SYDNEY: New Zealand openers Devon Conway laid the foundation with an unbeaten 92 before bowlers displayed a combined bowling effort to power their side to a thumping 89-run victory over Australia in the first fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 Super 12s.
Defending champions Australia had a dismal start to their T20 World Cup campaign as they suffered a frustrating 89-run defeat at the hands of last year’s finalists New Zealand.
Set to chase a massive 201, the Australian batting lineup failed and bundled out for a skimpy 111 in the 18th over.
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell could put on a brief fight as he top-scored for the hosts with a gritty 28 off 20 delivery.
The rest of the Australian batters failed to chip in the run chase and Australia, as a result, bundled out for a mere 111.
Tim Southee led the bowling attack for New Zealand as he picked up three wickets for a mere six runs, while Mitchell Santner picked as many wickets for 31.
Trent Boult picked two wickets in his economical spell, while Ish Sodhi and Lockie Ferguson made one scalp each.
Batting first on the invitation of Australian captain Aaron Finch, New Zealand batters charged on the hosts’ bowlers to finish at a massive 200/3 at the back of their openers.
Finn Allen took New Zealand to a flying start with his blistering knock that featured five boundaries and three sixes.
The right-handed batter scored a quickfire 42 off just 16 balls up the order and set the foundation of a big total before Josh Hazlewood struck in the fifth over to hand Australia a much-needed breakthrough.
With the side at 56/1 in the fifth over, Conway and Kane Williamson stitched an anchoring second-win stand as they added 69 runs for 53 deliveries.
Australian bowlers, on the other hand, did well to stop the flow of runs and slowed down the proceedings.
Their comeback bolstered in the 13th over when Adam Zampa removed Williamson on a run-a-ball 23, who was struggling to score rapidly.
Glenn Phillips then also failed to make an impact with the bat as he could score 12 off 10 before falling in the 16th over and New Zealand consequently, slipped to 152/3.
All-rounder Jimmy Neesham then joined Conway in the middle and put on an astonishing partnership as they added 48 runs in the last four overs.
Neesham was the core aggressor of the fourth wicket stand as he scored an unbeaten 26 off just 13 deliveries, laced with two sixes.
Conway, on the other hand, carried his bat till the final ball and top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 92 off just 58 deliveries. His magnificent knock featured seven boundaries and two sixes.
Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for Australi as he bagged two wickets, while Zampa made one scalp.
