Twitter Reactions: Impressive Australia blow away New Zealand to make it 2-1 in five-match series

The only thing that went in New Zealandโ€™s favor in the third T20I was the toss.

By R Sai Siddhharth

3 Min Read

Glenn Maxwell
info
Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Australia kept their hopes alive in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand by crushing the Kiwis by a margin of 64 runs in the 3rd T20I. In what was a must-win game for the visitors, the Kangaroos produced a clinical performance to destroy the hosts.

In fact, the only thing that went in New Zealandโ€™s favor was the toss. After Kane Williamson called correctly and decided to field first, skipper Aaron Finch and Josh Philippe sent the hosts on a leather hunt. While the latter scored a 27-ball 43, the Australian captain scored an attractive 44-ball 69.

But then, the best from the Aussie willow wielders was yet to come. Glenn Maxwell finally found his form in the series and justified his massive price tag of INR 14.25 Crores in the 2021 IPL auction. The right-hander went absolutely berserk and scored a 31-ball 70.

Maxwell scored his runs at a strike rate of 225.81 and plundered 8 fours and 5 sixes in his game-changing knock. In fact, such was the demolition from the Aussie batsmen that none of the Kiwi bowlers who rolled their arm over went at an economy rate of less than 8 runs an over.

Ashton Agarโ€™s six-wicket haul destroys New Zealand

In reply, the New Zealand batsmen never really got going. Debutant pacer Riley Meredith scalped the wickets of Tim Seifert and Kane Williamson quickly, as the Black Caps were pushed to the backfoot. Even though Martin Guptill and Devon Conway scored 43 and 38 respectively, they were never really in the chase.

And then came the magic of Ashton Agar. The left-arm spinner sliced through the Kiwi batting line-up and recorded career-best figures of 6/30 in his 4 overs. Agar gobbled up the entire New Zealand middle order with his crafty left-arm spin, and New Zealand had no answers to Agarโ€™s guile.

In fact, such was the shoddy performance by the hosts with the bat, that as many as six of their batsmen could not even cross double digits, and were bundled out for a total of 144. Needless to say, Agar walked away with the Man of the Match award for his scintillating spell.

The Aussies have returned back to their winning ways. The scoreline currently reads 2-1 in favor of New Zealand, and we are all set for a tantalizing finish to the Trans-Tasman rivalry.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

Get every cricket updates! Follow Us:

googletelegraminstagramwhatsappyoutubethreadstwitter

Download Our App

For a better experience: Download the CricTracker app from theย IOS andย Google Play Store
New ZealandAustralia