SYDNEY: New Zealand opened the Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 in style with a 89-run win over hosts and defending champions Australia on Saturday, avenging their defeat in last year’s final.
Dion Conway led the charge with a brilliant unbeaten 92 to help New Zealand to 200-3 before Australia were bowled out for 111 in Sydney to defend their title. So start a nightmare.
Conway’s knock came off just 58 balls with seven fours and two sixes, joining a select group to score 90 or more runs in a World Cup. Mitchell Santner and Tim Southee both took three wickets each.
It was New Zealand’s first win against Australia in any format since 2011.
The match at the sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground was a repeat of the 2021 final in Dubai when Australia won by eight wickets and claimed their maiden crown.
Aaron Finch’s men now have their work cut out for them in a tough Group 1 with Afghanistan, England and qualifiers Ireland and Sri Lanka competing for the feat. Only the top two advance to the semi-finals.
New Zealand got off to a sensational start when Finch sent them into bat, with Finn Allen hitting Mitchell Starc for two fours and a six in the opening over.
Not to be outdone, Conway then smashed two blistering boundaries off Josh Hazlewood as the Black Caps scored 29 runs in the first two overs.
Adam Zampa dropped Allen in the next over as Pat Cummins was similarly punished, taken for 17.
But the young right-hander’s luck ran out when Hazlewood returned and the speedy spearhead bowled him for 42 — just 16 balls — as he charged to the crease.
The introduction of Marcus Stoins and Zampa helped stem the flow of runs, but Conway brought up his 50 with a six off spinner Zampa, who lbw Kane Williamson (23) in the same over.
Hazlewood dismissed Glenn Phillips for 12, before Jimmy Neesham hit a six off the last ball to reach 200.
The slog
Australia’s chase began badly when man of the tournament at the 2021 event David Warner fell for three in the second over, dragging the ball onto Southee’s stumps.
Finch (13) hit a big six off Trent Boult but didn’t last long, hitting Santner straight to Williamson at cover as his poor form continued.
It was a similar story for Mitchell Marsh, who briefly hit big for 16 and was caught by Neesham in the fifth over to send Australia 34-2.
Phillips took one of the best catches of the tournament so far to remove Stoins for seven, as he raced through deep cover to take full length to his left.
And when big-hitting Tim David, preferred to Steve Smith, became Santner’s third wicket, dismissed for 11, it was 68-5 in the 11th over.
Matthew Wade (two) and Glenn Maxwell (28) were their last hope.
Australia will next face Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday, while New Zealand will play Afghanistan in Melbourne a day later.
