New Zealand Vs Australia Highlights, 3rd T20I: Marsh Powers AUS To Series Win Against NZ, Gets Maiden T20I Ton

Hello, we’re back with another live blog for New Zealand vs Australia, 3rd T20I. Stay tuned for live updates.

The third T20I between New Zealand and Australia will be broadcast live in India on the Sony Sports Network. Fans can also stream the match live on the SonyLIV and FanCode apps and websites, as well as on Amazon Prime Video.

New Zealand Squad: Tim Seifert(w), Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Zakary Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs

Australia Squad: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh(c), Matthew Short, Tim David, Alex Carey(w), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Dwarshuis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Philippe

Australia have won the toss and have opted to bowl first against New Zealand.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

Australia (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Tim David, Alex Carey(w), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Toss completed, but the match start is delayed due to a wet outfield.

Seifert and Conway are at the crease, with Seifert on strike as Hazlewood leads the Australian bowling attack, ready to test the batters with pace and precision from the outset.

Hazlewood strikes early! A touch wide of off, Conway goes for the lofted drive but doesn’t get the middle of the bat. The ball flies off the outside half straight to Marsh at mid-off, who makes no mistake. Conway walks back for a duck.

Score after 1 overs

NZ 7-1

And the players are heading off again, the rain’s back! Just when things were starting to settle, a passing shower has interrupted play. The groundstaff rush in with the covers, wasting no time as the pitch has already taken quite a beating from earlier rain. It doesn’t look too heavy, but the umpires aren’t taking any chances. Hopefully, this one passes quickly and we can get back to action soon.

Score after 2 overs

NZ 11-1

Welcome back! The players marching out. NZ batters will have to switch back on. Hopefully, this was the last stoppage.

Big over for New Zealand! Tim Robinson takes on Hazlewood, launching the first ball over long-on for a huge six and then follows it up with a crisp boundary through extra cover. A couple of dots to finish, but the intent is clear from the young opener. Seifert’s been steady at the other end, rotating strike and backing up well.

Score after 3 overs

NZ 21-1

Hazlewood strikes again! Beautiful seam movement from the big Aussie quick, hits the deck hard on a back of a length and gets it to nip away. Robinson pokes at it, bat well away from his body, and there’s a faint edge through to Carey. Initially not given, but Australia go upstairs, and UltraEdge confirms the nick.

Score after 5 overs

NZ 41-2

What a catch from Tim David! Absolutely outstanding under the lights. Chapman tried to whip Abbott down the ground but ended up getting a thick leading edge that ballooned toward mid-on. David turned, sprinted back, kept his eyes on the swirling ball, and timed his jump perfectly to pull off a stunning grab. Chapman goes for 4.

Score after 6 overs

NZ 46-3

Stoinis strikes early in his spell! A gentle length ball, just outside off, and Mitchell tries to muscle it across the line but mistimes it completely. The edge carries straight to Carey, who doesn’t miss a thing. A soft dismissal, but Stoinis gets the breakthrough, Mitchell walks back for 9.

Score after 10 overs

NZ 77-4

What a crucial breakthrough for Australia! Bartlett delivers a back-of-a-length ball, and Seifert tries to get cheeky with a reverse scoop down to short third man. But he misjudges the pace, the ball balloons off the edge, and Head takes a simple catch. Seifert was well set at 48, but that’s the danger of playing innovative shots.

Score after 13 overs

NZ 100-5

Bartlett strikes once more! A short, bouncy delivery that Neesham tries to pull but gets nowhere near timing it. The ball balloons toward deep mid, and Abbott runs in, takes it comfortably, and sends him back. Neesham had to go for it, but the execution just wasn’t there. He goes for 25.

Score after 17 overs

NZ 140-6

Zampa strikes! A well-flighted googly outside off, and Michael Bracewell looks to go big down the ground. But he mistimes it, and the ball doesn’t get the elevation needed. Matthew Short positions himself perfectly at long-off and takes a simple catch. Bracewell departs for 26.

Score after 18 overs

NZ 144-7

Abbott strikes again! A short, angled delivery into the body, and Matt Henry goes for the pull but only manages a top-edge. The ball balloons up toward mid-wicket, and Stoinis takes a simple catch. That’s the eighth wicket down. Henry goes for 6.

Score after 18.3 overs

NZ 146-7

Clean bowled! Abbott wraps up his spell in style, spearing a perfect length delivery at the stumps. Ben Sears tries to be cheeky with a paddle shot but misses completely, and the ball crashes into the woodwork. Sears goes for a duck.

Score after 19 overs

NZ 147-9

End of the innings for New Zealand! A compact final over sees Ish Sodhi clip a fuller delivery from Stoinis down to deep square for a single. Australia need just 157 to win the series 2-0, and they are in complete control after a dominant bowling display.

Score after 20 overs

NZ 156-9

Welcome back to the action! Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head are at the crease for Australia, with Marsh on strike to face the first ball. Matt Henry will open the attack for New Zealand.

Australia are off to a steady start in this chase, scoring 12 without loss after 2 overs. Travis Head is looking positive, already 8 off 7, picking gaps and rotating strike efficiently. Mitchell Marsh is backing him up at the other end with a cautious 4 off 5.

Score after 2 overs

AUS 12-0

Australia lose their first wicket! Jacob Duffy delivers a perfect length ball that swings sharply back in, and Travis Head is caught flat-footed. No footwork, a wild swing, and the stumps are rattled, clean bowled for 8 off 10.

Score after 3.2 overs

AUS 28-1

Another wicket falls! Neesham angles a length ball into Matthew Short’s pads, and Short goes for a whippy flick. He mistimes it off the thick inside edge, and Chapman dives brilliantly at deep mid-wicket to complete a stunning catch to his right. Short departs for 7.

Score after 6.2 overs

AUS 62-2

Tim David departs with a wild shot! Neesham bowls a full delivery wide outside off, and David, attempting a no-look slog, loses his shape completely. The thick outside edge carries straight to third man, where Ben Sears takes a comfortable catch. David goes for 3.

Score after 8.1 overs

AUS 80-3

What a sensational catch from Chapman! Neesham bowls a wide delivery outside off, and Carey goes after it with a big cut shot. He only manages a thick outside edge, sending the ball flying toward point. Chapman launches himself to his right, fully horizontal, and takes a stunning two-handed catch, truly a contender for catch of the match. Carey departs on 1.

Score after 9 overs

AUS 85-4

New Zealand are clawing their way back into the contest, thanks to James Neesham’s superb spell. The all-rounder has ripped through Australia’s middle order with four wickets in his three overs, conceding just 11 runs. Australia now need 55 runs from 48 balls but the steady fall of wickets has brought the game back in the balance.

Mitchell Marsh is holding Australia’s chase together with a sensational unbeaten 74 off just 39 balls. The skipper is playing one of the finest T20I knocks in recent years, countering New Zealand’s fightback despite wickets tumbling around him. Marsh’s powerful hitting has kept the visitors in the hunt, and New Zealand know that removing him quickly is their best chance to tilt the game back in their favour.

Mitchell Marsh has scripted a stunning win for Australia with his maiden T20I century, finishing unbeaten on 103 off just 52 deliveries. With the top order collapsing for single-digit scores, Marsh stood tall and single-handedly anchored the chase, striking powerfully under immense pressure. His innings makes him Australia’s newest all-format centurion, and the visitors sealed victory with 12 balls to spare, completing the chase at 160-7 in 18 overs despite New Zealand’s spirited bowling effort. Australia win the series 2-0. 

Hear from the winning captain, Player of the Match and Series, Mitchell Marsh says "It was a good one. Nice to win the series. We were under a bit of pressure at the end. I had a bit of luck. When you're going like that you've got to keep going. I actually loved our intent with the bat. That's how we're playing at the moment."

That brings us to the end of our live coverage of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Mitchell Marsh collects the silverware from Sir Richard Hadlee as Australia seal a 2-0 series win. The visitors now have a short break before returning home to take on India in ODIs and T20Is. Thank you for joining us.