JOIN USNZ clinch thrilling victory
One often draws comparisons between theatre and cricket. And if there is one format that plays out the drama of sport better than any of its version, it is T20.
The excitement lasted till the last ball here before New Zealand squeezed out a thrilling eight-run victory over Australians in World T20 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium on Friday.
The Black Caps carried the momentum from their win over India and weather, too, cooperated.
Belying all fears, the picturesque mountainous town woke up to a bright sunshine. On a pitch that was a tad on the slower side, New Zealand, replacing off-spinner Nathan McCullum with left-arm pacer Mitchell McClenaghan (3-17), elected to bat before frittering away a blazing start to settle for 142/8 in 20 overs. Chasing, Australia, too, lost their way in the middle overs to open their World Cup campaign with a loss.
Shane Watson and Usman Khwaja had Australia in the drivers’ seat in the first five overs. But McClenaghan, taking the pace off the ball, got Watson caught at mid-off.
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner then left Steven Smith embarrassed after the Australian captain danced down the track, only to find his bails removed by wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi.
Santner returned to remove David Warner and Australia that had lost Khwaja just two overs before to a run out, were hurting at 66/4 in the 11th over.
Glen Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh again swung it in Australia’s favour with their fifth-wicket stand of 34 off 30 balls. But Ish Sodhi again gave a good account of himself and Maxwell, trying to loft him, fell in the 16th over before McClenghan struck twice in the 19th. With Australia needing 22 in last two overs, Marsh pulled his first ball, a slower one, to long-on and Ashton Agar tripped doing the same on the last.
Australia now needed 19 in the last over. Corey Anderson got James Faulkner on the first ball, New Zealand was in fit of joy, but Peter Nevill lofted a six off the third ball.
With the deficit reduced to 12 in remaining three balls, Nevill mistimed the fourth delivery only for a single before the fifth ball sealed the fate of the match. Nathan Coulter-Nile dragged it onto his stumps and the Black Caps had once again shown their penchant to punch above their weight.
Spin flavour
Like New Zealand, the Australians, too, carried with them the spin flavor by including left –arm Ashton Agar and leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
Martin Guptill and Kane Willamson racked up 61 runs in their openings stand lasting 7.1 overs. The Australian excitement over Agar was instantly stifled by Guptill who whacked his full tosses in his first two balls over midwicket and capped the over with another muscular heave over the top. Agar leaked 18 runs in his opening over, third of the innings, and never returned.
The two Black Cap openers were running amok before Faulkner pulled the plug in the 8th over.
Guptill couldn’t pack enough power to be spectacularly caught at the long-on boundary by Maxwell. Williamson was on his way in the next over, off Maxwell, after he couldn’t cross long-off.
However, the Black Caps couldn’t forge any more partnerships and the total of 142 appeared to be under-par score against the strong Australian side. Their bowlers, however, came in good and the weekday crowd went satiated with their fill of cricket.
Scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND
Guptill c Maxwell b Faulkner 39
Williamson c Agar b Maxwell 24
Munro c Faulkner b Marsh 23
Anderson c Agar b Maxwell 3
Taylor c Marsh b Watson 11
Elliot (run out) 27
Ronchi c Maxwell b Faulkner 6
Santner (run out) 1
Milne (not out) 2
Extras (B-4, W-2) 6
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 142
Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-66, 3-76, 4-97, 5-117, 6-133, 7-140, 8-142.
Bowling: Coulter-Nile 4-0-33-0, Watson 4-0-22-1, Agar 1-0-18-0, Faulkner 3-0-18-2, Zampa 1-0-3-0, Maxwell 3-0-18-2, Marsh 4-0-26-1
AUSTRALIA
Khawaja (run out) 38
Watson c W’son b McClenaghan 13
Smith st Ronchi b Santner 6
Warner c Guptill b Santner 6
Maxwell c Williamson b Sodhi 22
Marsh c Milne b McClenaghan 24
Agar c Taylor b McClenaghan 9
Faulkner c Guptill b Anderson 2
Coulter-Nile b Anderson 1
Nevill (not out) 7
Zampa (not out) 2
Extras (LB-2,W-2) 4
Total (for 9 wkts; in 20 overs) 134
Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-51, 3-62, 4-66, 5-100, 6-121, 7-123, 8-124, 9-132.
Bowling: Corey Anderson 4-0-29-2, Milne 2-0-22-0, Elliott 2-0-17-0, McClenaghan 3-0-17-3, Santner 4-0-30-2, Williamson 1-0-3-0, Sodhi 4-0-14-1.