Twitter Reactions: New Zealand stay cool in the thriller game

In the clash between the two neighbours at Dharamsala, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. Martin Guptill began steadily along with Kane Williamson who provided ample support.

Guptill stamped his authority as soon as the spinners were brought. He slammed Agar for 3 sixes in an over. Kane Williamson also played some wonderful shots as they stormed their way to 58/0 by the end of the powerplay overs.

However, Australian bowlers applied the brakes after getting both the openers as their middle order fell like a pack of cards, trying to slog over everything. The Kiwis were restricted to 142/8 in their quota of 20 overs with both Maxwell and Faulkner grabbing 2 wickets apiece.

On the other hand, the Australian openers began strongly with Usman Khawaja scoring 38 off 27 balls. However Australia slumped from 44-0 to 66-4 as soon as the spinners were introduced. Maxwell and Marsh somehow managed to keep Australia in the game but as soon as they lost their wickets, Australia got strangled.

The pitch was on the slower side and the Kiwi bowlers seized the opportunity. New Zealand thus pulled off an amazing victory by just 8 runs as they seem firm favourites to make it to the semis now. Here are some of the Twitter reactions that took place during the Australia vs New Zealand clash.

Match 17. Toss won by New Zealand, who chose to bat https://t.co/yEzEdZAuib #AUSvNZ #WT20 #AUS #NZ

— ICC Live Scores (@ICCLive) March 18, 2016

First two balls of spin: Guptill goes SIX, SIX https://t.co/E2TD2VyWrp #AUSvNZ #WT20

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 18, 2016

Williamson playing in the air, the things T20 makes a man do#AUSvNZ

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 18, 2016

martin guptill went unsold at IPL auction- apparently not suited for indian conditions #AUSvNZ #WT20 #espnmatchday

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 18, 2016

Guptill & Williamson depart after getting off to a fantastic start! They have laid the perfect foundation for a winning total. #AUSvNZ #WT20

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 18, 2016

58- after 6 overs and then someone rewrote the story. #AusvsNZ

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 18, 2016

That's a Ross Taylor special! Short delivery and Taylor swings his bat and gets it over the mid-wicker fence for half a dozen! #AUSvNZ #WT20

— CricWizz (@CricWizz) March 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/denniscricket_/status/710778550526160897

I assume Australia will go Full India on this chase. #WT20

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 18, 2016

Split screen comparison reveals that a useful way to pick Faulkner's slower ball is that he comes over the wicket rather than around.

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 18, 2016

Pretty impressive assessment of this wicket and then how to execute by Aus bowlers. Which is annoying.

— Jon Hotten (@theoldbatsman) March 18, 2016

Ronchi departs as #NZ sink further. pic.twitter.com/Ydn7xczdXV

— Cricket World (@Cricket_World) March 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/holdingwilley/status/710780189085544448

So 143 is the target for Australia. The kind of chase you'd want George Bailey for. D/L in the mix too. #AUSvNZ

— Cricket Fantasy (@Cricket_Fantasy) March 18, 2016

NZ will lose this I think, but I said that after NZ made 126 in their last match

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 18, 2016

Also waiting for people to criticize Smith for not giving overs to Zampa after watching #NZ spinners bowl well.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 18, 2016

Aussies need 149 to win, not the near-200 everyone predicted during the power play.

— Cricket365 (@Cricket365) March 18, 2016

Slowness of the Dharamshala pitch allowed #AUS to pull things back…and the day their bowlers do well, they become the side the beat #WT20

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 18, 2016

Khawaja's timing against a backdrop of angelic mountains. Not sure why other sports bother to be honest. #AUSvNZ #WT20

— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) March 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/holdingwilley/status/710788267549941761

Superb captaincy and bowling from #NZ.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 18, 2016

Steven Smith does a Rohit Sharma, runs down the track to Santner, is beaten by the spin, easy stumping for Ronchi, OUT for 6 #AUSvNZ #WT20

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 18, 2016

Santner has just done a Rohit to Smith…identical dismissal. As @virendersehwag puts it…why step out, play against the spin for a single?

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 18, 2016

Warner on strike, so Williamson brings himself on and beats the outside edge first ball with his offies #WT20

— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) March 18, 2016

Lol – #AussiesCantRunQuickTwos#aus #nz #wt20

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) March 18, 2016

Among full members, Mitchell Santner has the best economy rate in T20Is with min. 10 wickets.. #WT20 #NZ

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) March 18, 2016

Australia should've known Santner will be dangerous. His first name is Mitchell. #WT20 #AUSvsNZ

— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) March 18, 2016

Impressive six from Mitch Marsh. If only Australia could get another right-hander in alongside him #ausvnz

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) March 18, 2016

Maxi holes out, should've batted left handed there. Made a mistake by taking an orthodox approach and not switching. #AUSvNZ

— Cricket Fantasy (@Cricket_Fantasy) March 18, 2016

Why would they send Agar ahead of Faulkner? Do they not want to win?

— Cricket365 (@Cricket365) March 18, 2016

Rosco takes a Ripper! NZ a step Closer towards 2nd Win in #WT20 #AUSvNZ

— Himanshu (@HimanJadduboy) March 18, 2016

James Faulkner. Greatest finisher of already finished games. #WT20

— cricBC (@cricBC) March 18, 2016

Another great bowling performance and captaincy effort. One foot in the semis for the Kiwis

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 18, 2016

New Zealand are rocking the seemingly under par totals.

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) March 18, 2016

#NZ two from two in #WT20 after beating #AUS by eight runs in thriller in Dharamsala. https://t.co/kximkYACxO pic.twitter.com/vC9jXpL2wk

— Sky Sports Cricket? (@SkyCricket) March 18, 2016