New Zealand vs Australia Live Cricket Score, 5th T20I: Kane Williamson scored 72 runs in 46 balls. (Blackcaps/Twitter)
New Zealand vs Australia Live Cricket Score, 5th T20I: New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. They are forced to make one change with Ben Wheeler replacing an injured Mitchell Santner. Australia are playing an unchanged side. Martin Guptill and Colin Munro came out to open the innings for New Zealand. Kane Richardson and Billy Stanlake started with the new ball. The two openers continued their form and started hammering boundaries from the first over. Australian bowlers struggled to control the run rate and brought Ashton Agar and Marcus Stoinis into the attack as both the batsmen approached their fifties. But Australia are finding it hard to slow down the pace of the match as it continues to rain boundaries in Auckland. The visitors put Darcy Short into attack and both the batsmen hammered sixes in his over to complete their fifties. Andrew Tye provided the breakthrough with Colin Munro, who slammed 76 runs in 33 balls, departing after giving an easy catch to Glenn Maxwell. Tim Seifert departed too soon afterwards on 12. Catch Live updates of the 5th T20I of the tri-series between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland here.
New Zealand vs Australia Live Cricket Score, 5th T20I:
Martin Guptill has hammered two sixes in Marcus Stoinis' over and has completed his second T20I century here. He has completed his ton in just 49 balls. New Zealand go over 200 runs here in 16th over.
New Zealand are 184/2 after 15 overs and Martin Guptill is on 88*. He needs just 12 runs to score a century here. Can he score a ton here?
WICKET! Easy catch for Aaron Finch in deep square leg as Tim Seifert tried to go for the maximum. He departs for 12 as New Zealand are 155/2.
Colin Munro's fireworks come to an end. He hammered three sixes in the first three balls of Andrew Tye. He tried to go for another one but gave an easy catch to Glenn Maxwell. He departs for 76 in just 33 balls. What a player! NZ 132/1
New Zealand have extended their strike rate over 11 now and there seems to be no stopping to the fireworks in Auckland now.
SIX! Darcy Short has been hammered for a massive six and now it is fifty for Martin Guptill. His 14th T20I fifty.
2 balls later -
SIX! Darcy Short has been hammered for another six and it is fifty for Colin Munro. His 6th T20I fifty.
In spite of Australia employing Ashton Agar and Marcus Stoinis, they have not been able to slow down the run rate here after the powerplay. New Zealand are maintaining a run rate of over 10 here. What total will Australia have to chase down?
New Zealand are 67/0 at the end of 6 overs and with this fielding restrictions will be lifted and Australia will hope they can slow down the pace of the match. The stage is set for a huge total now. Ashton Agar comes into the attack. Can he provide a much-needed breakthrough?
SIX! Third six of the match from Martin Guptill and that went miles ahead into the ground. Opened the face of the bat, inside out, just using the pace and BANG! 50 up for New Zealand in under 5 overs. Sweet start!
Solid start from New Zealand. They have scored 43/0 in just overs with a run rate of over 10. It is raining boundaries at the moment here, with Guptill being the aggressor of the two at the moment. Australia need a wicket and quickly.
Martin Guptill is on absolute fire at the moment. He hammered Billy Stanlake for a straight six in the final ball of his over. Stanlake troubled him with some straighter deliveries in the over but Guptill seems to have the answer for everything at the moment.
A boundary to start the over and a boundary to finish it as well. 12 runs in the first over from Kane Richardson. Good start for New Zealand. The two wides in the first over will also hurt Australia. Billy Stanlake into the attack now.
Martin Guptill and Colin Munro out to open for Kiwis. Kane Richardson with the new ball. The pitch here in Auckland is expected to carry some pace and bounce which will suit Richardson. Guptill and Munro both are in lethal form at the moment. Who will strike first?
Unchanged side for Australia:
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner(c), D Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake
One change for New Zealand - Ben Wheeler replaces Mitchell Santner
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Mark Chapman, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Seifert(w), Ben Wheeler, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
New Zealand have won the toss and have elected to bat first against Australia. The side scored 196 in the previous T20I and will hope they post another mammoth total here in Auckland.
Hello and welcome to our Live Blog on the 5th T20I between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland. Stay tuned for updates on toss and team news.