After a crunch match in Brisbane, Australia XI and New Zealand XI will see each other in the next encounter which will be played on the same venue. The first match of the 3-match series was contested pretty much evenly as the margin of defeat for New Zealand XI was just 1 wicket and 10 balls to spare.
Home skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to field first on a bright sunny day. His decision paid dividends right away as New Zealand XI lost both their openers in a span of the first four balls of the innings. Both openers George Worker and Henry Nicholls didn’t trouble the scorers as they were dismissed without opening their account.
Will Young then steadied the ship with a well made 60 off 69 deliveries which included 4 fours and 2 sixes. He got good support in the form of Tom Blundell who got 77 from 102 deliveries. The duo stitched 136 runs stand for the fourth wicket. Their valiant effort helped NZ-XI to crawl up to 215 before being bundled out in 46.1 overs. The pace battery of Australia comprising Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter Nile got 3-wickets each.
In reply, the hosts found it tough to chase a down a modest total as it took them 48.2 overs to reach 216 and in the process lost 9 wickets. The much-awaited return of David Warner and Steve Smith in Yellow jersey was the highlight of the match. David Warner looked solid for his 39 off 43 which included 6 fours and a six but it wasn’t the case for Steve Smith who looked uncomfortable and rusty in getting a score of 22 from 43 deliveries which included only two fours.
However, it has been a good start for the home side in the three-match series and they would be aiming to seal the series in the second game itself which will be played tomorrow.
New Zealand XI vs Australia XI
Venue: Brisbane
Time: May 08, 05:00 AM
New Zealand XI squad to face Australia XI:
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Doug Bracewell, Blair Tickner, George Worker, Matt Henry, Will Young, Hamish Rutherford, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Will Somerville, Henry Nicholls, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Seth Rance.
Australia XI squad to face New Zealand XI:
Aaron Finch (c), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey
New Zealand XI:
For the visitors, Will Young and Tom Blundell were the shining stars in the last match as both got a fifty against their name. Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham and skipper Tom Latham are the other players to rely upon.
In the bowling department, Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry and the lone spinner Todd Astle will be the reliable picks.
Australia XI:
The hosts will rely on their skipper Aaron Finch who got a fifty in the last game. David Warner showed some glimpse of his old form, while Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh are the other dependable duo in the batting department.
The pacers relished the surface in the last game as they shared 98 wickets among them. Once again the pace department will hold the key for Australia.