( Leg spinner Ashton Agar)
Speed Post News Network
Patna : Australia drubbed New Zealand (NZ) by 64 runs in the 3rd T20I at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, NZ, on March 3, 2021, as leg spinner Ashton Agar, 27, took 6/30 in 4 overs while debutant fast bowler Riley Meredith, 24, took 2/24 in 4 overs. Ashton Agar was named Player Of The Match. NZ had won the toss but opted to bowl. NZ, however, still lead the five-match T20I series 2-1.
Batting first Australia scored 208/4 in 20 overs with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell scoring 70 in only 31 balls hitting 8 fours and 5 sixes and captain Aaron Finch (opener) scoring 69 in 44 balls hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes. In reply, NZ were all out for just 144 in 17.1 overs.
Batting first, Australia lost their first wicket with only 6 runs on board as opener Matthew Wade fell to Trent Boult for 5. But, his opening partner Aaron Finch ( captain) and Josh Philippe steadied the innings adding 83 runs for the 2nd wicket. Philippe fell to spinner Ish Sodhi for 43 in 27 balls with 3 fours and 1 six and it was 89/2. Finch and Maxwell added 64 runs for the 3rd wicket. Finch fell Sodhi for 69 and it was 153/3. Maxwell fell to Tim Southee for 70 making it 194/4. Maxwell and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis added 41 runs for the 4th wicket. Stoinis remained unbeaten on 9 while Mitchell Marsh remained 6 not out.
For NZ, opener Martin Guptill scored 43 in 28 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes while Devon Conway scored 38 in 27 balls hitting 5 fours and 1 six. NZ captain Kane Williamson fell to fast bowler Riley Meredith for 9.