Australia beat New Zealand, claims No.1 spot in T20I
Australia lost quick wickets early on but Maxwell and Finch combined for 37 runs was enough to give the hosts and their fans at Eden Park slim hope of an upset victory. The kangaroos were 121 for three when they were forced off for rain for the second time during their innings.
Australia defeated New Zealand under the Duckworth-Lewis method to claim the trans-Tasman Twenty20 tri-series after Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch helped secure a 19 run win in a rain affected final.
Australia lost quick wickets early on but Maxwell and Finch combined for 37 runs was enough to give the hosts and their fans at Eden Park slim hope of an upset victory. The kangaroos were 121 for three when they were forced off for rain for the second time during their innings.
Openers D’Arcy Short (50) and Warner (25) put on 72 runs to set the foundation before they fell in quick succession, but Finch and Maxwell settled the innings down to ensure victory after rain forced them off after 14.4 overs.
Earlier they had restricted New Zealand to 150 nine. New Zealand were unable to establish any partnerships until they had been reduced to 110 for eight with 6.2 overs remaining.
Australia are now the second-ranked T20I team in the world, and by just decimal points behind Pakistan, having won their sixth game on the trot to equal their longest winning streak in Twenty20 Internationals.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 150 for 9 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 29, Ross Taylor 43; Ashton Agar 3 for 27) lose to Australia 121 for 3 in 14.4 overs (D’Arcy Short 50; Ish Sodhi 1 for 21) by 19 runs (DLS method)
Man of the Match: Ashton Agar.
Man of the Series: Glenn Maxwell.