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Patna : New Zealand (NZ) inflicted a demoralising 53 runs defeat on Australia in the 1st T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, NZ, on February 22, 2021, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Australia had won the toss but opted to bowl.
Devon Conway (NZ) , 29, playing his 7th T20I for NZ, was named Player Of The Match for scoring an unbeaten 99 in 59 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. Conway, a player of South African origin, became eligible to play for NZ on August 20, 2020. He made his T20I debut on November 27, 2020, against West Indies.
Chasing a target of 185 runs, Australia were shot out for just 131 runs in 17.3 overs as spinner Ish Sodhi took 4/28 in 4 overs while pacers Tim Southee, 32, and Trent Boult, 31, took two wickets each. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was top scorer for Australia with 45 runs in 33 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Australia were 19/4 after 4.2 overs.
Opener Aaron Finch (captain) fell to medium fast bowler Tim Southee for 1 making it 3/1. Josh Philippe fell to fast medium bowler Trent Boult for 2 and it was 8/2. Opener Matthew Wade fell to Boult for 12 hitting a six and it was 16/3. Glenn Maxwell fell to Southee for 1 making it 19/4. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis fell to spinner Ish Sodhi for 8 and it was 56/5. Mitchell Marsh fell to fast medium bowler Kyle Jamieson, 26, for 45 making it 98/6.
Earlier batting first, NZ had scored 184/5 in 20 overs with Devon Convay scoring an unbeaten 99 while Glen Philiips scored 30 in 20 balls hitting 3 sixes. James Neesham scored 26 in 15 balls with 3 fours. NZ, however, had a disastrous start to their innings opener Martin Guptill fell to fast medium bowler Daniel Sams for zero making it 0/1. His opening partner Tim Seifert (wk) followed him soon falling to fast bowler Jhye Richardson for 1 making it 11/2.
Captain Kane Williamson fell to Daniel Sams for 12 and it was 19/3. But, thereafter Devon Conway and Glenn Phillip steadied the ship adding 74 runs for the 4th wicket.