When and Where to Watch New Zealand vs Australia, Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, and Pitch Report for 3rd T20I

Two consecutive losses in any T20I series for Australia before the current one have only meant one thing: loss. But thanks to an otherwise rare occurrence in the modern-day (read: five-match T20I series), which is Australia’s first-ever series of such length, and they still – at least mathematically – hold a chance to clinch the series.

Whether a score-line that currently reads 2-0 in favor of the hosts be swayed so tectonically in the upcoming days is anybody’s guess, although what has swayed not-so-substantially-but-just-enough in the meanwhile is the COVID-19 graph in Auckland. One local COVID infection of unknown origin – you read that right – has changed the landscape of the series as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that Auckland will go into a seven-day lockdown.

So as it now stands, the remaining fixtures will all be held behind closed doors in Wellington, and Australia cannot afford any slip-up (s) if they are to take the trophy home. After a week-long gap, the action is much quicker as the remaining games are to be played on alternate days. And to make things merry, Australia needs to be just as quick in finding the missing pieces of the puzzle that a T20I victory for them seems to be.

At Dunedin, the visitors came close to finding that when after being fairly outplayed for no less than 34 overs in the contest, Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams shifted the winning odds dangerously in their side’s favor. Situated 122/6 in a chase of 219, they needed 98 from 36 legal deliveries, and despite all that the Stoinis-Sams collaboration took them to a position where victory was in clear sight. Although that is where it stayed, and the visitors took a heart-crushing defeat.

Australia has been guilty of repeating old mistakes and while Aaron Finch would want his men to pull up their socks, he will himself be keen to crawl out from the pothole of poor form. Meanwhile, for New Zealand, things could not be better with Martin Guptill finding his lost form and James Neesham adding more dynamism in his game. There is a series to be won for them tomorrow, while for Australia, there is a red-signal ahead as another loss will be a knockout punch.

Pitch and conditions

It’s been a decade since these two sides met at Wellington in a T20I clash when Australia won the contest by 6 wickets and 24 balls to spare. Including that game, 12 fixtures have been played at the venue thus far, with a 7-5 winning ratio in favor of the chasing side. The forecast is clear enough for a hindrance-free match.

Playing combination for NZ vs AUS

New Zealand

The Kiwis are not known for making too many changes in their setup, and after two wins on the trot, there is hardly a reason for them to make any amends. If there is anything to be bothered about, it is Kyle Jamieson’s returns so far, although the hosts certainly can afford to give him more chances.

Predicted XI: Martin Guptil, Tim Seifert (WK), Kane Williamson (C), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Australia

Having played the same XI in the previous fixture despite suggesting the likelihood of a change or two, the Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and management might want to meddle the combination a tad bit. Should they decide likewise, an extra pacer in Andrew Tye, Riley Meredith, or perhaps Jason Behrendorff might enter to the fore at the expense of Ashton Agar, who is yet to open his account with the ball in the series.

Predicted XI: Matthew Wade (WK), Aaron Finch (C), Josh Philippe, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar/Andrew Tye/Jason Behrendorff, Daniel Sams, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa

NZ vs AUS Head to Head 

Played – 12 | Australia – 7 | New Zealand – 3 | Tied – 1

NZ vs AUS Broadcast Details 

Match Timings 11:30 AM (IST)

Live Streaming– Fancode