New Zealand vs Australia Live Score, 3rd T20I at Wellington

We are back for the chase as the Australian players make their way out. The are followed by the two New Zealand openers, Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert make their way out to the middle. Jhye Richardson to start with the ball. Here we go…

New Zealand vs Australia live score, 3rd T20I at Wellington latest updates and ball by ball commentary

Right then! The target for New Zealand is a massive 209 runs. They have the batting who can chase it down. Cna they do it tonight? Australia on the other hand would be happy with their effort with the bat and now would look to their bowlers to get them a win here. All action for the chase coming up on the other side of the break.

Glenn Maxwell is down for a quick chat. He says that it was ugly at the start but the plan was to clear the ropes later on. Tells the pitch was a bit slow and inconsistent. Tells Sodhi made it a little harder. Adds the more a batter stays out in the middle it gets easier. Maxwell says that Finch has been hitting the ball well and it was good. Tells he is an important player and the skipper. Maxwell feels if they hit the top of the stumps they can do it.

New Zealand’s bowlers were good with the ball as Southee and Boult began on the right note. Jamieson and Sodhi too were good but the disappointing thing for them was James Neesham who was clobbered for 60 runs in his 4 overs. He was carted for 28 runs in one over by Maxwell. In the end, a couple of wickets for Sodhi and a wicket each for Boult and Southee summed up the bowling for New Zealand.

Having put into bat, Australia lost Wade early. But then an 83-run stand between Finch and Philippe steadied the ship as well as laid a platform for them before Philippe departed. Finch though continued to play his shots as he brough his fifty. He along with Maxwell stitched a 64-run stand as Maxwell just took 25 balls to bring up his fifty. Both departed in quick succession but not before putting Australia in command there. In the end Marsh and Stoinis finished the innings for them.

Briliant finish from Australia sees them end really strongly. A sheer batting carnage from them. First it was Finch who brought up his fifty to get back to form. Then it was the Big Show who lit up the empty stadium with his batting.

Preview: New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl as they look to wrap up the series against Australia in the third Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

Skipper Kane Williamson said the Black Caps, already 2-0 up in the five-match series, wanted to test the Australian batters on the Wellington stadium’s drop-in wicket.

“It looks a pretty good surface, I’m sure it’ll be similar throughout (the match) but we’ll try to make use of it with the ball first up,” he said.

The New Zealand team features just one change from the last match in Dunedin, with batsman Mark Chapman replacing all-rounder Mitchell Santner, who has a cold.

Under-pressure Australian captain Aaron Finch said the tourists were determined to turn around their fortunes.

“We weren’t at our best in the first two games but we improved so that’s all you can ask,” he said.

“We’re very confident we can still drag it back and get to 3-2.”

Paceman Riley Meredith, who recently signed a US$1.1 million Indian Premier League contract, makes his international debut for Australia, replacing Daniel Sams.

Unusually for New Zealand, the Wellington match is being played behind closed doors because of a Covid-19 outbreak that has forced Auckland into lockdown.

“Obviously it’s a bit bizarre but that’s the way it is,” Williamson said.

“Just great that we’re able to be playing, we’re fortunate to have that.”

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