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Overview

Greetings cricket enthusiasts! Join us for game two of the live coverage of the men’s T20 international clash for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. Australia are ahead the series 1-0 after trouncing the hosts by six wickets in the first match on the previous match day.

The win was anchored by the powerful batting of skipper Mitchell Marsh, who blasted 85 from 43 deliveries with nine fours and 5 maximums at a scoring rate of 197.67.

The Black Caps were dominated with the ball but will take solace from their showing with the bat. Despite losing three early wickets in the first 10 balls, they recovered to reach what seemed a respectable 181, led by Tim Robinson’s maiden century.

Weather Update

The latest weather report…

Unfortunately, it’s a rainy day at Mount Maunganui and the light rain, which stopped an hour ago, has just resumed. While the weather radar shows clearing conditions coming in, for now the toss and announcement of the two XIs for today will be postponed.

However, I’m assured Bay Oval has a drainage system that disposes of liquids effectively, so fingers crossed we see play soon.

Squad Updates

Here are today’s teams…

NEW ZEALAND
Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, 3 Tim Robinson, 4 Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (captain), 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

A changed lineup for the Black Caps with allrounder Jimmy Neesham added to the team, fast bowler Ben Sears included, and 32-year-old leg-break specialist Ish Sodhi also selected.

AUSTRALIA
Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), Matt Short, 4 Tim David, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), 6 Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, 10 Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

One change for Australia with fast-bowler Sean Abbott taking the place of Ben Dwarshuis.

Toss Result

Coin toss: New Zealand won the toss and will bowl first

Michael Bracewell called right and elects to have a bowl at the Australians. The Australian skipper likely would’ve done the same so an early win for the home side. However, the Kiwis will need to begin more strongly than they did in game one where the visitors raced to 67 runs in the first five overs before the Kiwis took their first wicket.

Match Conditions

More good news, everyone: the covers have been removed at the ground and we have confirmation that today’s fixture will go ahead as an 18-over contest.

Player Highlights

Tim Robinson’s first T20I century in Game One was a spectacular effort in a losing cause. The New Zealand were 6-3 in the early stages, with the Australian paceman dismissing the opener in the first over and the left-arm quick taking two wickets in two balls to dismiss two top-order batsmen back to the sheds before the young batsman swaggered out. Playing his 13th T20I, the unruly-haired youngster scored an not out 106 runs from 66 deliveries.

He hit 6 boundaries and 5 sixes along the way and ended his blitzkrieg in style, with a four and a six from the final two balls!

Squad Absences

There’s a few fans leaving at the stadium so we expect a coin toss and today’s final XIs for you soon. However, there are a heap of players absent across the board through fitness issues, Test commitments, parental duties or unusual incidents.

Weirdest of all, both teams lost their key all-rounders on the eve of the series in strange practice accidents. On the previous day, New Zealand star Rachin Ravindra hit an signboard during a fielding drill and suffered a serious cut to his face that required stitches and made him unavailable for the entire series.

That very day, Australian star Glenn Maxwell had one of his meaty wrists fractured while practicing bowling thanks to tonk-happy teammate Mitchell Owen. It means The Big Show is a no-show for this series and may be in doubt for the home summer too.

Looking Back

While the teams complete their last preparations at the venue, we might take a look back at Game One. The two sides arrived in hot form, with Australia on a winning streak of 15 wins from their last 17 T20s and New Zealand having won 9 out of 11 matches in the current year.

Related Tournament News

Of course this T20 match is also a appetizing preview for the Women’s World Cup being played in the subcontinent. Australia are aiming to win a seventh 50-over title, and be the first women’s team to win back-to-back championships since the late 80s. They started their campaign with a victory over New Zealand and tonight face the Lankan team.

Indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner scored the opening hundred of the competition, rescuing Australia from 5-128 with a calm 83-ball 115 that helped her team to post 326 runs in 49.3 overs. The Australians went on to beat the White Caps by 89 runs.