Australia took 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series in New Zealand.
Australia kick-started the 1st T20I of the three-match series against New Zealand with a thrashing six-wicket win. Despite an unbeaten century by Tim Robinson, Australia’s star players, ft. skipper Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood, turned the odds in their favour at the Bay Oval on October 1.
After putting New Zealand to bat first, the visitors pulled a classic football score. Josh Hazlewood reduced the Kiwis to 4/1 in three balls by dismissing Tim Seifert for four runs. Ben Dwarshuis took two wickets in consecutive deliveries as he got rid of Devon Conway and Mark Chapman in the second over.
Conway’s stumps were knocked out and cartwheeled behind the batter, while Chapman’s edge found wicket-keeper Alex Carey at the back.
But the No.3 batter, Tim Robinson, forged crucial partnerships with Daryl Mitchell (34) and Bevon Jacobs (20) to propel the hosts to 181/6. The 23-year-old centurion was New Zealand’s key enforcer. Robinson’s first fifty came up in 31 balls, while his hundred came in another 34 balls. Overall, in his 106 off 66 knock, the former javelin thrower smashed six boundaries and five sixes. In the process, Robinson became NZ’s second-youngest centurion.
The fourth-wicket partnership of 92 off 55 with Daryl was what helped the hosts put up a respectable total on the board. Soon, Tim David caught Daryl at the boundary off Matthew Short’s bowling. Jacobs and Captain Michael Bracewell were run out before contributing much.
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While most bowlers were expensive with 10+ economy, the 34-year-old pacer took charge of the flow of runs. Though he scalped a solitary wicket of Seifert in the first over, he gave away 23 runs in his quota of four overs. His economy of 5.75 was lower than Adam Zampa’s 6.75 in his wicketless spell.
On the other hand, Dwarshuis (10), Marcus Stoinis (13.50), Xavier Bartlett (10), and Short (10.66) were quite expensive for Australia.
Hazlewood’s controlled spell and impressive form are good signs before The Ashes 2025 at home.
Opening the innings for Australia, Marsh still had a mammoth total to take the lead in the series. Soaking in the pressure, he struck at almost 200 to put Australia in the forefront. Travis Head joined forces for a 67 off 33 first-wicket partnership. Head was dismissed after an 18-ball 31, while Marsh’s fifty came up in 23 balls. No.3 batter Short continued the momentum with an 18-ball 29. Together, Marsh and Short added 68 off 34, almost a repeat telecast before the first wicket fell.
Marsh ultimately fell to Matt Henry, who had previously taken Head’s wicket too. He was out after an 85-run knock off 43 balls, which included nine boundaries and five sixes. Though the 33-year-old fell short of his maiden T20I hundred, it was as impactful as Robinson’s as Marsh’s knock came on a winning note.
To finish things off, David struck a 12-ball 21. Stoinis pulled a square boundary, scoring the winning runs for the Aussies in the 17th over.
Australia won by six wickets and 21 balls to spare.
The second T20I will be played at the venue on October 3. The series decider is scheduled a day later, on October 4 at the same park.
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