Imperious Australia clinch Trans-Tasman Tri-Series trophy

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A disciplined bowling performance and a quick D'Arcy Short half-century helped Australia canter to the Trans-Tasman Tri-Series title at the expense of New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday (21 February).

Ashton Agar was adjudged Player of the Match as he finished with excellent figures of 3/27 – he had helped restrict New Zealand to 150/9, itself thanks to Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 38-ball 43. However, with Short powering the chase, Australia were 121/3 when play was called off after 14.4 overs when the rain came down for the second and decisive time in the innings. That gave Australia a 19-run win on the DLS method and ensured they sat just behind Pakistan at the top of the**MRF Tyres ICC T20I Team Rankings**. Pakistan, the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 winners, remain the top-ranked side with 0.19 decimal points more than Australia’s tally of 125.84.

Another high-scoring affair was expected with the same two teams meeting at the same venue where, last Friday, both registered scores close to 250, with Australia’s 245/5 in reply to the home side's 243/6 setting a new record for the highest successful chase in T20Is.

Australia's disciplined performance with the ball, however, ensured there was no repeat of last week's run fest. With Kane Williamson opting to bat, Colin Munro and Martin Guptill, the New Zealand openers, typically attacked right from the start. Munro hit the first six of the match off Billy Stanlake’s opening over with a slog through the leg side. Guptill also milked a couple of boundaries in the following over, hitting one down to long-off and the next to fine-leg.

However, just as New Zealand seemed destined for another imposing total, Stanlake returned to snare Guptill, who in an attempt to hit the ball over the covers ended up sending it straight into the hands of David Warner. Guptill, who had smashed 105 in just 54 balls in the last encounter against Australia at the same venue, fell for a 15-ball 21.

Munro then carted Richardson for a six in the next over, but the paceman exacted revenge immediately, deceiving the New Zealand opener with a well-disguised slower delivery.

Agar then sparked a middle-order collapse, first castling Kane Williamson (nine), the New Zealand captain, and then trapping Mark Chapman (eight) plumb in front in the same over.

From 48 without loss, New Zealand plummeted to 93/6 as Colin de Grandhomme (10) became Agar's third victim before Andrew Tye had Mitchell Santner dismissed for a golden duck.

Tim Seifert (three) and Tim Southee (five) also fell cheaply, but Taylor led the resistance, forging a crucial 38-run stand for the ninth wicket with Ish Sodhi (13 in 16 balls). Taylor’s unbeaten 38-ball 43 comprised two fours and a six, and helped New Zealand post a respectable if not imposing total.

Chasing 151, Warner and Short added 55 for the first wicket before rain interrupted play for the first time. The match soon resumed without any loss of overs, allowing Short to bring up his second T20I half-century. He was dismissed soon after, though, for a 30-ball 50 as Munro had him holing out. It ended a 72-run stand for the first wicket.

The breakthrough buoyed New Zealand. Warner was dismissed shortly thereafter as the Australian captain mistimed a fuller delivery from Sodhi. And when Agar – promoted to No. 3 after Chris Lynn had been forced off the field with a shoulder injury earlier in the day – followed suit, New Zealand found a foothold in the game.

However, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch saw Australia through the tricky phase. They had added 37 when rain halted play one final time with just 32 balls left in the innings.

Australia needed only 30 runs more to win at that point and were well in control of DLS requirements, meaning when play was eventually abandoned, they were the ones celebrating.