NZ vs AUS 1st T20I Highlights: Turning Points, Match Analysis, Stats and more

The much-anticipated Australia tour of New Zealand got off to a pulsating start as the visitors defeated the Black Caps off the last ball in the first T20I of the three-match series on Wednesday, February 21.

The Sky Stadium in Wellington produced a belter of a pitch where a total of 431 runs were scored in the match. Australia registered their highest successful run-chase on this ground, attaining the target of 216 with a last-ball boundary towards the cow corner fence from Tim David, with six wickets to spare.

Chasing the stiff target, the Aussies needed to get off to a great start and openers David Warner and Travis Head responded. The latter lived dangerously during his knock of 24 off 15 balls. Meanwhile, Warner, who was dropped on 18 by Rachin Ravindra who misjudged a skier off an attempted pull, eventually departed for 32 off 20 balls.

After the openers were dismissed inside the first seven overs, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell kept playing their shots and didn't let the momentum subside. The latter's whirlwind stay at the crease ended on 25 off 11 balls as New Zealand's best bowler of the day, Lockie Ferguson, who ended up with the least economy rate (5.75) amongst all the 11 bowlers used across both teams, knocked him over.

Josh Inglis joined forces with Mitchell Marsh and the duo added 61 runs off just 38 balls for the fourth wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter wasn't at his best as he scored 20 off as many balls. However, when he departed, the stage was set for Tim David to finish the game.

44 runs were needed off 19 balls when Marsh and David got together. The Aussie skipper added only nine runs after David arrived at the crease and remained unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls. Marsh had the best seat in the house at the non-striker's end as he watched the Singapore-born hard-hitting batter plunder 31 runs off just 10 balls, whacking two fours and three sixes.

16 runs were required off the final over from Tim Southee. Only four runs came off the first three balls as Australia needed some brilliance. David put his hand up as he hit a six off the fourth ball. The Australian duo scampered back for a double off the fifth ball to bring the equation down to four needed off the last delivery of the match. Southee missed his yorker ever so slightly and it allowed David to whip it away towards the fence between deep mid-wicket and wide long-on for a boundary. Glenn Phillips' despairing dive couldn't stop the ball from hitting the ropes.

Also Read: Mitchell Marsh confirms Australia's top-order for the 2024 T20 World Cup, no room for Steve Smith

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra stood tall in the first innings

Opting to bat first, the opening duo of Devon Conway and Finn Allen got the hosts off to a brisk start. They added 61 runs inside the first six overs before the in-form Allen departed for 32 off 17 balls.

Conway and Rachin Ravindra, who are going to represent Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024, added 113 runs off just 64 deliveries to put the Kiwis in a commanding position. While Conway made 63 off 46 deliveries, Ravindra scored 68 off just 35 balls. Fireworks at the end from Phillips and Mark Chapman helped New Zealand get to a commendable total but it didn't prove to be enough for them as they endured a devasting loss, putting Australia 1-0 up in the three-match T20I series.

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