Auckland (New Zealand): With Adam Zampa’s four wickets, Australia on Friday bowled out New Zealand for 102 runs in 17 overs and won the second T20 International match (NZ vs AUS 2nd T20) by 72 runs and 2-0 in the three-match series. Gained an unassailable lead.
The series win over world second-ranked New Zealand will give Australia players confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and the United States in June. Australia won the first match by six wickets. Now the third T20 will be played at Eden Park on Sunday. Australia E team, despite scoring 72 runs for one wicket in the powerplay, was restricted to a score of 174 runs in 19.5 overs.
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
Opener Travis Head scored 45 runs in 22 balls with five sixes, due to which the Australian team, which came to bat after losing the toss, could score this score. For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson took four wickets for 12 runs and Ben Sears took two wickets for 29 runs. Australia thus lost six wickets for 59 runs in the last 9.5 overs.
New Zealand suffered a blow before the start of the game when Rachin Ravindra was ruled out with a minor knee injury and Devon Conway also injured his thumb while keeping wickets and was taken to hospital for an X-ray. When it was discovered that there was no fracture, Conway returned to the field. But he still could not bat.
While batting, New Zealand lost four wickets for 29 runs. Glenn Phillips (42) and Josh Clarkson added 45 runs for the fifth wicket. But after this the team’s score soon became 74 runs for six wickets. Then the team was reduced to 102 runs in 17 overs.