Agar takes six wickets as Australia thrash Kiwis to keep T20 series alive
Spinner Ashton Agar produced the best bowling performance in Australia’s Twenty20 international history while ensuring a 64-run victory over New Zealand in Wellington yesterday.
Agar’s match-turning spell of 6-30, including three wickets in one over, derailed a New Zealand fightback as Australia avoided a sweeping series loss in the third Twenty20 international.
Captain Aaron Finch found some much-needed runs hitting 69, his best T20 international score for more than two years, while Glenn Maxwell smashed 70 from 31 balls.
The result leaves the fivematch series at 2-1 in New Zealand’s favour with two games to go.
Finch said the Australians, who have rested stars such as David Warner, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc for the New Zealand tour, were still targeting a series win.
“To keep improving is all we can ask at the moment and we’re still alive in the series,” he said.
Australia finished their 20 overs at 208-4 after losing the toss and being asked to bat.
In reply, New Zealand were bundled out for 144 in 17.1 overs primarily due to Agar’s heroics.
“Once I started to have the courage to toss the ball up a little bit I got something out of it,” he said. “That was a good lesson I can take out of today moving forward.”
Only four players have taken six wickets in a T20 international before, but none of them from Australia.
The focus ahead of the match was Finch’s poor form. Critics had questioned Finch’s place in the team, but Australia selector George Bailey this week insisted Finch would remain captain for the T20 World Cup in India later this year.
The Australian captain was lucky to avoid a leg-before appeal on the first ball he faced. But Finch responded to the close shave with controlled aggression, using his feet and attacking the ball to forge an 83-run partnership with Josh Philippe, w ho made a well-crafted 43. Finch repaid
Critics had questioned Finch’s place, but the captain replied with 69 runs, his highest score in T20s since July 2018
Baily’s faith with his highest score in T20 internationals since July 2018, including a 43-ball half-century that was his first in more than a year.
Maxwell also shook off a lean spell bringing up a 25ball half-century.
“It was pretty ugly at the start but once I was able to get a bit of a read of the wicket I was able to clear the rope and hit to the fence a few times,” he said.
Opener Martin Guptill’s 43 and a Devon Conway knock of 38 were highlights for New Zealand.