Twitter Reactions: Devon Conway and bowlers help New Zealand crush Australia by 53 runs

New Zealand recovered from a poor start with the bat to win the game and take the lead in the series.

By Bijoy

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Devon Conway
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Devon Conway. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

New Zealand, on Monday, thrashed Australia by 53 runs in the first T20I in Christchurch to take the lead in the five-match series. In a game where fortunes swung from one side to another, New Zealand recovered from a poor start with the bat to take command of the proceedings before making light work of their Trans-Tasman rivals.

Asked to bat first, the hosts were off to a disastrous start before an unbeaten 99-run knock from Devon Conway helped them post a competitive total of 184 for 5 which eventually turned out to be a winning one. Australia started well with the ball and had sent New Zealand’s top three back to the pavilion within four overs.

Daniel Sams had Martin Guptill caught for a third-ball duck before taking the prized scalp of skipper Kane Williamson (12) two overs later. Before Williamson’s departure, Jhye Richardson had struck too to remove Tim Seifert for just 1 as New Zealand found themselves reeling at 19/3 before Conway came in and steadied the ship.

Having scored five straight T20 half-centuries in the domestic circuit before today’s game, Conway added 74 runs with Glenn Phillips (30). Marcus Stoinis broke the stand by sending back Phillips. Jimmy Neesham also played a fine cameo of 26 before being sent back by Richardson. Conway, however, remained unbeaten till the end and made sure to guide New Zealand to a good total.

Conway needed two runs on the last ball to complete his century but could manage only one. His innings came off 59 deliveries and was studded with 10 fours and three sixes. For Australia, Richardson and Sams picked up two wickets apiece while Stoinis picked one. Having finished their batting innings with good momentum, New Zealand came out all guns blazing with the ball as they saw off Australia’s chase with ease.

Australia falter in the chase:

Chasing 185, the Aaron Finch-led side was all out for just 131 in 17.3 overs. With the New Zealand bowlers striking at regular intervals, Australia’s innings never got the impetus it needed to chase down the big total. Tim Southee struck in the very first over to remove Finch before Trent Boult accounted for Josh Philippe and Matthew Wade to reduce Australia to 16 for 3.

Even before the visitors could recover from the early setbacks, Southee gave them another blow by dismissing Glenn Maxwell for just 1. Mitchell Marsh and Stoinis stopped the rot for a while but could not bail Australia out of trouble as the latter departed for just 8. Marsh and Ashton Agar then steadied the ship.

At one stage, it looked like they might take the game close before Marsh’s dismissal ended the 42-run stand and opened the floodgates. The tourists lost three wickets in quick succession to find themselves reeling at 99 for 8 from 98 for 5. They were eventually all out for 131. Marsh was the top-scorer with 45 while Ish Sodhi picked 4 wickets for the hosts.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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