Australia stormed to a dominant win in the first T20I of the Chappell-Hadlee series, chasing down New Zealand’s total with 21 balls to spare. Captain Mitchell Marsh led from the front, smashing the Kiwi attack and ensuring Australia cruised past the target with ease.
Australia 185 for 4 (Marsh 85, Henry 2-43) beat New Zealand 181 for 6 (Robinson 106, Dwarshuis 2-40) by six wickets
New Zealand’s Early Collapse
The match began in disaster for New Zealand. They slipped to 6 for 3 in just the second over, with Ben Dwarshuis on a hat-trick. Tim Seifert, Devon Conway, and Mark Chapman all fell cheaply, leaving the hosts in deep trouble.
But debutant Tim Robinson played a heroic knock. He scored his maiden T20I century (100 off 65 balls), rescuing New Zealand’s innings. His effort was filled with grit and stroke play, but he survived as many as five dropped chances by the Australian fielders.
Despite Robinson’s brilliance, New Zealand struggled to accelerate. Their innings lacked momentum, ending with a total that always looked short.
Zampa Holds Tight in Tough Conditions
Adam Zampa delivered a vital spell in the middle overs. Bowling in cold, windy conditions – a challenge given his Raynaud’s syndrome, which affects his grip in colder weather – he conceded just 9 runs in his last 2 overs.
He consistently tied down New Zealand’s batters, stopping them from building momentum. Even though Robinson found boundaries, Australia never truly lost control.
Marsh Muscles Australia Home
The chase was a masterclass in power-hitting. Marsh and Travis Head launched an opening stand of 67 runs in 5.3 overs, breaking the back of the chase during the powerplay.
Marsh was unstoppable. He smashed fours and sixes with ease, bringing up his fifty in just 23 balls. His clean hitting down the ground and over the off side left New Zealand’s bowlers with no answers.
Although he fell for 85, just 15 short of a maiden T20I ton, the damage was already done. Matt Short chipped in with 29 off 18, before Tim David finished the job.
This was only the second successful T20I chase at Mount Maunganui, and Australia made it look effortless.
Key Takeaways
- Tim Robinson’s century was the lone highlight for New Zealand.
- Mitchell Marsh (85 off 44) set the tone for Australia’s dominant chase.
- Adam Zampa showed control in tough bowling conditions.
- Despite missing Maxwell, Inglis, and Green, Australia’s depth shone through.
Australia now leads the three-match T20I series 1-0, looking in top form ahead of bigger challenges later this year.
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