New Zealand vs Australia 2021, 3rd T20I: Australia Thrash New Zealand After The Dominations Of Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell And Ashton Agar

The visitors Australia have timely made a brilliant comeback in the ongoing five-match T20I series as they claimed a dominating 64-run victory against the hosts New Zealand at Wellington, which was the third game of this series. After this victory, the Aussies are trailing this T20I series by the 2-1 margin.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson decided to field first after winning the toss. While Australia scored 208/4 in 20 overs, New Zealand were bundled out for just 144 runs in 17.1 overs.

New Zealand vs Australia 2021, 3rd T20I

2nd innings (New Zealand innings): Ashton Agar became the first non-Asian bowler to claim a 6-wicket haul in T20I history

While New Zealand tried to start their chasing in a firing way, Tim Seifert (4) was dismissed by the T20I debutant Riley Meredith on the 12th ball of that innings. In the fifth over 0f that innings, Meredith took another big wicket of captain Kane Williamson (9). But the hosts managed to score 59/2 at the end of that powerplay.

Opener Martin Guptill and in-form Devon Conway once controlled the game very well as New Zealand were becoming stronger to chase the big target. But Ashton Agar totally destroyed the hosts batting line-up with Australia’s record T20I bowling figures.

Guptill and Conway put the 42 runs partnership for the third wicket and it came in just four overs. But Adam Zampa broke that partnership in the 9th over after dismissing Guptill for 43 runs off 28 balls (2 fours and 3 sixes). Since then, Agar continuously showed his dangerous magic.

At first, he dismissed Glenn Phillips for 13 runs and then he took another important wicket of Devon Conway (38 off 27 balls; 5 fours and only six) in the same over. That wicket-taking journey continued and Agar finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-30-6 (5th best bowling figures in T20I history). He is the first non-Asian bowler to claim a 6-wicket haul in T20I history. No other Kiwi batsmen managed to reach even the 20-run marks in that innings.

1st innings (Australia innings): Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell returned to their familiar batting forms

Trent Boult provided a good start for the hosts as he dismissed Australian opener Matthew Wade (5) on the 9th ball of the match after Martin Guptill took a good catch at slip. But skipper Aaron Finch and Josh Philippe controlled the powerplay situation very well as Australia scored 47/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Opener Finch and Philippe put the 83 runs partnership for the second wicket. Ish Sodhi finally broke that partnership in the 10th over after dismissing the youngster Philippe for 43 runs off 27 balls (3 fours and only six).

On the other hand, Finch finally showed his familiar powerful batting performance who completed his half-century in 34 balls. After setting up the strong base with Philippe, Finch stretched his batting along with Glenn Maxwell, who also returned in his familiar furious batting form to change the moment of the game. They put the 64 runs partnership for the third wicket but Sodhi once again broke that partnership by dismissing Finch for 69 off 44 balls (8 fours and 2 sixes).

Soon after that wicket, Maxwell completed his fifty in 25 balls. He scored 70 runs off just 31 balls (8 fours and 5 sixes) before Tim Southee took his wicket in the 18th over.

Brief Scores: Australia – 208/4 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 70, Aaron Finch 69; Ish Sodhi 2/32)

New Zealand – 144 in 17.1 overs (Martin Guptill 43, Devon Conway 38; Ashton Agar 6/30)

Result – Australia won by 64 runs.