AI Simulation, NZ vs AUS | Marsh leads from front as Aussies beat Blackcaps by six wickets in first T20I

Pitch and Weather

A mild spring afternoon is expected to greet both teams. The Bay Oval pitch will have a light grass tinge but will be firm underneath, ideal for strokeplay once set.

Early seam and swing will be on offer with some breeze across the ground, but dew is expected later, making chasing attractive. The temperatures will be hovering around 18 degrees Celsius, with the light rain expected.

Toss

Australia won the toss and decided to bat first.

Lineups

NZ XI: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, and Jacob Duffy.

AUS XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Tim David, Matthew Short, Alex Carey (wk), Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.

Match Report

Australia won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first. The opening pair of Devon Conway and Tim Seifert couldn’t convert the quick start into a big partnership. They added 27 runs for the first wicket in 2.4 overs before Seifert (18) was caught by Alex Carey off Josh Hazlewood. Following his departure, Conway and Rachin Ravindra added 18 runs for the second wicket. This partnership came to an end when Ben Dwarshuis dismissed Conway (34) on the last ball of the sixth over. Furthermore, Ravindra’s 22-run knock was followed by Daryl Mitchell’s 41 runs off just 28 balls, with three fours and two sixes. Michael Bracewell’s 16 (11) helped the hosts post 168/8 on the board in the allotted 20 overs. Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott scalped two wickets each for their side, alongside a wicket picked by Adam Zampa.

While chasing the target, the opening pair of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh added a quick 35 runs for the first wicket in just 3.5 overs. Matt Henry broke this partnership, dismissing Head on the fifth ball of the fourth over. Head played a quick knock of 29 runs off just 17 balls, with four fours and a six. Following his dismissal, skipper Marsh added 27 runs for the second wicket with Marcus Stoinis (11). Furthermore, Marsh went on to play a match-winning half-century knock, scoring 52 runs off 33 balls, with five fours and two sixes. His knock came to an end after he added 48 runs for the third wicket with Tim David (37 runs off just 19 balls). Later in the end, the unbeaten efforts of Matthew Short (13*) and Alex Carey (14*) helped the Aussies chase down the target, scoring 172/4 in 18.3 overs. With this win, the visitors have secured a lead of 1-0 in the three-match series.

Player of the Match

Australia’s Mitchell Marsh won the ‘Player of the Match’ for his brilliant anchoring knock of 52 runs off just 33 balls to lay a strong foundation for a successful run chase for his side.

Scorecard