Australia win tri-series, rise to the top in T20Is

Auckland, February   21

Australia cruised to a 19-run victory in a rain-affected T20 tri-series final with New Zealand today to claim the world No. 1 ranking in the shortest form of the game for the first time. New Zealand struggled to 150/9 after electing to bat first, failing to repeat the pyrotechnics that saw them score 243 against Australia at the same ground last Friday. Australia’s bowlers avenged that pasting as they tore through New Zealand’s middle-order, led by spinner Ashton Agar’s career-best T20 figures of 3/27.

Ross Taylor’s 43 of 38 balls was the highlight of a poor New Zealand batting display that included just five sixes, despite Eden Park’s notoriously short boundaries. Australia never looked in danger of missing the 151-run target but the manner in which the victory came was anti-climatic. The players were off the pitch when officials decided to abandon the match due to persistent rain, awarding Australia a 19-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

The result meant David Warner’s men completed the tri-series undefeated, notching convincing wins in all their five matches against New Zealand and England. It also meant Australia leapfrogged Pakistan to become the top-rated T20 team, the first time they have held the No. 1 spot.

Accurate Agar 

New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro made their intentions clear with a flurry of boundaries in the early overs. They raced to 48 without loss but Warner held his nerve and backed his attack to take early wickets. Lanky paceman Billy Stanlake made the breakthrough in the fourth over when Guptill departed for 21. Munro followed for 29 in the next over, leaving the New Zealanders at 59/2. Agar’s double strike in the seventh over then sent the Black Caps’ innings spinning out of control, as skipper Kane Williamson and Mark Chapman both failed to reach double figures. 

The only negative for Australia was when Chris Lynn left the field after dislocating his shoulder. Australia made a solid start, with D’Arcy Short beginning to lift the run rate before a 20-minute rain delay. It slowed Short’s momentum and he was dismissed shortly after bringing up his 28-ball half-century. Warner soon followed on 25, but Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell had Australia cruising and the win was not in doubt before the final rain shower ended the match. — AFP

Brief scores: New Zealand 150/9 (Ross Taylor 43*, Colin Munro 29; Ashton Agar 3/27); Australia 121/ 3 (D’Arcy Short 50, Glenn Maxwell 20)