New Zealand crush Australia by 89 runs in stunning World Cup upset
New Zealand have pulled a major surprise in their first game of the T20 World Cup by thrashing Australia by 89 runs at the SCG.
Chasing 201, Australia were bowled out for just 111 in the 18th over. Only two batsmen – Glenn Maxwell (28) and Pat Cummins (21) – made more than 16.It leaves Aaron Finch’s side facing the prospect of being bundled out in the ground stages, given their net run rate after this dismal performance.
This is New Zealand’s first win on Australian soil for 11 years, across all formats.
They deserve to celebrate. That was a clinic. Bravo.
The confidence could take them places, on the other hand, Australia could find themselves struggling in what is already an extremely competitive group. Losses is something that can happen, but the net run-rate has taken a hit with this bad loss. It all started in the 1st over when an unsuspecting Starc was taken to the cleaners by Finn Allen.
That set the tone and New Zealand never let Australia into the contest, not at any moment of the game. Warner could consider himself unlucky, but Finch, Marsh, Stoinis, David and Maxwell played far too many shots, and not many of them came off well. They were trapped by spin after Southee’s double strike, they could never get going against Santner’s variations and they left themselves with too much to do. That brought about panic, some shot selection was poor and they dug themselves into a hole, from which they never recovered.
No team has defended their title and Australia have started in the worst possible fashion
