Australia defeated New Zealand by 5 runs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium thanks to a great batting performance in the first innings. Here is a recap of the second innings.
Mixed powerplay for both teams
Mitchell Starc opening the bowling was inconsistent to begin with starting with two wides. Devon Conway hit him for two fours as the left-arm pacer leaked 12 runs in the first over. Conway smashed Josh Hazlewood too for two consecutive fours in the following over. Australia burnt their first review inside the second over while contesting a caught-behind call against Conway. Starc started his second over with five runs off wides.
Pat Cummins replaced Starc but was hit for two fours as the skipper leaked 11 runs in the fifth over. Hazlewood too continued to be expensive as Will Young too got in the act by hitting two fours in the sixth over. Hazlewood dismissed Conway breaking the 61-run opening stand in the eighth over. Hazlewood dismissed Young in the 10th over. New Zealand scored 73 runs in the powerplay with the loss of two wickets of their openers.
Ravindra and Mitchell stabilise New Zealand innings
Rachin Ravindra and Darryl Mitchell carried on with their form from the previous match at the same venue. Right after the powerplay and two quick wickets, Ravindra and Mitchell stabilised the inning while going at a healthy rate. The duo scored 47 runs in seven overs after the powerplay (11-17).
Starc continued to be expensive in his second spell as well. The left-arm pacer came back into the attack in the 20th over. Starc conceded 13 runs in the 20th over as Mitchell hit him for two consecutive fours. Mitchell brought up his fifty in the 22nd over by hitting another four off Starc’s bowling. Mitchell completed his half-century in 49 balls.
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He was soon dismissed by Adam Zampa in the 24th over. The 2015 champions burnt their second review in the 27th over while contesting an LBW call against Tom Latham. Starc came back for another spell in the 28th over and was welcomed with a six by Ravindra who brought up his half-century with the maximum. Ravindra and Latham upped the ante scoring 44 runs in just four overs (28-31).
Zampa came back into the attack and picked up the crucial wicket of Latham in the 32nd over. Latham was playing a reverse sweep but edged the ball straight to Hazlewood fielding at short third man.
Ravindra scores a century
Ravindra continued his attacking display hitting Cummins for a six and a four in the 33rd over. Zampa and Cummins followed the 12-run with a couple of quiet overs. Zampa bowling his eighth over went for runs as Glenn Phillips hit the leg-spinner for a four while Ravindra hit a six. Maxwell came back into the attack in the 37th over and was welcomed with a six from Ravindra who completed his ton in just 77 balls. To add to his woes, Maxwell dropped a simple catch of Ravindra on his own bowling. The eventful over came to an end with the wicket of Phillips on the last ball.
Hazlewood came back into the attack in the 38th over and was hit for a four by Ravindra as he conceded eight runs. Maxwell was hit for a six by James Neesham and conceded 10 runs in the 39th over. Maxwell completed his quota of 10 overs with the figures of 10-0-62-1. Ravindra smashed Hazlewood for another four in the 40th over. New Zealand needed 97 runs in the last 10 overs to win the match. Cummins brought back himself into the attack and made an immediate effect on the game by dismissing Ravindra. Ravindra was going for a lofted shot over deep extra cover but was deceived by the slower ball and gave an easy catch to Marnus Labuschagne at deep extra cover. Ravindra scored 116 runs in 89 balls hitting nine fours and five sixes.
Zampa and Cummins kill the chase
Zampa came back into the attack into the attack in the 43rd over. The leg-spinner was hit for a four conceding 10 runs in the over. Mitchell Santner hit him for a six in his next over but Zampa had the last laugh as he picked up his third wicket by dismissing Santner. Cummins dismissed Matt Henry in the 47th over after being struck for a four on the previous ball.
With 32 runs needed in 12 balls, Hazlewood conceded 13 runs in the penultimate over. Neesham was run out on the penultimate ball of the match while running the second run. With one ball remaining, injured Lockie Ferguson had to hit it for a six.
