Australia beat NZ to force T20 series decider

WELLINGTON: Australia crushed New Zealand by 50 runs in a low-scoring fourth Twenty20 international in Wellington Friday to level the series at 2-2.

The result sets up a winner-takes-all blockbuster in the final match at the same venue on Sunday, with Australia in red-hot form after struggling early in the series.

The Australians scored 156 for six in their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.

In reply, New Zealand were all out for 106 after 18.5 overs.

Captain Aaron Finch anchored the tourists’ innings with a gritty 79, making him Australia’s most prolific T20 international run scorer on 2,310, ahead of David Warner’s 2,265.

Finch chiselled out his 14th T20 half-century off 55 balls before cutting loose with four sixes in the final over, in which Kyle Jamieson conceded 26 runs.

But he struggled for partners as the Black Caps pinned back Australia’s batters with accurate bowling and a steady flow of wickets.

Despite his man-of-the-match batting performance, Finch singled out his bowling attack for praise, saying they were outstanding on a wicket that did noy play as expected.

“I thought we adapted really well, it was a really polished performance with the ball,” he said.

Paceman Kyle Richardson ended with the best figures of three for 19, but spinners Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell all contributed with two wickets each.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, claiming three for 32.

The Black Caps made a slow start, with openers Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert managing just one boundary apiece in the opening three overs on a spin-friendly wicket.

Guptill departed cheaply for seven but it was only the beginning of New Zealand’s woes as they lost a further six wickets for 30 runs.

Score Board

Australia won toss

Australia

M. Wade c Sodhi b Santner 14

A. Finch not out 79

J. Philippe c Southee b Sodhi 13

G. Maxwell c Guptill b Boult 18

M. Stoinis c Williamson b Sodhi 19

A. Agar b Boult 0

M. Marsh c Southee b Sodhi 6

J. Richardson not out 4

Extras (w3) 3

Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 156

Fall: 1-18 (Wade), 2-42 (Philippe), 3-68 (Maxwell), 4-93 (Stoinis), 5-97 (Agar), 6-114 (Marsh)

Did not bat, K. Richardson, A. Zampa, R. Meredith.

Bowling: Southee 4-0-32-0, Boult 4-0-27-2 (1w), Santner 4-0-16-1, Jamieson 4-0-49-0 (2w), Sodhi 4-0-32-3

New Zealand

M. Guptill c Maxwell b Agar 7

T. Seifert b K. Richardson 19

K. Williamson c Marsh b Maxwell 8

D. Conway c Stoinis b Agar 17

G. Phillips run out 1

J. Neesham c Finch b Zampa 3

M. Santner b Maxwell 3

T. Southee c Wade b K.Richardson 6

K. Jamieson c MMaxwell b K.Richardson 30

I. Sodhi c Finch b Zampa 0

T. Southee not out 6

Extras (b1, lb1, w4) 6

Total (all out; 18.5 overs) 106

Fall: 1-21 (Guptill), 2-34 (Seifert), 3-36 (Williamson), 4-41 (Phillips), 5-48 (Neesham), 6-57 (Santner), 7-64 (Southee), 8-80 (Conway), 9-82 (Sodhi)

Bowling: Agar 4-0-11-2, Meredith 3-0-20-0 (1w), J. Richardson 2-0-16-0, Zampa 4-0-24-2 (1w), K. Richardson 2.5-0-19-3 (1w), Maxwell 3-0-14-2 (1w)

Result: Australia won by 50 runs

Man of the Match: Aaron Finch (AUS)

Umpires: Wayne Knights (NZL), Chris Brown (NZL)