ICC World Twenty20: New Zealand script dramatic win against Australia

New Zealand players celebrate their eight-run World T20 Super 10 win over Australia at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Friday. (Photo: AFP)

Recalled paceman Mitchell McClenaghan grabbed three crucial wickets and then thanked his team’s spinners on Friday after New Zealand edged past Australia in a last over thriller at World Twenty20.

A year on from the Black Caps’ heartache defeat to Australia in the 50 over World Cup final, New Zealand exacted revenge over their neighbours who were left to rue their decision to go with spin.

Australia had appeared well set to chase down New Zealand’s modest total of 142/8, needing a relatively straightforward 43 runs off the last five overs with six wickets in hand.

But tight bowling from rookie spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi put on the brakes before a devastating penultimate over from man of the match McClenaghan who finished with figures of 3/17.

He conceded just three runs in his last six balls, taking the wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Agar after earlier snaring Shane Watson.

It left Australia needing 19 runs in their last over bowled by Corey Anderson who just about held his nerve, conceding 10 runs.

Australian skipper Steve Smith agreed Sodhi and Santner had been the difference.

“Obviously their spinners bowled extremely well, they ran through the middle,” said Smith.

McClenaghan was a surprise replacement for Nathan McCullum, one of the heroes of New Zealand’s dramatic victory over the hosts India on Tuesday.

But skipper Kane Williamson’s switch was vindicated in spectacular style while Australia came to regret picking two inexperienced spin bowlers in Agar and Adam Zampa.

Agar had a game to forget, carted for three sixes in his one and only over. His first two balls were full tosses, dispatched over the ropes by Martin Guptill, who top-scored with 39 off 27 balls.

Guptill and Williamson put on 61 in the first seven overs but the Black Caps’ hopes of putting on a score close to 200 soon subsided.

But poor shot selection and tight bowling from the veteran Watson and allrounders Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner slowed their charge.

Guptill was the first to go after racing to 39 off 27 balls, caught on the boundary by Maxwell off the bowling of Faulkner.

Usman Khawaja and Watson got the Australian innings off to brisk start, putting on 44 before Watson fell.

Khawaja stroked six fours in an attractive innings of 38 before he was run out just as he looked poised to post a big score.

Scoreboard New Zealand: M. Guptill c Maxwell b Faulkner 39, K. Williamson c Agar b Maxwell 24, C. Munro c Faulkner b Marsh, 23, C. Anderson c Agar b Maxwell 3, R. Taylor, c Marsh b Watson 11, G. Elliott run out 27, L. Ronchi c Maxwell b Faulkner 6, M. Santner run out 1, A. Milne (not out) 2. Extras: (b 4, w 2) 6. Total: (for 8 wkts, in 20 overs) 142. Fow: 1-61, 2-66, 3-76, 4-97, 5-117, 6-133, 7-140, 8-142. Bolwing: Coulter-Nile 4-0-33-0, Watson 4-0-22-1 (1w), Agar 1-0-18-0, Faulkner 3-0-18-2, Zampa 1-0-3-0, Maxwell 3-0-18-0, Marsh 4-0-26-1.

Australia: U. Khawaja (run out) 38, S. Watson c Williamson b McClenaghan 13, S. Smith st Ronchi b Santner 6, D. Warner c Guptill b Santner 6, G. Maxwell, c Williamson b Sodhi 22, M. Marsh c Milne b McClenaghan 24, A. Agar c Taylor b McClenaghan 9, J. Faulkner c Guptill b Anderson 2, N. Coulter-Nile b Anderson 1, P. Nevill (not out) 7, A Zampa (not out) 2. Extras: (lb 2, w 2) 4. Total: (for 9 wkts, in 20 overs) 134. Fow: 1-44, 2-51, 3-62, 4-66, 5-100, 6-121, 7-123, 8- 124, 9-132. Bowling: Anderson 4-0-29-2, Milne 2-0-22-0 (w2), Elliott 2-0-17-0, McClenaghan 3-0-17-3, Santner 4-0-30-2, Williamson 1-0-3-0, Sodhi 4-0-14-1.