Decades Tournament - 2020s Australia v 2020s New Zealand

 

Australia won a fascinating game against New Zealand to keep their qualification hopes alive in Group K.  A packed MCG saw the Aussies come away with a 128 run win on the 5th day, in a game that saw almost 1400 runs scored at a rate of 3.79 runs per over with 4 centurions.

Australia won the toss, batted first and were all out late on day one for 328.  Alex Carey hit a very good 108 with 74 coming from Travis Head.  Locke Ferguson took 4 for 58 on a pitch that offered a bit for everyone.

Mitchell Starc took 5 for 32 for the Aussies in a brilliant spell to help reduce the Black Caps to 252 all out.  Only Tom Blundell (79) and Martin Guptill (57) put up any real resistance and the Aussies had a useful 76 run lead.

Australia reinforced their strong position with a dominant 410-4, declaring late on day 3 in their 2nd innings.  Marnus Labuschagne hit a brilliant 205 not out, while Travis Head hit 121 and Carey hit 53 not out.

New Zealand were set 487 to win and they made a fine effort with their chase.  Devon Conway hit a superb 193 and Australia must have been concerned for a time.  The pitch was starting to turn prodigiously however and it would be the spinners who ultimately decided the course of the game.  Nathan Lyon took 5 for 102 while Travis Head supported well, taking 4 for 50 as the Kiwis were all out for 358 on the 5th morning.  His spell capped off a wonderful test and he was worthy of the Man of the Match award despite many other candidates.

Australia 2020s: DA Warner; Usman Khawaja; M Labuschagne; SPD Smith; TM Head; AT Carey [w]; MR Marsh; MA Starc; PJ Cummins [c]; NM Lyon; SM Boland

New Zealand 2020s: DP Conway; RT Latham [w]; LRPL Taylor [c]; MJ Guptill; HM Nicholls; TA Blundell; MJ Santner; N Wagner; MJ Henry; MG Bracewell; LH Ferguson

Australia 2020s 1st Innings 328-10 (87.5 Ov)

AT Carey 108, TM Head 74, Usman Khawaja 33, LH Ferguson 4-58, MJ Henry 2-51, MG Bracewell 2-87

New Zealand 2020s 1st Innings 252-10 (85 Ov)

TA Blundell 79, MJ Guptill 57, LRPL Taylor 46, MA Starc 5-32, SM Boland 3-62

Australia 2020s 2nd Innings 410-4 (83.5 Ov)

M Labuschagne 205*, TM Head 121, AT Carey 53*, N Wagner 3-90

New Zealand 2020s 2nd Innings 358-10 (99.2 Ov)

DP Conway 193, N Wagner 45*, LRPL Taylor 34, NM Lyon 5-102, TM Head 4-50

Australia 2020s win by 128 runs

Man of the Match: TM Head

Australias win puts them in 2nd place on 20 points.  They must now wait to see how India fare against England.  A draw will mean a tie break situation while an Indian win will take them through at Australias expense.