New Zealand edge Australia in thriller at World Twenty20
Recalled paceman Mitchell McClenaghan grabs three key wickets as Black Caps win by eight runs
Recalled paceman Mitchell McClenaghan grabbed three crucial wickets and then thanked his team’s spinners on Friday after New Zealand edged past Australia in a last-over thriller at cricket’s World Twenty20.
A year on from the Black Caps’ heartache defeat to Australia in the 50-over World Cup final, New Zealand exacted revenge over their neighbours who were left to rue their decision to go with spin in Dharamsala.
We didn’t respond well, we lost wickets in clumps which you can’t do in T20 cricket when you are chasing a total of 140
Australia had appeared well set to chase down New Zealand’s modest total of 142 for eight, needing a relatively straightforward 43 runs off the last five overs with six wickets in hand.
But tight bowling from rookie spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi put on the brakes before a devastating penultimate over from McClenaghan who finished with figures of three for 17.
He conceded just three runs in his last six balls, taking the wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Ashton Agar after earlier snaring Shane Watson.
