After a riveting thriller in the opening T20I of the series, expectations were high from the hosts to turn their fortunes around on Friday, 23 February.
However, that turned out to be as far from the preferred result as it could be at Eden Park, Auckland. Australia, despite their batting failure in the first innings, defeated New Zealand by 72 runs in the second match, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series. A clinical bowling performance from the Australian team saw New Zealand get bowled out for just 102 runs while chasing 175 on Friday, 23 February.
New Zealand were dealt with a heavier blow during the match after Devon Conway got injured in the first innings of the match while keeping behind the stumps.
“Devon Conway has left Eden Park to undergo an X-ray on his injured left thumb after sustaining a blow while wicket-keeping in tonight’s second T20I,” New Zealand said in an official statement.
It was later revealed by the board that Conway had fractured his thumb. The star batter did not take any further part in the game. Conway’s injury came as a big blow to the side, who were already without the services of youngster Rachin Ravindra, who had been sidelined due to a knee injury.
Early Success
New Zealand were in a strong position through the halfway mark, having bowled out Australia for just 174 runs in 19.5 overs. No Australian players scored a fifty in the first innings of the game. The most runs were scored by Travis Head (45 off 22) and then fast bowler Pat Cummins (28 off 22) in an impressive rearguard action.
Cummins added a little over 30 runs for seventh wicket, which pushed Australia’s score past 150. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers, clinching 4 wickets for just 12 runs in his 3.5 overs.
Australia’s Comeback
With Ferguson being on top of Australia in the first innings, it was time for the visitors to hit back.
Josh Hazlewood was unplayable in his 4-1-12-1, while Pat Cummins put in an incredible support for the pacer with 3-0-19-1. With Conway out of the batting innings, New Zealand had no clue how to tackle the pacers. The pressure put up at the top half of the innings made New Zealand desperate and they crumbled against the spin of Adam Zampa.
Zampa picked for wickets from his 4 overs for 34 runs and sealed the fate of the home team.
Cummins was named the player of the match, which seemed to surprise the Australia’s red ball and ODI captain. Cummins said that he did not expect it and added that he loved not being the captain of the Australian team.
“Dunno how I got this, but I’ll take it. Yeah, batting wise, some came off the edges and I guess I’ll take it. I love it [not captaining] Just going off to the boundary and coming in to bowl. I love it,” Cummins said at the post match presentation.