and that is that. Richardson takes it pitch side off his own bowling. Good length ball at the stumps, Sodhi clears the front leg and gives it a big heave. It's a skier and taken comfortably around hort midwicket
10.18pm And that is all from our live coverage tonight. We'll see you soon for the fourth T20I.
Aaron Finch: Nice when you contribute to a win. I suppose that partnership with Maxi allowed us to go deeper. When you get wickets in the powerplay and having the rate at 10 and a half and 11 already, they had to take risks, you squeeze them and that was the difference tonight. Everyone is bloody excited to see Riley. We knew that we weren't too far off in the last game, we were pretty close in the first. We're a young team but that's not an excuse, we come here to win. To be 2-1 is...okay, we're still alive.
Kane Williamson: I thought Australia played outstandingly well. the momentum they got with the bat, we ended up defending a lot of the time. When you get 210 it's always a pretty healthy total. At the same time it was a very good surface. We managed a reasonable start but we lost wickets, which doesn't help. Obviously had to take a few extra risks which didn't go our way either. [Preparation for next game] It's probably no training, just try to make some subtle adjustments. I guess playing on the same surface for three games there's something to look at as well.
Ashton Agar is the Player of the Match.
10.08pm This is comprehensive from Australia. Bat and ball - they've blown New Zealand away tonight. Wasn't the worst of starts in chase, at least in terms of their run rate. But they lost wickets regularly in that opening half, and then Agar came in and ripped their innings apart in one single over. The wickets of Conway, Neesham and Phillips in the 13th over; the pumphouse of that New Zealand middle-order. There would be no recovery after that and he didn't stop there either - three more to cap off sublime bowling figures. Riley Meredith had a fantastic debut tonight as well, constantly clocking over 145kph, occasionally clearing 150kph as well. Two wickets for him, one of them being Kane Williamson. Australia win by 64 runs and this series is alive.
Austen: "@Gavin, you're sitting around the campfire, you play your cards right, and you end up with the marshmellows - its not perjorative.."
oh this looks good for a six-for. Umpire's given lbw, Jamieson reviews. It's a straighter one at off and middle. Jamieson steps across to try and ramp it fine. He's caught on the knee flap of his front leg, in front of middle stump. No bat or glove on it. Wickets will be umpire's call. That is six wickets for Agar. Incredible spell!
short and wide outside off, backs away and slaps it over extra cover with a flat bat
Gavin: "Austen. How is agar getting the wickets of 4,5 and 6 in one over the marshmallow's? Nice way to diminish what was a fantastic over that has put Australia firmly in the box seat. "
good length at off stump, jabbed into the covers off the back foot
good length on middle stump, forced down to long-on with a big swing
a five-for from Agar! And completed by a very good take from Zampa. Length ball outside off, top edge on the slog sweep hangs to Zampa's right at short third. Swerves away from him and after running sideways to his right, he's forced to then dive forward and to his right. Manages to take it inches off the ground
sent a long way over deep midwicket! Clean slog sweep that. Length outside off, gets nice and low and uses the turn to send that on its way
yorker at off stump, jams it to deep midwicket's right
full slower ball at middle stump. Backs away to open up the off side, but this is mistimed and ends up at long-on
oh nicely put away. Length ball at middle stump, stands tall and just half a punch to get it past the bowler's face
Austen: "Agar's getting all the marshmellows, but it was the pressure and early wickets from Meredith's bowling that set it all up, to my mind.."
Guy incognito: "Is there an opposite award to player of the match? Poor Neesham can't have had a worse day"
full at middle stump, mistimed drive to long-on
yorker at middle stump, jammed down the pitch
dropped at long-on. Length ball at middle stump, offers the full face and lofts it. The pace takes it to Finch at the boundary, but he loses his bearings after getting under it to his left
Richard: "@James - its been a series for bad drop calls - Guppy, Finch and now Agar. As a NZ fan I think Neesham should be dropped for the next game......"
good length at off stump, punched off the front foot to long-off
short of a length at off stump, patted into the covers off the back foot
arm ball at a length on middle stump, deep in the crease to pat that into the leg side
full and fast outside off, thick inside edge on the attempted slog sweep
short of deep square! Meredith tentative running in for this but it swerves away. Chapman got a top edge on his attempted pull
James: "Remember that comment at the start that stated Agar should be dropped? Ahhh hindsight is a magical thing..."
must be great to be Agar. Lobs this loopy length ball outisde off, Southee's feet are down leg side, his bat swishing well outside off. Ends up chipping it to Maxwell at long-off
A very tidy T20I debut for Meredith, high fives from all his team-mates.
short at middle stump, under-edge on the pull to deep square
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
2W | ||||
Westpac Stadium, Wellington | |
Toss | New Zealand, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2020/21 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | New Zealand led the 5-match series 2-1 |
Match number | T20I no. 1125 |
Hours of play (local time) | 19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20.30, Interval 20.30-20.50, Second Session 20.50-22.20 |
Match days | 03 March 2021 - night (20-over match) |
T20I debut | Riley Meredith |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |