Australia vs Newzealand 5 -T20I @NZ : 22/02/21--07/03/21

[World Cup 2021]

Cricbuzz

Australia seek fairytale finish to comeback story

Finch made a welcome return to form with a couple of crucial fifties

Among all the narratives in cricket, comebacks are rather heart-warming and when it's a tale woven around a team and its captain, it makes it all the more special. Come Sunday, Australia and Aaron Finch would be keen to add a superlative to their comeback story when they take on New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I of the series.

0-2 down in the series, with the skipper struggling to make a meaningful contribution, Australia were down in the dumps by the end of February. But in what has been a massive turnaround, the visiting side is now envisaging their first T20I series win in more than a year. Finch has been a central figure in Australia's U-turn of fortunes with scores of 69 and 79*, having gone without a fifty in 26 innings. A slow surface for the previous game made things slightly tricky for the batsmen but Finch displayed good adaptability which should serve as an example for his team-mates who struggled for runs.

In the last two T20Is, spin has played a major role in Australia's wins - 13 of the 20 New Zealand wickets have been bagged by the spinners - with Ashton Agar being the star performer (6-30 and 2-11). With similar conditions expected for the final game, Australia will bank on their spin resources to deliver again.

New Zealand's batting, meanwhile, has hit a U-turn of its own. After they put up totals of 184 and 219 in Christchurch and Dunedin, they have struggled to come to terms with the spin and have ended up getting bowled out in two successive innings. "It's that intent to hit boundaries, get on the front foot, even just running between wickets and things like that and I thought we took a step backwards from where we had been earlier in the series," said coach Gary Stead, critical of New Zealand's batting.

The home team batsmen will be eager to make amends and script a comeback story of their own, as would Kyle Jamieson whose bowling returns have diminished (0/49, 0/38, 0/56 and 1/32) since being picked for INR. 15 Crore in the IPL auction. RCB's director of cricket operations Mike Hesson was quick to spring to the defence of Jamieson, saying the slump may not be a bad thing at this stage of his career. But Jamieson will be hoping it doesn't extend as much as it did for a former RCB'ian, who went through a tough period before he turned this series on its head.

When: Sunday, March 7 at 12:00 PM Local Time (4:30 AM IST)

Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

What to expect: In what is a Sunday double-header, the men's team will play first before New Zealand women take on England. The pitch at the Westpac Stadium is expected to favour the slower bowlers. Showers are forecast for the morning, and sometime in the afternoon, which might be a concern

Team news:

New Zealand: Although the slower bowlers are likely to have a say again, Stead had ruled out the possibility of roping in an extra spinner into the squad. Among the current lot, Mark Chapman's left-arm orthodox is an option for New Zealand, although the hosts are unlikely to go for it.

Possible XI: Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Australia: Jason Sangha is another spin option available for Australia although the visitors are unlikely to tinker with their winning combination.

Possible XI: Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Josh Philippe, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith

What they said:

"The fact we were 2-0 down and back to 2-2, really proud of the way we've fought. It's not the first time we've done it, either. It's a really good character test at the best of time because the ebbs and flows are so big" - Aaron Finch.

https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/116 ... back-story

[World Cup 2021]

Aus have won toss Bats, no change in the team for Decider

Nz Left out Jamieson but included Mark Chapman

[World Cup 2021]

Freaking Maxiboy underestimate Hongkong Born Chapman A spinner & Batting All rounder
Hold out in Deep

Earlier Philippe out in 2nd over.Finch 36 bats well till Sodhi got him.

Aus 103 for 4 as Wade departs for brilliant 44 great catch by Guppy

15 overs completed

[World Cup 2021]

Sodhi got Stoinis on Full toss ball
Wow 121/5

17 ball left

[World Cup 2021]

2 in 2
Second Full toss & Agar gone
3rd catch Guppy

Sodhi on Hat-trick

Sodhi gave 2 in his 4th over picking 2 wickets
4/0/22/3

[World Cup 2021]

Southee starts last over with wide & No ball but
Marsh was yorked after few balls for 10

139 / 7
142/8

NZ need 143 to go 3/2
Not easy to beat kiwi in kiwi

Both Boult & Southee took 2 wkts each

Chapman 2/0/9/@wicket of Crazy Maxwell
Bowling debut for NZ after playing before as batsman

[World Cup 2021]

You sends your best batsman to open innings -_ -
This Strategy works wonder so far for kiwi.Conway debut as opener is on 31*
Guppy on 31* as well

63/0 off 7.5 overs

[World Cup 2021]

Zampa open the Flood "gate"for Guppy gave 23 in one over

97/ 0
Off 10 overs

Guppy 60*
Conway 35*

[World Cup 2021]

Meredith took 2 in 2 ball
Conway (36) & KW (0)

106 / 2

Guppy my m.o.m today for his
Gallant batting & Fielding

Congratulation Paddles

[World Cup 2021]

27 ball spares as NZ beat Australia by 7 wickets
Phillips 16 ball 34 n.o.
6 fours & 2 sixes

NZ 143/3

Cong for 3/2 nz