T20 World Cup: New Zealand crush holders Australia

In ICC world Cup, New Zealand on Saturday beat defending champions Australia by 89 runs and  broke a series of records and ended a 11-year-long jinx Down Under. With a dominant performance with both bat and ball, Kane Williamson's men laid down an early marker despite not heading into the tournament with any 'favourites' tag. With this heavy defeat, Australia’s net run rate has taken a beating and they may need to win every match from now on to stay on course for the semi-finals.

New Zealand lost the toss, but young Finn Allen got the World Cup Super 12s off to a racing start with a 16-ball 42. Allen’s attacking ways seemed to have caught the home side unawares in the early exchanges. . Allen got out in the fifth over, after which skipper Kane Williamson’s subdued run-a-ball 23 failed to keep up the momentum.

New Zealand win their first men's international game on Australian soil since 2011 #T20WorldCup | #AUSvNZ | Scorecard: https://t.co/ouB6f5vSvG pic.twitter.com/gcCoihn9UD

— ICC (@ICC) October 22, 2022

In reply, New Zealand came searching for Aaron Finch’s pads in the first two overs and got David Warner in the bargain. Finch freed himself and deposited Trent Boult in the third over several rows up in the stands beyond the mid-wicket boundary to bring himself into the contest. But he soon fell to left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, Williamson’s ploy to contain Mitch Marsh with early spin resulting in the end of the Australian skipper.