Australia’s Tim David celebrates with teammate Mitchell Marsh after hitting the profitable runs in the course of the T20 cricket worldwide between Australia and New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand, on February 21, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Tim David hit a 4 off the final ball to give Australia a nail-biting six-wicket victory over New Zealand within the first Twenty20 worldwide in Wellington on Wednesday.
Having been set 216 to win, Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh hammered 72 off 44 balls earlier than batting associate David (31 not out) sealed a thrilling last-gasp victory.
“I thought we were done, to be honest,” admitted the relieved Marsh.
“Timmy David is extremely calm and had a lot of confidence in his ability towards the end. We are very lucky to have him. It was a great game of cricket.”
The three-match collection is the final for each groups earlier than the T20 World Cup within the United States and West Indies in June.
Rachin Ravindra had earlier put New Zealand within the driving seat by hitting 68 runs off 35 balls to declare his first half-century within the format because the hosts completed on 215-3.
Marsh completed with greatest bowling figures of 1-21 earlier than main the cost with the bat, hitting seven sixes and two fours in his unbeaten knock.
The captain steadied his facet after they misplaced openers Travis Head and David Warner early on.
Head went for twenty-four, caught by Tim Southee off the bowling of Adam Milne.
Veteran Warner adopted for 32 within the sixth over, caught by Glenn Phillips.
Having criticised New Zealand followers within the build-up, Warner blew kisses on the crowd as he was booed off the pitch.
Marsh constructed a partnership of 42 for the third wicket with Glenn Maxwell, who was clean-bowled by Lockie Ferguson on 25 to depart Australia 111-3 after 10 overs.
New Zealand’s fielding allow them to down within the twelfth over as Southee missed a catch off Josh Inglis, then Phillips dropped Marsh subsequent ball on the boundary.
Inglis was dismissed with three overs left and Australia on 172-4 when he skied his shot to Ravindra at deep backward sq. leg. Inglis made 20.
The sport went to the wire after New Zealand seamer Adam Milne was smashed for 19 runs within the penultimate over.
Australia wanted 15 from the final six balls, however David held his nerve by smashing a six earlier than sending the ultimate ball of the evening to the boundary previous a diving Phillips.
“I thought we didn’t bowl too bad, but the power they possess all the way down is the reason why they are pretty good,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner stated of Australia.
“We had a pretty good score, but we know they keep coming with the bat. The only way to stop them is to take wickets and we didn’t really do that.”
The collection strikes to Auckland with the subsequent two T20 internationals each to be performed at Eden Park, on Friday and Sunday, earlier than a two-Test collection.
