Australia 118 for 4 (Head 33, Short 27) defeated New Zealand 98 for 3 (Phillips 40*, Johnson 1-10, Zampa 1-20) by 27 runs (using the DLS method).
Australia completed a clean sweep of New Zealand in an ominous warning ahead of the T20 World Cup with a comfortable win in a shortened series finale at a gloomy Eden Park.
After being sent in under overcast conditions, Australia made 67 for 2 in the powerplay before showers interrupted play several times, bringing their innings to an end at 118 for 4 from 10.4 overs. Australia’s disciplined pace bowlers then relished the seaming conditions, as New Zealand fell far short of their revised target of 126 from 10 overs.
Both teams took a cautious approach ahead of their Test series, which begins on Thursday, with several players resting.
Australia won their 100th T20I and lifted the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after dominating the three-match series, which served as crucial preparation for both teams as they sought to finalize World Cup squads.
It was Australia’s final practice before the tournament in June, while New Zealand will travel to Pakistan in April for a five-match T20I series to complete their preparations.
Fiery Johnson grabs his chance
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood rested, left-arm quick Spencer Johnson seized the opportunity to end the three-over powerplay.
Johnson bowled at over 140 km/h before accounting for Tim Seifert with a vicious delivery. He then unleashed an even better delivery, cutting back sharply into Glenn Phillips and flying past stand-in captain Matthew Wade behind the stumps.
Johnson followed up in his second over with a menacing mix of short and full deliveries, while fringe quick Nathan Ellis also impressed with tight bowling to highlight Australia’s burgeoning pace stocks.
New Zealand struggles despite Phillips’ efforts
New Zealand was missing several key batters, including opener Devon Conway, who was sidelined after injuring his thumb in game two. However, their batting performance has dipped in the last two games in Auckland.
Batting was difficult on such a lively surface, and the hosts never threatened in the chase. Their top order could never get going against Australia’s sparse attack, and they didn’t help matters by repeatedly picking outfielders in the deep as the scoreboard pressure mounted.
Much like in game two, New Zealand’s hopes rested on Philipps, who hit 40 off 24 balls but lacked support.
Smith misses out again, Short provides a cameo
Steven Smith does not appear to have a place in Australia’s first-choice starting lineup, which is stacked with power-hitters. In game two, he made 11 off seven balls in a brief innings that featured inventive strokes on almost every delivery he faced.
Smith was given another chance at the top of the order when David Warner was ruled out with an adductor injury, and he began with a first-ball boundary after whacking a bouncer from Adam Milne.
However, Smith fell two deliveries later when he nicked off a brute of a delivery that spat off the surface. With skipper Mitchell Marsh resting, batting allrounder Matthew Short was given a chance at No. 3.
Short, competing for a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, unleashed the type of explosive batting that has seen him dominate the BBL in recent seasons. He clubbed Trent Boult for a second-ball six before hitting Milne for two big sixes in the fifth over.
Short’s whirlwind 27 off 11 balls ended when he was caught by a slower delivery from quick Ben Sears.
New Zealand’s sloppy fielding rears
New Zealand will want to improve their fielding after dropping three catches in Australia’s shortened innings. Travis Head was saved by Josh Clarkson at backward point and Ish Sodhi at short fine leg in relatively simple situations.
New Zealand’s misery was exacerbated by Mark Chapman’s failure to hold on to a tougher chance at the long-off boundary, giving Glenn Maxwell a life on his first ball.
It capped a slow series on the field for New Zealand, which also missed numerous opportunities in the first two games. They were particularly disappointed with two missed opportunities in game one to dismiss Marsh, who anchored Australia’s tense last-ball victory with an unbeaten 72.
