Shot! Width on offer outside off, Guptill reaches out for it and carves it over cover-point for a boundary. |
| 12.6 : Jhye Richardson to Martin Guptill, Fullish and outside off, Guptill lifts it over mid off for a single. 14 from the over! |
| Adam Zampa is back on. |
| Run out appeal! It has been referred upstairs. |
| 13.1 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, SAFE! Short and wide outside off, Guptill cuts it to point and rushes to the other end. The fielder scores a direct hit at the bowler's end and Zampa appeals. It's referred upstairs and the replays find Martin safe. |
| 13.2 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Quicker and on middle, tucked through square leg for a run. |
| 13.3 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, Too full and flat on middle, Martin drives it down to long on for a run. |
| 13.4 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Wide! Zampa loses control and serves it way wide outside off, Williamson allows it through. |
| Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Bowls it with a quick-arm action, on middle, Williamson eases it in front of square leg for one. |
| 13.5 : Adam Zampa to Martin Guptill, Tossed up ball wide outside off, Guptill whacks it to sweeper cover for yet another single in the over. A good one thus far by Zampa. |
| 13.6 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, SIX! Spoils a good over! Floated and full around off, Williamson walks across a bit and nails his slog sweep over mid-wicket. Maxwell comes in a bit from the boundary line, then jumps but it goes over his outstretched right hand. |
| Daniel Sams is back on. 2-0-12-0 are his figures so far. |
| 14.1 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, In the air... SAFE! Too full in length and wide outside off, Guptill throws his bat at it and it flies over covers. Drops in front of the fielder in the deep and they cross. |
| 14.2 : Daniel Sams to Kane Williamson, FIFTY FOR WILLIAMSON, off 32 balls. An inning of class. On middle, Kane tucks it on the leg side, finds the gap and takes a single. |
| 14.3 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, Swing and a miss! Slower delivery, outside off, Guptill tries to slog it across the line but misses. |
| 14.4 : Daniel Sams to Martin Guptill, OUT! Guptill holes out! Heartbreak for him! Conway remained on 99 in the last match and now Guptill falls on 97. What a knock though! He has repaid the faith shown in him by the selectors. Fuller and on off, Martin tries to nail it over long off but fails to find enough power on his shot. Stoinis makes no mistake near the rope and Guptill will have to depart. |
| James Neesham is the new batsman in. |
| 14.5 : Daniel Sams to James Neesham, SIX! Unleash the Neesh! He has the license to go after the bowlers and he has done exactly that! Back of a length delivery outside off, Jimmy fetches it from there and launches it over mid-wicket. |
| 14.6 : Daniel Sams to James Neesham, SIX! 12 from 2, Neesham is on a mission! Fuller in length and angling in, Neesham picks it off his pads and smokes it behind square leg for a maximum. A wicket in the over but it went for 14 runs as well. |
| 15.1 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Loopy full ball around off, Williamson eases it through extra cover and hands the strike to Neesham. |
| 15.2 : Adam Zampa to James Neesham, SIX! Neesham has gone bang, bang and bang! Three balls, three sixes. Full and flighted around off, Jimmy goes down on one knee and powers it with the spin over mid-wicket. |
| 15.3 : Adam Zampa to James Neesham, A rare single from Neesham. Hammers his slog sweep to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 15.4 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, Short and wide outside off, Williamson punches it to sweeper cover and calls for two. Gets them easily. |
| 15.5 : Adam Zampa to Kane Williamson, OUT! Drags it on! Zampa dishes out a well-disguised googly, it's around off and Williamson fails to pick it. He attempts to nudge it around but gets an inside edge onto the stumps. A vital breakthrough for Australia but New Zealand won't mind it too much at this stage. A fine knock by their skipper is over. |
| Glenn Phillips is the new batsman in. |
| 15.6 : Adam Zampa to Glenn Phillips, A flatter googly around middle, Phillips helps it through mid-wicket and Zampa runs after it. The batsmen take two. |
| 16.1 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, Beaten! Well bowled. Pace off. On a length and outside off, leaving the batsman, Neesham pushes at it and misses. |
| 16.2 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, Beaten again. Another slower delivery. Around off, shorter in length, Neesham is early into his attempted pull shot. |
| 16.3 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, SIX! Connects this time and dispatches it into the stands. Short in length and outside off, the pace is up this time, Neesham hangs back and muscles it over long on. |
| 16.4 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, A good old yorker outside off, James digs it out to mid off and takes a run. |
| 16.5 : Kane Richardson to Glenn Phillips, SIX! Meaty blow! Richardson is on the shorter side, slower in pace, Phillips finds it in his arc and sends it out of the park at mid-wicket. |
| 16.6 : Kane Richardson to Glenn Phillips, Clever change in pace. Slower again and a touch short on middle, Glenn is early into his shot and is hit on the body. It deflects beside the pitch and they steal a leg bye. 3 more overs to go, how many more can New Zealand gather? |
| Jhye Richardson is back on. 3-0-33-0 are his figures so far. |
| 17.1 : Jhye Richardson to Glenn Phillips, A wide yorker outside off, good execution, just inside the tram line, Phillips flashes and misses. |
| 17.2 : Jhye Richardson to Glenn Phillips, Wide! This time it's just outside the tram line as the batsman fails to connect. Given as a wide. |
| Jhye Richardson to Glenn Phillips, Wide! Jhye gets away with another delivery flirting with the guideline. Phillips shuffles across and tries to slap it but misses. Is not happy that it ain't wided. |
| 17.3 : Jhye Richardson to Glenn Phillips, OUT! Bowled! Smartly bowled by Jhye. He kept on bowling wide outside off and then all of a sudden bowls it full and straight, in the line of the stumps. Phillips was frustrated with all his plays and misses and decides to invent a shot. Gets across for the paddle scoop but fails to connect. The ball though connects with the stumps and it's a big wicket for the Aussies as Glenn can get dangerous in these situations. |
| Devon Conway is the next batsman in. |
| 17.4 : Jhye Richardson to Devon Conway, A low full toss outside off, Devon throws his bat at it and his bottom hand comes off the handle. It goes behind backward point for a run. |
| 17.5 : Jhye Richardson to James Neesham, FOUR! Neesham continues on! A full toss on off, Neesham swings it in front of square leg, Sams dives in the deep but fails to make a clean stop. It hits his hands and goes to the fence. |
| 17.6 : Jhye Richardson to James Neesham, Play and a miss! Fullish and wide outside off, Neesham goes hard at it and misses. Fantastic over, just 6 runs off it! |
| 18.1 : Kane Richardson to Devon Conway, Short and wide outside off, Conway cuts it hard to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 18.2 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, Wide! That's tight! Too full and wide outside off, Neesham swishes and misses. |
| Kane Richardson to James Neesham, Dropped! Slower full ball on off, Neesham drills his drive straight back, it's uppish but Kane fails to catch it in his followthrough. A dot, more importantly. |
| 18.3 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, A mishit in the air, drops safely at mid-wicket as the batsmen cross. |
| 18.4 : Kane Richardson to Devon Conway, OUT! Conway is done quickly, a rare low score for him. Short and wide outside off, Devon flashes his bat at it and it flies off the outer half to deep backward point. Adam Zampa makes no mistake in the deep. Australia doing well in the end stages. |
| Mitchell Santner is the next batsman in. |
| 18.5 : Kane Richardson to James Neesham, A full toss on off, Neesham smashes it down to long on. It goes on one bounce to the deep fielder for a run. |
| 18.6 : Kane Richardson to Mitchell Santner, OUT! Santner goes first ball. Clever slower delivery, around off, Santner aims for a big shot but ends up towering it high in the air off the toe end of his bat. An easy catch for Maxwell at long on. Terrific over by Kane, 4 runs and two wickets off it. Just 10 runs in the last two overs. |
| Tim Southee is the next batsman in. Also, Daniel Sams will bowl the final over of the innings. |
| 19.1 : Daniel Sams to James Neesham, Wide! Too full and wide outside off, Neesham stays back and allows it through. |
| Daniel Sams to James Neesham, SIX! What a shot! Neesham initially shapes up for a paddle scoop over short fine leg but then finds the line to be outside off. He immediately adjusts and spoons a full toss over short third man for a biggie. |
| 19.2 : Daniel Sams to James Neesham, A low full toss outside off, Jimmy forces it down to long off for a run. |
| 19.3 : Daniel Sams to Tim Southee, Shortish and outside off, Southee hits it flat and hard and it goes down the ground. They take two. Hmm... Neesham trusting the hitting prowess of Southee. |
| 19.4 : Daniel Sams to Tim Southee, FOUR! Much-needed boundary! Full toss outside off, Southee moves closer to it and lofts it over cover-point for a boundary. |
| 19.5 : Daniel Sams to Tim Southee, OUT! Run out! A short delivery wide outside off, Southee swings and misses. Neesham wants a bye and scoots to the other end. Wade has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Sams does well to back the throw and deflect it onto the stumps at his end. Southee is short. |
| Kyle Jamieson is the new man in. |
| 19.6 : Daniel Sams to James Neesham, SIX! Bang! A high full toss on middle, Neesham walks across the stumps and plunders it over fine leg for a biggie. Isn't it too high? The umpire stays unmoved. That's that then from New Zealand. They finish on 219/7! |
| Martin Guptill comes up for a quick chat. Says that his job doesn't change and he just wanted to do his best. Tells that a player like Kane's ability at the other end is fantastic. Admits they have to bowl well. |
| Impressive batting display by New Zealand to post a big total on the board. The experts were talking about a score around 220 to be a par total so Australia won't be too disappointed, although it's a very hefty target. The Kiwi innings was powered by Martin Guptill's fantastic knock and his century partnership with Kane Williamson. Afterwards, James Neesham flexed his muscles to push the total beyond the 200-run mark. They could have got even more had Australia not bowled a tidy 18th and 19th |
| On such pitches and grounds, it's better to not judge the bowlers. They tried hard and managed to succeed a bit also. But overall, it was a leather hunt for the Aussies. Now, the onus is on their batting to take revenge for the plight of their bowlers. Don't go too far away, the chase will get underway soon. |
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