Zampa, fast bowlers flatten New Zealand to seal T20I series
Earlier, a handy knock from Pat Cummins kick-started Australia’s comeback
Tristan Lavalette23-Feb-2024Josh Hazlewood bowled superbly with the new ball before legspinner Adam Zampa returned to form as Australia tore through a shorthanded New Zealand batting order to wrap up the T20I series in Auckland.While their thrilling victory in the first game was highlighted by a magnificent chase, Australia’s disciplined bowling attack shone here with Hazlewood’s terrific opening spell setting the tone. Zampa then took over with four wickets as Australia clinched the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with a thumping victory, with a match to spare.It was a stellar comeback for Australia, who were staring down the barrel at 138 for 7 after being sent in at Eden Park.New Zealand’s woes were compounded when wicketkeeper-batter Devon Conway injured his left thumb early in the match and was not able to bat. An X-ray did clear him of a fracture, but he will be further reviewed.The series finale will be played at the same venue on Sunday.Hazlewood stars early, Zampa bounces backAustralia were seemingly defending a sub-par total, but Hazlewood was on the money with trademark accurate line-and-length bowling. After being carted by Finn Allen for a six on his third delivery, Hazlewood exacted revenge when Allen unluckily played on.Hazlewood relished the surface’s bounce and zeroed in on a nervy New Zealand top order with his initial three-over burst capped by a maiden. Astonishingly he bowled 15 dots in his first 18 deliveries. It was an important hit-out for Hazlewood, who won’t be playing in the IPL due to the birth of his first child.Josh Hazlewood bowled 17 dot balls in his four overs•Getty ImagesWith Mitchell Starc rested, quick Nathan Ellis had his opportunity as he eyes a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. He bowled his usual array of offcutters mixed with piercing yorkers to finish with 2 for 16 from three overs.Zampa slammed the door shut on New Zealand with the wickets of Josh Clarkson and Adam Milne on successive deliveries. It was a relief for Zampa, who had been pummelled for 107 runs across his last two T20Is.Australia’s strong performance in the field was highlighted by returning wicketkeeper Matthew Wade sprinting towards fine leg and completing a fine diving catch to remove opener Will Young.New Zealand struggle without ConwayWithout opener Conway, who returned to form with a half-century in game one, New Zealand’s batting order was out of sync as they crashed in the powerplay.Skipper Mitchell Santner promoted himself to No. 3, but it backfired and their hopes rested on Clarkson and Glenn Phillips.Clarkson could not get going in his first T20I innings before being bowled by Zampa, who ripped apart New Zealand’s middle order, including Phillips for 42.Smith fails to impress, Australia’s hard-hitting backfiresAfter being overlooked in the series opener, Steven Smith appears to not be in Australia’s first-choice XI for the T20 World Cup. But with their campaign to be played on slower and turning surfaces in the Caribbean, Smith will almost certainly make the squad.Pat Cummins pulls behind square during his 28 off 22 balls•AFP/Getty ImagesWith Australia trialling their line-up, Smith was given an opportunity at the top of the order while David Warner was rested.After not scoring off his first two deliveries against Milne bowling over 140kph, Smith decided to go for broke. He carved a cut over backward point then scooped a six over fine leg in an audacious manner reminiscent of the stroke he unfurled in the waning moments of the thrilling Gabba Test against West Indies.Smith’s most inventive stroke was a scoop to wide fine leg after shuffling well outside off stump. But he fell in the next over to a wicked inswinger from Lockie Ferguson on review to end his brief 11 off 7 balls.Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh then tried to smash almost every delivery to the boundary in a rapid half-century partnership. Australia were eyeing a huge total after clubbing 74 in the powerplay, but Head’s dismissal for 45 off 22 balls triggered a collapse of 6 for 53 amid a slew of miss-hits.Tim David, Australia’s hero at the death in the first game, came out at the halfway point and he was clearly not as comfortable coming to the crease earlier than expected.David made just 17 off 19 balls, but a handy late knock from Pat Cummins kick-started Australia’s comeback.Boult cops early punishment, Ferguson and Sears restrict AustraliaExperienced seamer Trent Boult returned to international cricket for the first time since last year’s ODI World Cup. But he has been playing plenty of T20 franchise cricket and hoped to provide New Zealand with a spark after their attack copped a pounding in the first game.Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne are all smiles after bowling Australia out for 174•AFP/Getty ImagesBoult, however, had a torrid first over when he leaked 20 runs, including unluckily being hit for two sixes that flew off Head’s outside edge. Things didn’t improve much for Boult, who finished with 0 for 49 off four overs.But Boult played his part with tough catches at long-on to dismiss Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. New Zealand clawed back with Ferguson backing up his impressive performance in the first game to finish with 4 for 12 – the best T20I figures for a New Zealand bowler against Australia.He bowled mostly a tight length to restrict Australia’s power-hitters with his bowling effort marked by 13 dot balls.Ferguson was well supported by fellow speedster Ben Sears, who proved an inspired selection with 2 for 29 from four overs. He mixed his pace superbly with numerous slower deliveries frustrating Australia’s batters in the middle overs.