Australia Whitewash New Zealand Ahead Of T20 World Cup 2024; Register Their 100th T20I Win
Australia retained their wood over New Zealand [X.com]
Brief scores: Australia 118/4 in 10.4 overs (Travis Head 33, Matthew Short 27; Josh Clarkson 1/8) beat New Zealand 98/3 in 10 overs (Glenn Phillips 40*; Spencer Johnson 1/10, Nathan Ellis 1/11) by 27 runs on DLS.
Australia managed to retain unrelenting wood over New Zealand to clinch the T20I series with a 3-0 whitewash on Sunday (February 25) as the BlackCaps failed to match up to their Trans-Tasman rivals in a rain-marred fixture in Auckland.
Batting first under the knowledge they would require an above-par score on a flat batting paradise at Eden Park, the mighty Aussies failed to come up with the quickfire start they wholeheartedly desired since for once their perennial match-winner Travis Head struggled with his painstaking knock of 33 off 30 balls.
Despite Head's brittle innings, however, cameos from Matthew Short (27), Glenn Maxwell (20) and Josh Inglis (14) kept Australia's nose above the water and pushed the scoring rate before the rain played spoilsport on the proceedings, putting an irrevocable halt to the innings at 118/4 in 10.4 overs.
Australia Finish With 3-0 Whitewash Over New Zealand
With the game reduced to 10 overs per side, New Zealand required a stiff target of 126 as per the DLS method, which would've been a relief for the Australians after an abrupt pause to their stint in the middle.
Having rested couple of key men in the bowling department, it was a chance for Australia's backup arsenal to shine and give a strong account of themselves.
Senior, experienced pacer Mitchell Starc's tight spell of 0/15 off his 2 overs did ease the task for the rest of the pack. Critical spells from Spencer Johnson (1/10) and wrist-spinner Adam Zampa (1/20) as well as Nathan Ellis (1/11) then helped Australia restrict the Kiwis to just 98/3 in the second half.
Despite Glenn Phillips' terrific blitz to fetch an unbeaten 40* off 24 balls, early hiccups meant the BlackCaps failed to even reach the three-figure mark before the close of the 10th over.
 "Kashish Chadha")
