Australia 118 for 4 (Head 33, Short 27) defeated New Zealand 98 for 3 (Phillips 40*, Johnson 1-10, Zampa 1-20) by 27 runs (using DLS technique).
Australia accomplished a clean sweep of New Zealand in an ominous warning ahead of the T20 World Cup with an easy win in a shortened series finale at a dismal Eden Park.
After being sent in under overcast conditions, Australia made 67 for 2 in the powerplay before showers delayed play numerous times, bringing their innings to a finish at 118 for 4 after 10.4 overs. Australia’s disciplined speed bowlers then embraced the seaming conditions, as New Zealand fell far short of their revised goal of 126 from 10 overs.
Both teams chose a cautious approach ahead of their Test series, which begins on Thursday, with some players resting.
Australia won their 100th T20I and lifted the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after dominating the three-match series, which served as crucial preparation for both teams as they sought to finalise World Cup rosters.
It was Australia’s penultimate practice before the event in June, while New Zealand will fly to Pakistan in April for a five-match T20I series to complete their preparations.
Fiery Johnson takes his opportunity.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood rested, left-arm quick Spencer Johnson seized the opportunity to end the three-over powerplay.
Johnson bowled at above 140 km/h before accounting for Tim Seifert with a devastating delivery. He then unleashed an even better delivery, cutting back sharply into Glenn Phillips and flying past stand-in captain Matthew Wade behind the stumps.
Johnson followed up in his second over with a frightening mix of short and full deliveries, while fringe quick Nathan Ellis also impressed with tight bowling to highlight Australia’s burgeoning pace stocks.
New Zealand struggles despite Phillips’ efforts.
New Zealand was missing several key batsmen, including opener Devon Conway, who was out after injuring his thumb in game two. However, their batting performance has dipped in the last two games in Auckland.
Batting was difficult on such a dynamic surface, and the hosts never threatened in the chase. Their top order could never get going against Australia’s sparse attack, and they didn’t help matters by repeatedly picking out fielders in the deep as the scoring pressure grew.
Much as in game two, New Zealand’s hopes depended on Philipps, who hit 40 off 24 balls but lacked support.
Smith misses out again; Short gives cameo.
Steven Smith does not appear to have a position in Australia’s first-choice starting lineup, which is stocked with power-hitters. In game two, he made 11 off seven balls in a quick innings that featured innovative strokes on practically every delivery he faced.
Smith was given another chance at the top of the order when David Warner was ruled out with an adductor injury, and he began with a first-ball boundary after whacking a bouncer off Adam Milne.
However, Smith fell two deliveries later as he kicked off a behemoth of a delivery that spewed off the surface. With skipper Mitchell Marsh resting, batting allrounder Matthew Short was handed a chance at No. 3.
Short, who is competing for a position in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, unleashed the type of explosive batting that has seen him dominate the BBL in recent seasons. He hammered Trent Boult for a second-ball six before hitting Milne for two big sixes in the fifth over.
Short’s whirlwind 27 from 11 balls came to an end when he was caught by a slower delivery from fast Ben Sears.
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