Lockie Ferguson Wrecks Aussie Middle Order, New Zealand Falters to Chase 175 at Eden Park
Lockie Ferguson unleashed a fiery spell to dismantle heavy batting order of Australia, leaving New Zealand with a chaseable target of 175 runs in the second T20I at Eden Park on Friday. However, the host once again failed to compete against Australia and lost the match by 72 runs.
Despite the short boundaries at the iconic venue, Ferguson was unplayable, claiming 4-12 in a devastating 3.5 overs without conceding a six. His spell triggered a dramatic Australian collapse from a promising 104-2 in the ninth over to a paltry 174 all out in 19.5 overs.
The middle order, barring a late cameo from Pat Cummins (28 off 22), crumbled spectacularly, losing eight wickets for just 70 runs.
Earlier, Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner opted to bowl first, and Australian opener Travis Head took full advantage, blasting 45 off 22 balls with five sixes. However, the joy was short-lived as Ferguson ignited the collapse, removing Head and David Warner in quick succession.
New Zealand’s chase got off to a shaky start as wicketkeeper Matthew Wade pulled off a stunning diving catch to dismiss Will Young for 5 in the tenth over.
New Zealand’s chase faltered as they struggled to build momentum, ultimately succumbing to a 74-run defeat in pursuit of Australia’s 176. Only Glenn Phillips (42 runs) and Trent Boult (16 runs) managed to reach double figures.
The chase began shakily with Josh Clarkson falling victim to Adam Zampa’s first ball. His dismissal was followed by Adam Milne’s duck on the next delivery, putting New Zealand in early trouble. A unique moment occurred when Glenn Phillips played out a rare maiden over, highlighting the difficulty New Zealand batters faced.
While the Australian bowlers displayed commendable discipline throughout, it’s important to note that the game wasn’t entirely one-sided. The first innings saw a competitive phase where New Zealand put up a strong challenge before Australia gained dominance.
Australia made three changes to their line-up, bringing in Steve Smith, Nathan Ellis, and Matthew Wade for David Warner, Matthew Short, and Mitchell Starc. Notably, New Zealand star Rachin Ravindra missed the match due to knee pain sustained in the series opener.
Australia now lead the series 2-0 and with the last match left. Auckland will once again host the final match of the series. Also, it will be interesting to see if Devon Conway will be available for the final T20I as he suffered a severe thunmb Injury while wicket-Keeping.
