New Zealand vs Australia: Second T20 cricket international – as it happened
All our updates as Australia beat the Kiwis in the second T20 international of the series.
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Australia beat New Zealand by 72 runs in Auckland in the second T20 international on Friday, February 23:
This page is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates as Australia beat New Zealand by 72 runs in Auckland in the second T20 international on Friday, February 23:
- Australia beat New Zealand by 72 runs at Eden Park in Auckland.
- Australia won the first match by six wickets on Wednesday, hitting the winning runs off the final ball of their innings.
- New Zealand capitulated to 29-4 in their chase of 175 in Friday’s match.
- Opener Travis Head was the top scorer with 45 for the Aussies, who recovered from a mid-innings collapse of 5-34.
- Pat Cummins was named Player of the Match for his 28 off 22 to top up Australia’s total.
- Teams around the globe are preparing for June and July’s 2024 T20 World Cup.
Goodbye for now!
That’s it from our live coverage of the second T20 international between New Zealand and Australia.
The Aussies take the series 2-0 and it’s over to the Kiwis on Sunday to try to avoid a fourth straight T20 defeat.
We’ll bring you all the build-up, team news and full text commentary from that one as well.
Do join us on Saturday for Arsenal against Newcastle in the Premier League and, after the cricket on Sunday, Chelsea against Liverpool in the League Cup final.
For now, we hope you enjoyed our coverage from Auckland, and its goodbye from me Kevin Hand and the Al Jazeera team.
A 72 run win for Australia in Auckland. The visitors win the KFC T20I Series and retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 🏏 Catch up on the scores at https://t.co/3YsfR1YBHU or the NZC App. #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/6fFKlZqysw
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 23, 2024
A big stat for ‘Big Show’
Glenn ‘Big Show’ Maxwell has certainly lived up to the billing in T20 internationals.
The right-hander has moved clear of Aaron Finch in the six-hitting stakes for Australia.
His six was his only scoring shot in the match but, with the win, I’m sure he’ll take it.
Plenty of fireworks 🎆
Glenn Maxwell becomes 🇦🇺's leading six-hitter in Men's T20Is!#NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/WTBIKaqh9J
— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2024
‘That was a great win for Australia’
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh admits his side were up against it following the first innings.
“That’s a great win for Australia. Our backs were against the wall – we thought we were 50 runs short,” he told TVNZ.
“The way our bowlers came out and performed was outstanding. Everyone performed – it was awesome.
“You can get lured into the short boundaries here and one of our mantras is to keep going with the bat and it didn’t quite happen.”
‘We know how dangerous their top order are’
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says the Kiwis thought they were in the game at the halfway stage.
“We were pretty happy at halfway especially after the start they got off to – we know how dangerous their top order are,” Santner told TVMZ
“Credit to the boys. We tried to mix it up a bit and slowed them down in the middle with some wickets.
“We talk about wickets in the powerplay and they managed to get those. Maybe we could have soaked it up a little bit more but they bowled well.”
Cummins is player of the match
Pat Cummins hit 28 off 22 and picked up a wicket.
“I always enjoy batting especially in this format when you can give it a bit of a swing. There were a few edges but I’ll take that,” he told TVNZ.
“Everyone had a good night and the wicket helped a little bit with some sideways movement.”
Australia win by 73 runs!
Nathan Ellis bowls Lockie Ferguson for four and Devon Conway is not risked so Australia take the series 2-0.
Another dominant performance from Australia!
And with this win, they have taken an unassailable series lead of 2-0 💪#NZvAUS | 📝: https://t.co/3YiKQDqaW3 pic.twitter.com/O44t27DNUU
— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2024
16 overs. New Zealand 101-8
Ben Sears is the new batter and has one ball to face from Adam Zampa.
A single is taken.
Devon Conway is padded up to come in next.
WICKET! Boult is out! New Zealand 100-8
Having just hit six, Trent Boult sends Adam Zampa to Steve Smith at point as he tries to go for another big hit but top edges.
The right-hander finishes with 16 from 11 balls faced.
A much-needed six
Trent Boult slog sweeps Adam Zampa over midwicket for six having hit the previous ball for four.
15 overs. New Zealand 88-7
Just three singles off the over and the game is as good as up now for the Kiwis, barring something brilliant.
Ferguson nearly steps on his stumps – and then there’s nearly a run out
The right-hander goes back to Josh Hazlewood – nearly too far back – and the batters contemplate a single.
They decide there isn’t a run but Glenn Maxwell sends in a sharp throw to the non-striker’s end but misses.
It would have been close.
14 overs. New Zealand 84-7
Devon Conway is back in the ground and does not have a broken thumb following the x-rays.
It’s unclear whether he will bat.
The Kiwis could lose the series in this game but in a World Cup year – and with the Test series to follow – is it too big a risk to take?
Lockie Ferguson is the new batter.
WICKET! Phillips falls! New Zealand 83-7
No hat-trick for Adam Zampa but he does pick up the big wicket.
Glenn Phillips sends the ball straight to long-on where Tim David takes the catch.
The right-hander falls for 42 off 35.
13 overs. New Zealand 81-6
Steve Smith drops Glenn Phillips at point off the last ball of Pat Cummins’ over.
Just seven off the over and no boundary.
Four off the first three balls
The batters settle again at the start of Pat Cummins’ third over.
12 overs. New Zealand 74-6
We have to wait for the hat-trick ball as the wickets fell to the last two deliveries of the over.
Trent Boult comes in at eight.
Hat-trick alert
Adam Milne is bowled for a first-ball duck by Adam Zampa.
WICKET! Clarkson is out! New Zealand 74-5
Adam Zampa strikes Josh Clarkson who attempts the big swing this time.
The right-hander misses but the spinner doesn’t on this occasion.
Clarkson falls for 10 from 13.
Zampa nearly picks up Phillips
The right hander swings hard at the spinner and misses.
The ball only just misses the stumps.
11 overs. New Zealand 69-4
Ten off the over with four singles to go with the six.
The Kiwis need just over 12 runs per over to win from here.
Six more for Phillips
The right-hander picks Mitchell Marsh up off his legs and deposits the ball over midwicket.
10 overs. New Zealand 59-4
The Kiwis needed that over with 10 runs added in total as Glenn Phillips pulls and cuts Nathen Ellis for two fours.
A couple more overs like that and it’s game on.
Drinks taken.
Nine overs. New Zealand 49-4
Just four off the over and Glenn Phillips tells TVNZ: “It will only take on partnership to do this so if Josh (Clarkson) and I can hang around then we have a chance.”
This is gold from Phillips out in the middle. If he wins this then we will be in for a lot of fun.
‘Don’t be shy’
Having been ever so polite in asking the broadcaster to turn off his feed, Glenn Phillips then chips in again: “You can talk to me now – don’t be shy,” he chuckled.
A top edge off Mitchell Marsh lands safe – they may have had to quickly turn off the mic if Phillips had fallen there.
Eight overs. New Zealand 45-4
Glenn Phillips finishes the over with a late cut for four.