Skipper’s brutal hundred rescues Aussies after Kiwi veteran sparks horror collapse

Captain Mitchell Marsh has single-handedly steered Australia towards victory in the T20 series finale against New Zealand, smacking a career-best 103 not out at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval on Saturday.

The tourists took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series after chasing the 157-run target with 12 balls to spare, sealing a tense three-wicket victory over the Black Caps. Marsh’s maiden T20I hundred featured eight boundaries and seven sixes, while none of his teammates managed more than 14 during the run chase.

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The Australians were seemingly cruising at 1-62 in the seventh over before New Zealand veteran Jimmy Neesham ripped through the middle order in a game-changing spell of 4-26 from four overs. However, despite wickets tumbling at the other end, Marsh and all-rounder Sean Abbott (13 not out) held their nerve to safely guide Australia towards the modest target.

The West Australian reached triple figures in 50 balls, passing the milestone with a top-edged pull shot that landed in vacant territory at deep fine leg.

“Had a bit of luck,” Marsh laughed during the post-match presentation.

MATCH CENTRE: New Zealand vs Australia third T20 scorecard

Earlier, the Black Caps crawled towards 9-156 after skipper Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first, with seamer Abbott claiming three wickets. Kiwi opener Tim Seifert was the only player to manage a score of note, hitting a 35-ball 48 before falling victim to paceman Xavier Bartlett.

Veteran quick Josh Hazlewood, who finished with 2-26 from four, struck twice in the Powerplay before Tim David held onto a superb outfield catch to remove Mark Chapman. Black Caps captain Michael Bracewell (26 off 22 balls) and Neesham (25 off 18 balls) offered some resistance during the death overs before Abbott ran through the tail.

“It was a pretty scrappy game all round,” Marsh continued.

“Nice to get over the line, but it was probably a bit closer than we would have liked.”

“It was a bit of a messy game.”

Australia had already retained the coveted Chappell-Hadlee Trophy having won Wednesday’s series opener, with the second match abandoned due to rain.

AUSSIE SKIPPER’S ONE-MAN BAND

Marsh, later named player of the series, also top-scored for Australia during the first T20 at the same venue, finishing the tour with 197 runs at a strike rate of 191.26. Incredibly, none of his teammates accumulated more than 44 runs across the three-match series.

Australia almost certainly wouldn’t have retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy if not for Marsh’s herculean effort with the bat.

“He’s been in scintillating form in the last six months,” former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian said in commentary.

“He’s led from the front. Take a bow.”

Meanwhile, Marsh becomes the sixth Australian to score an international century in all three formats, joining modern greats Shane Watson, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis and Beth Mooney on the illustrious list.

AUSSIE BLUNDER ‘AS BAD AS I’VE SEEN’

The Australians were guilty of one of the worst reviews in cricket history during New Zealand’s innings at Bay Oval on Saturday.

In the sixth over, Abbott nipped a full delivery into the pads of Seifert, with the tourists appealing for LBW. After a quick consultation with Abbott and wicketkeeper Alex Carey, Marsh called for an audacious review.

“They’re not interested in this, are they?” former New Zealand batter Mark Richardson said in commentary.

Ball-tracking technology showed the ball would have comfortably missed leg stump, with the Australians losing their final review of the innings.

“That’s as bad as I’ve seen,” Richardson laughed.

Australia’s wastefulness came back to haunt them in the 17th over when Abbott trapped Neesham plumb on the pads for 21, but Marsh couldn’t review the umpire’s not-out verdict.

CAREY AND SHORT MISS THE CHANCE

Carey and batter Matt Short have missed a chance to push their case for T20 World Cup selection after another disappointing outing with the bat at Mount Maunganui.

Carey was added to Australia’s squad at the eleventh hour following an injury setback for first-choice gloveman Josh Inglis, who damaged his calf. The left-hander notched a seven-ball 7 during Wednesday’s series opener against the Black Caps before falling victim to Neesham for 1 on Saturday, caught near the boundary by Mark Chapman.

The South Australian now averages 11.12 in T20Is with a middling strike rate of 109.87.

Meanwhile, Short scratched his way towards 7 from 12 balls before becoming Neesham’s first victim of the evening, also caught by Chapman.

Cricket Australia is hopeful Inglis will be available for Australia’s upcoming T20 series against India, which commences October 29, while Carey is unlikely to feature in the white-ball series so he can prioritise Sheffield Shield cricket ahead of the blockbuster Ashes campaign.

Meanwhile, the looming return of Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell will create a middle-order squeeze, leaving Carey and Short at further risk of missing selection in future tours.

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