
Australia defeated New Zealand by 5 runs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium thanks to a great batting performance in the first innings. Here is a recap of the second innings.
Mixed powerplay for both teams
Mitchell Starc’s opening bowling was erratic from the start, launching into two wides. The left-arm pacer gave up 12 runs in the opening over, and Devon Conway hit him for two fours. In the next over, Conway hit Josh Hazlewood for two straight fours. Australia contested a caught-behind call against Conway and burned their first review within the second over. Starc scored five runs off of wides to begin his second over.
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Starc was replaced by Pat Cummins, who conceded 11 runs in the fifth over after being struck for two fours. Will Young also joined in on Hazlewood’s costly ways, smashing two fours in the sixth over. In the eighth over, Hazlewood removed Conway from the game, ending the opening stand at 61 runs. Young was removed by Hazlewood in the tenth over. Despite losing two of their opening wickets, New Zealand managed to score 73 runs during the powerplay.
Ravindra and Mitchell stabilise New Zealand innings
Darryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra continued their winning ways from the earlier game at the same location. Following the powerplay and two fast wickets, Mitchell and Ravindra steadied the inning at a good pace. In seven overs after the powerplay (11-17), the pair scored 47 runs.
During his second spell, Starc remained costly as well. In the twentieth over, the left-arm pacer returned to the attack. Mitchell hit Starc for two consecutive fours in the 20th over, causing him to give up 13 runs. In the 22nd over, Mitchell reached his fifty by smashing another four off Starc’s bowling. In 49 balls, Mitchell reached his half-century mark.
In the 24th over, Adam Zampa quickly removed him from the game. As they contested an LBW call against Tom Latham in the 27th over, the 2015 winners burned their second review. In the 28th over, Ravindra welcomed Starc back for another spell of play with a six that took him to his half-century with the most runs. Upping the stakes, Ravindra and Latham scored 44 runs in only four overs (28-31).
In the 32nd over, Zampa returned to the attack and claimed the vital wicket of Latham. While attempting a reverse sweep, Latham accidentally edged the ball straight to Hazlewood, who was fielding at short third man.
Ravindra scores a century
In the 33rd over, Ravindra struck Cummins for a four and a six as he carried on with his aggressive play. After the 12-run, Zampa and Cummins bowled two quiet overs. Ravindra hit a six and Glenn Phillips scored a four off Zampa’s eighth over, which was bowled for runs. When Maxwell returned to the attack in the 37th over, Ravindra, who had reached his tonne in just 77 balls, welcomed him with a six. To make matters worse, Maxwell mishandled a straightforward catch of Ravindra when bowling himself. The final ball of the exciting over saw Phillips removed from the game.
When Hazlewood returned to the attack in the 38th over, he gave up eight runs and was hit for a four by Ravindra. James Neesham hit Maxwell for a six, causing him to give up 10 runs in the 39th over. Maxwell scored 10-0-62-1 to finish his quota of 10 overs. In the 40th over, Ravindra hit Hazlewood for another four. To win the match, New Zealand needed to score 97 runs in the final ten overs. Resuming his attack, Cummins eliminated Ravindra to have an instant impact on the match. Ravindra attempted a lofted shot over deep extra cover, but the slower ball tricked her, allowing Marnus Labuschagne to make an easy catch at deep extra cover. Ravindra scored 116 runs in 89 balls hitting nine fours and five sixes.
Zampa and Cummins kill the chase
In the forty-third over, Zampa returned to the assault. The leg-spinner gave up 10 runs in an over after being struck for a four. In his subsequent over, Mitchell Santner hammered him for a six, but Zampa emerged victorious as he removed Santner to claim his third wicket. After being hit for a four on the preceding ball, Cummins removed Matt Henry in the 47th over.
With 32 runs needed in 12 balls, Hazlewood conceded 13 runs in the penultimate over. Neesham was run out on the penultimate ball of the match while running the second run. With one ball remaining, injured Lockie Ferguson had to hit it for a six.