Tim David's Heroics Seal Australia's Thrilling Victory Over New Zealand in First T20I
Marsh's Leadership and David's Last-ball Four Highlight Dramatic Run Chase
Australia defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the first Twenty20 International on Wednesday thanks to a four from Tim David, marking their third-highest successful run chase in the history of the competition.
At Sky Stadium, the home team, New Zealand, chose to bat first and amassed 215/3 in an innings that included 10 fours and 13 sixes. After that, Australia's innings was led by captain Mitch Marsh, who scored an undefeated 72 off 44 balls.
But David seized control in the penultimate over, blasting Australia needing 16 runs from the final six balls after smashing two sixes and a four from the final three balls of the 19th over.
Tim Southee, a seasoned seamer and the T20 league's top wicket-taker, was assigned to bowl the last over. Australia needed 12 runs from three balls after his first two balls were wide. There was then a leg bye.
When Southee bowled full, David hammered the ball across mid-wicket and almost missed Glenn Phillips' dejected plunge to the boundary, with Australia requiring four off the final delivery. In only 10 balls, David scored 31 without conceding an error.
Man of the Match Marsh said, "It was a very good wicket and I felt we were just on the run rate right through the innings."
"We were going to need a little bit of luck if we were going to track down 216,"
"I thought we didn't bowl too bad but the power they possess all the way down is the reason why they're pretty good," Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner said.
Earlier, Devon Conway ended a run of poor form with an innings of 63 from 46 balls, his first half-century in 23 innings in all forms. He then shared a third wicket partnership of 113 from 66 balls with Rachin Ravindra.
In lieu of Kane Williamson, who is away awaiting the birth of his third child, Ravindra joined the New Zealand squad. After smashing six sixes in his 35-ball 68, he made a compelling case for himself to be included in New Zealand's Twenty20 World Cup team in June.
Finn Allen, who opened a 66-run partnership with Conway, scored 32 off 17 balls, setting up an exciting start to the New Zealand innings. Every New Zealand batsman hit at least a six, with Glenn Phillips finishing 19 not out and Mark Chapman finishing 18 not out.
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