NZ VS AUS 1ST T20I

Right then, that is it from this absolute nail-biting contest where Australia takes an early lead in the series but only just, they will look to seal it in the next game while New Zealand will be hoping to fight back and level it. The 2nd T20I will be played on 23rd February, Friday at 11.40 am IST (6.10 am GMT), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Mitchell Marsh is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant all-round performance.

Earlier in the game, New Zealand posted the highest T20I total at this ground courtesy of a couple of brilliant half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway. They were also helped with some quick-fire cameos from Finn Allen at the start along with Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips at the death. Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Marsh chipped in with one wicket each for Australia, but except for the skipper, every other bowler was quite expensive. While chasing, it was the skipper who played the anchor, but they could not have done it without that special cameo from Tim David at the death.

New Zealand, on the other hand, knew that defending this one would not be easy at all. Southee started well conceding just 4 runs in the first over, but after that, the Aussies picked up the pace and started scoring freely. Adam Milne got them the first breakthrough inside the Powerplay while Mitchell Santner after getting hit for two sixes removed the dangerous David Warner in the same over. In the middle overs, they took a hammering from the visitors, but in between all of that Lockie Ferguson got rid of Maxi to settle some nerves for them. Santner was expensive but in his last over conceded just three runs and picked up a wicket while Ferguson followed it up with an 8-run over to shift the momentum back towards them. However, Milne went for 19 in the penultimate over and it was all on the shoulders of Southee. Tim Southee put in an excellent effort to defend 15 runs, but the hosts faced defeat on the very last delivery.

Australia needed a quick start in this big run chase, but Travis Head struggled to find the timing right. However, he still managed to score 24 off just 15 before holding out. David Warner was looking decent and he along with the skipper made sure to utilise the Powerplay and added 40 runs together, but the former just went for a big shot too many and lost his wicket. The 'Big Show' couldn't hang around for long but he did play a quick-fire cameos to keep the Aussies in the chase. Mitchell Marsh continued with his aggressive approach that did not let the asking rate go over the limit and notched up a brilliant half-century as well. He also found good support from Josh Inglis and they built up a partnership of 71 runs to take them closer to the total. The skipper remained unbeaten on 72 off just 44 balls but took a back seat at the death as it was all about Tim David. He smashed 31 runs off just 10 balls, they needed a 4 in the last ball, and he managed to hit that to take the Aussies home.

Tim David, you beauty! A fantastic finish to an extraordinary game of cricket. It all went to the 240th ball of the match, but Australia have just managed to get over the line here and take a 1-0 lead. This is only the first T20I of the series, and if this is anything to go by, we are surely in for some thrilling encounters. It is heartbreak for the Kiwis, but they gave their all on the field and it was just not meant to be for them.

FOUR! TIM DAVID, TAKE A BOW! Australia win by 6 wickets and it took the last delivery to decide the winner of this nail-biter. Pin-drop silence in the crowd. The Kiwis are in absolute disarray and why not? They were sniffing a win but David has just robbed it from them in the very last delivery. Not a bad delivery at all from Southee, as he bowls it fuller, and on the middle stump line, attempting to cramp him for room, but Tim David clears his front foot and smacks it hard past the gap between the long on and deep mid-wicket region for a boundary. Glenn Phillips slides to the left but cannot fetch it before the ropes. Australia win a thrilling match. What an initiation to this Trans-Tasman series. A good game of cricket overall but Australia ended up on the winning side courtesy of Tim David's 31 off just 10 rocks in the backend. Australia take the lead by 1-0 in the series.

Excellent comeback this from Southee! Using all his experience! A precise yorker on off, Tim David drives it though covers and scampers back for the double. 4 needed from the final ball now. Can Tim David finish off in style for Straya?

SIX! Just over the ropes and now the Aussies are just a hit away! Low full toss on offer down leg, Tim David bends a bit low and flicks it over deep square leg for a maximum. 6 needed of the last 2 balls.

Misses out the connection again! Full toss on the pads, Mitchell Marsh misses to pull and it runs a leg bye to the on side. 12 needed off the last 3 balls now.

A gutsy delivery from Southee. A yorker on the middle, Tim David outside edges and squeezes it to the off side and takes a single.

An adamant appeal for LBW! But turned down. Southee fires a precise yorker on the leg stump line, Marsh misses to connect and it thuds his back boot. UltraEdge comes up and shows that no bat is involved. Ball Tracker confirms it is pitching outside leg. A desperate review though. They do cross for a leg bye.

Is that out? New Zealand goes upstairs for a LBW decision, but it looks like a desperate review. UltraEdge shows no bat involved and Ball Tracking clearly indicates it is going down the legs side. Marsh survives.

WIDE! Down leg and on a fuller length, Marsh misses out on the flick but it is a Wide anyways. 15 runs from the last 6 balls now.

Tim Southee (3-0-39-0) to bowl the last over. Can he defend 15 runs here?

SIX! Clears the fence again! What a finish to the over. On the fullish length and around the middle and off channel, Tim David again swings it hard and clears the deep mid-wicket for a maximum. 16 needed now off the final over.

SIX! Oh, my word! That's been hammered by David! He is on a mission here. Milne offers a half-volley on off, Tim David clears his front foot and bangs it over long on for a maximum. That flew 98 meters away. The biggest of the night.