Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has once again proved why he is one of the most destructive batters in the cricket world. Today, he made a blistering 85 off 43 balls to help his team to a comfortable six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20I at Bay Oval.
The Australians sealed the win with 21 balls to spare while chasing 182 runs. Hence, they take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series. Moreover, the victory has also extended the unbeatable run of Australia in T20 cricket with 15 wins from their last 17 matches.
Mitchell Marsh Leads From the Front
After winning the toss, Marsh chose to bowl first despite the history of Bay Oval favouring batting sides. Fortunately, his decision paid off as Australian seamers Josh Hazlewood (1-23) and Ben Dwarshuis (2-40) reduced New Zealand to 6/3 in the second over.
On the other hand, 23-year-old Kiwi sensation Tim Robinson stole the spotlight briefly because he smashed a maiden international century (106* off 66) to rescue his side. Moreover, his knock features five sixes and six boundaries, which helped his team to post a competitive 181/6.
After that, Marsh led Australia’s reply, who revealed nine boundaries and five massive sixes. Moreover, his partnership of 67 with Travis Head (31 off 18) set the tone for the chase. However, the contributions from Matt Short (29) and Tim David (21)* ensured a comfortable finish.
While reflecting on the win, Marsh said, “Really important in a three-match series to start with a win. Nice to contribute. We do have a lot of power in our batting line-up, hopefully it can continue.”
New Heroes Emerge
Besides Marsh, Ben Dwarshuis impressed as the long-term replacement for Mitchell Starc, who recently retired from the T20 Internationals. Moreover, his opening spell dismantled the top orders of New Zealand, which reminded selectors of his wicket-taking prowess.
On the other hand, the knock of Robinson was halted as a glimpse of the future for the Black Caps. Despite being dropped multiple times, his fearless batting won over the experts. However, many predict a bright international career in the cricket world.
What’s Next
Now, both teams are focused on the second T20I on Friday (October 3) at the same venue. However, New Zealand is looking for a strong bounce back. On the other hand, Australia is focusing on continuing the winning streak. Hence, another thrilling contest is expected at the Bay Oval.
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