Press Trust of India
Dharamsala, March 18: New Zealand produced yet another sublime bowling performance to pull off a second successive giant-slaying act, beating ODI World Champions Australia by eight runs in a dramatic ICC World Twenty20 clash here Friday. The victory virtually confirmed a place for the Kiwis in the semifinals.
New Zealand bowled with a lot of heart to stop Australia at 134 for nine after making 142 for eight at the scenic HPCA Stadium. The highlight of the Kiwi innings was a fine knock played by Martin Guptill (37, 29b, 2×4, 4×6).
The Black Caps, who outplayed India in their first match, then produced another clinical bowling performance backed up by some superb fielding to win their second game in a row.
Australia looked comfortable in the chase till the time an in-form Usman Khawaja (38, 27b, 6×4) and Shane Watson (13) put on 42 for no loss in five overs for the first wicket.
However, there was a twist in the tale in store with Australia losing four quick wickets to be under pressure at 66 for four. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (2/30) bought the Kiwis back into the game dismissing David Warner and skipper Steven Smith in quick succession.
Australia bat deep and the onus was on Glenn Maxwell (22, 23b, 2×4) and Mitchell Marsh (23, 22b, 2×6) to see off the chase. They added 36 runs for the fifth wicket before Maxwell mistimed one off Ish Sodhi and holed out to deep extra cover.
The game tilted in Australia’s favour when Marsh and Ashton Agar hit a six each off Santner to release the pressure.
But just then, Mitchell McLenaghan (3/17) brought New Zealand back by dismissing both Marsh and Agar in the penultimate over, leaving Australia to get 19 from the final over, which proved too much for them in the end.
Earlier, Guptill gave New Zealand a flying start. He hammered pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile for successive fours before smashing left-arm spinner Agar for three sixes in the third over of the innings.
The crowd was treated to some crisp hitting from the opener as New Zealand reached 71 for no loss in the first six overs.
Guptill’s departure in the eighth over derailed the innings with wickets falling at regular intervals. Grant Elliott, batting at number six, came up with a valuable 27 off 20 balls to add crucial runs to the total.
