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Blackcaps 143/3 (15.3 overs)
Phillips 34 (16), Chapman 1 (2)
Australia 142/8 (Wade 44, Finch 36, Sodhi 3/24, Boult 2/26)
New Zealand nwin by seven wickets with 28 balls to spare. Click here for a match wrap and highlights.
16th over - Adam Zampa is back into the attack.
Welcome back to the attack Zampa. He over pitches and Phillips sweeps him into the stands for six. What an innings Phillips is playing. Just six more need for New Zealand.
What a way to claim the series. Phillips smashes Zampa back over his head for six more.
New Zealand win by seven wickets with 28 balls to spare.
15th over - Jhye Richardson to bowl his third over.
WICKET - Richardson goes short and Guptil tries to pull him away. All he can do it get a top edge and goes straight to Marsh at square leg who takes an easy catch. It brings to an end a terrific innings.
Martin Guptill c Marsh b JA Richardson 71 (46b 7x4 4x6) SR: 154.35
Mark Chapman is the next man in.
The wicket doesn't stop Phillips who plays a classical cover drive for four.
The next ball sees Phillips keep the runs coming with a single.
Chapman is off the mark straight away with a single out to square leg. (NZ 131/3)
14th over - Riley Meredith to continue and on a hat-trick.
The hat-trick ball sees Guptill guide him down to third man for a single.
Wow, what a shot from Phillips. Phillips dances down the wicket and smashes Meredith straight back at him. It's lucky not to hit the big fast bowler and races away for four.
Four more. Meredith drops short and Phillips pulls him away through midwicket for four.
Phillips has joined the fun with his third four in a row, this time through the covers. (NZ 124/2)
13th over - Ashton Agar to bowl his final over.
Guptill drives the first ball of the over down the ground for a single.
After four dot balls, Phillips flicks Agar over midwicket for four to ease the pressure.
12th over - Riley Meredith is back into the attack.
After a dot ball to start the over, Guptill pulls Meredith away but doesn't get all of it and he'll come back for two.
Meredith goes short and Guptill steps inside it and flicks it down to square for four between the two fielders.
The next ball sees Guptill flick Meredith down to square leg for a single.
WICKET - Meredith goes short and outside off. Conway tries to cut him away but can only find Agar out at deep cover and he takes an easy catch. Brings to an end an awesome opening partnership.
Devon Conway c Agar b Meredith 36 (28b 3x4 1x6) SR: 128.57
Kane Williamson is the next man in.
WICKET - Two in two for Meredith. Wiliamson gets stick on the crease and Williamson pulls all-around it. The ball crashes into the pads and is given out but he reviews straight away. Ball tracking shows the ball just hitting the leg stump, so it's umpires call and Williamson is on his way.
Kane Williamson lbw b Meredith 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Glenn Phillips is the next man in. (NZ 106/2)
11th over - Ashton Agar is back into the attack for his third over.
After a dot ball to start the over, Guptill sweeps Agar down to fine leg for a single.
After two dot balls, Conway pulls Agar out to sqaure leg for a single.
A single to end the over. (NZ 99/0)
10th over - Jhye Richardson is back into the attack for his second over.
Conway turns Richardson into the leg side for a single.
Guptill keeps the runs coming with a single down to long-on.
Richardson falls onto the pads of Conway who flicks him down to fine leg for a single.
Richardson loses his line and Guptill tries to pull him away. It looks like a nothing ball but there is a shout for caught behind but it's given not out. Australia will review. On review, it shows the ball has missed the bat so it stays not out.
Richardson loses his line and Guptill punishes him. Richardson is short and outisde off and Guptill cuts him away for four.
The next ball sees Guptill skew Richardson down to fine leg for a single. (NZ 96/0)
Ninth over - Adam Zampa to continue with his second over.
Zampa over pitches and Guptill sweeps him over square leg and out of the stadium for six. What a shot. We'll need a new ball after that shot.
Guptill is on fire as Zampa falls short and Guptill cuts him away through backward point for four.
Six more for Guptill. Zampa goes full and Guptill sweeps him away for six more into the stands.
What a way to bring up your 17th half century. Zampa over pitches and Guptill smashes him back over his head for six.
23 runs off the over. (NZ 87/0)
Eighth over - Kane Richardson is back into the attack.
Richardson starts slightly short and outside off and Conway bottom edges him out to third man for a single.
Richardson goes short again and Guptill tries to pull him away but miss-times it and it lands just short of square leg for a single.
Conway guides Richardson down to third man for another single.
A poor bit of fielding from Zampa allows Guptill come through for a single. (NZ 64/0)
Seventh over - Adam Zampa into the attack.
Another let off for Guptill. Zampa is slightly and Guptill sweeps him out to square leg who dives forward and gets a finger on it but it doesn't stick and races away for four.
Four more. Over pitched from Zampa and Guptil smashes him through the covers for four. (NZ 59/0)
Sixth over - Meredith to continue with his second over.
Meredith falls onto the pads of Conway who flicks him down to third man for four.
Short again from Meredith and Conway is onto it in a flash. He pulls him flat and all the way for six.
Conway looks in for with a perfectly timed flick off his pads out to cover for a single to bring up the 50 partnership.
A lucky break for Guptil who is caught out by the extra pace as he tries to flick Meredith into the leg side but only catches the outside edge. It falls perfectly between square leg and fine leg. Big let off for Guptill. (NZ 51/0)
Fifth over - Kane Richardson into the attack for his first of the innings.
Richardson's starts on a back of a length and Conway turns him into the leg side for a single.
Guptil skews Richardson out to midwicket for a single.
Lucky break for Conway. Richardson goes short and Conway tries to pull him away. It catches top edge and flies over Wade for four.
Conway drives Richardson down the ground for a single.
To much width from Richardson and Guptill drives him through point for four. (NZ 39/0)
Fourth over - Jhye Richardson to bowl his first over of the innings.
Conway drives Richardson out to the cover-sweeper to start the over.
After two dot balls, Guptill flicks Richardson out to square leg for a single off his hip.
Good over from Richardson, just three runs from it. (NZ 28/0)
Third over - Ashton Agar to continue with his second over.
The first ball sees Conway sweep Agar out to square leg for a single.
Guptill flicks Agar down the ground for another single.
To short from Agar and Conway pounces. Agar goes wide and Conway cuts him through backward point for four.
After a dot ball, Conway flicks Agar into the leg side for a single.
The last ball of the over, sees Guptill use all his power and smash Agar into the stands over long-on for six. (NZ 25/0)
Second over - Riley Meredith into the attack for the second over.
The extra pace almost brings a wicket first up. Conway cuts Meredith away and it lands inches short of third man.
Meredith falls onto the pads of Guptill and he flicks him away for four. Great shot from the New Zealand opener.
After two dot balls, Guptill punches Meredith away off the back foot for two runs. (NZ 12/0)
First over - The players are back out on the park. The Blackcaps have made a change at the top of the order with Devon Conway at the top order replacing Seifert who drops down. Guptill is also out there. Ashton Agar has ball in hand.
The Blackcaps are underway straight away with a single to midwicket through Conway.
Guptil is off the mark with his first ball with a single down the ground.
New Zealand have started with three singles with Conway turning Agar to midwicket.
Five singles from the opening over. (NZ 5/0)
Change of innings:
Another strong bowling performance from the Blackcaps to keep Australia to under 150. It'll be a challenging score on a wicket favouring the spinners. Matthew Wade top scored with 44 and the chase should be thrilling with the series on the line.
The Blackcaps require 143 off their 20 overs at 7.15 runs per over to claim the series.
20th over - Southee to bowl the last over of the innings.
Southee gets his line wrong with the first ball of the over as it slides down the leg side for a wide.
The next ball sees a full toss above the waste as Marsh pulls him away for only a single but it'll be a no ball, meaning a free-hit.
No damage done off the free-hit as Richardson flicks Southee to fine leg for a single.
Southee loses line again as he slips down the leg side for another wide.
WICKET - Southee goes with the yorker. It's perfect and Marsh's stumps crash over as he tries to smash Southee into the stands.
Mitchell Marsh b Southee 10 (9b 0x4 1x6) SR: 111.11
Kane Richardson is the next man in.
Southee finds his line again as the next three balls go for three singles.
WICKET - The last ball of the innings sees Jhye Richardson try smash Southee over midwicket but can only find Phlipps on the rope. (AUS 142/8)
19th over - Boult to bowl the penultimate over. The Blackcaps have bowled 12 overs of spin today, the most they've ever done in a T20 international.
Three singles to start the over off the first four balls. Great start from Boult.
Boult gives Marsh length and width. He fetches it from outside off stump and smashes him for six over mdiwcket.
A single off the last ball of the over. (AUS 134/6)
18th over - Ish Sodhi to bowl his final over.
WICKET - A full toss from Sodhi and Stoinis doesn't get all of it and Guptil takes a simple catch at long-off.
Marcus Stoinis c Guptill b Sodhi 26 (26b 2x4 1x6) SR: 100
Mitch Marsh is the next man in.
WICKET - Another full toss and Sodhi has Agar this time. He tries to smash him into the stands but only finds Guptil at long-off again. Sodhi is on a hat-trick
Ashton Agar c Guptill b Sodhi 6 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 85.71
Jhye Richardson is the next man in.
Marsh sees out the hat-trick ball looking solid in defence.
What an over this is from New Zealand. Two wickets and just the two runs off it. (AUS 124/6)
17th over - Southee back into the attack for his third over.
Great start from Southee who starts with a single and a dot ball.
Dropped. Stoinis skies one straight up. Conway is under it but drops a simple catch looking into the sun. Big let off for Australia.
Stoinis makes the Blackcaps pay. Southee goes full and Stoinis pumps him into the stands for six over long-on.
A single off the final ball of the over. (AUS 122/4)
16th over - Santner to bowl his final over.
Two singles to start the over, with Stoinis guiding Santner out to cover and Agar placing him down the ground.
The next ball sees Stoinis turn Santner into the leg side for a single.
Another single for Australia as Agar cuts Santner away. The boundaries have dries up for the visitors, with 15 minutes since the last boundary.
Six singles from the over to end his spell with 0/21 off his four overs. (AUS 112/4)
15th over - Trent Boult is back into the attack for the Blackcaps for his third over. 10 of the 14 overs so far have been spin.
WICKET - Boult picks up the big wicket of Wade. He flicks Boult off his pads but in the air and flies straight to Guptil takes a great low catch.
Matthew Wade c Guptill b Boult 44 (29b 3x4 2x6) SR: 151.72
Ashton Agar is the next man in.
Boult goes with the bouncer and Stoinis guides him down to fine leg for a single.
Agar is off the mark straight away with a single down to fine leg.
A single off the last ball of the over, a good one from Boult. (AUS 106/4)
14th over - Santner is back into the attack with his third over.
After two dot balls, Stoinis pulls Santner away to deep square leg for a single.
Wade drives Santner to point for a single.
Great over from Santner who finishes with just three runs from the over. (AUS 102/3)
13th over - Glenn Phillips is back into the attack for his second over.
Wade starts with a single out to point.
Just wide of long-on! Stoinis lofts in the air straight down the ground. Conway comes across, dives with an out-stretched left arm, but can't quite get there.
The next ball sees Phillips lose his and slide down the leg side for a wide.
Full toss from Phillips and Stoinis cuts him away for four through point.
It's going to be a long over here with two more wides from Phillips.
A full toss to end the nine-ball over that goes for 13 runs. (AUS 99/3)
12th over - Ish Sodhi to bowl his third over.
First ball sees Wade sweep Sodhi over midwicket and all the way for six. The Australian keeper is playing a good innings here.
The next ball sees Wade guide Sodhi to short third man and Stoinis just gets home.
After two dot balls, Stoinis guides Sodhi out to deep cover for a single. The run rate since the power play is under seven which shows the tight bowling, Sodhi, Chapman and Santner are doing here.
Wade finishes with a single to end the over. (AUS 86/3)
11th over - Mark Chapman is back into the attack.
Wade continues his sweep plan to the spinners as he sweeps Chapman out to square leg.
Good tidy bowling from Chapman, who concedes two more singles.
WICKET - Big wicket for the Blackcaps. Maxwell moves across his stumps and tries to sweep Chapman away. he's off balance and can only find Boult at fine leg who takes a simple catch.
Glenn Maxwell c Boult b Chapman 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50
Marcus Stoinis is the next man in. Great over from Chapman with the wicker and just three runs off it. (AUS 77/3)
10th over - Ish Sodhi continues with his second over.
After a dot ball to start the over, he goes wide and slow and Finch cuts him away through extra cover for four.
Finch dances down the wicket and guides Sodhi out to Southee at long-off. He misjudges it and drops a tough chance and it race away for four.
WIKCET - The Blackcaps don't have to wait long for another chance and Santner takes a great catch. Finch tries to cut Sodhi away but can only find Santner at backward, who takes a smart catch.
Aaron Finch c Santner b Sodhi 36 (32b 5x4 1x6) SR: 112.5
Glenn Maxwell is the next man in. (AUS 74/2)
Ninth over - The Blackcaps are loving the spin option as they bring Glenn Phillips into the attack.
After a dot ball to start the over, Wade turns Phillips into midwicket for a single.
Phillips falls just slightly short and Finch has smashed him 92m into the stands for six over midwicket.
Finch drives Phillips down to long-off for a single.
Good over from Phillips with eight off it with three dots. (AUS 66/1)
Eighth over - Ish Sodhi comes into the attack for his first over.
Sodhi starts with four easy singles to keep the runs coming for Australia.
The fifth straight single of the over sees Finch and Wade bring up the 50 partnership between the pair. (AUS 58/1)
Seventh over - Mark Chapman comes into the attack for the first over after the power play.
Australia start with three easy singles to start the over.
Gets away with this! Wade for another big sweep, and it flies off the top edge but short third man, who can't get across.
Wade sweeps again and gets another single out to square leg. (AUS 53/1)
Sixth over - Southee to bowl the last over of the power play.
Finch punches Southee down to mid-off and takes a quick single.
Southee goes for the slower ball bouncer but gets his line wrong and it slides down the leg side for a wide.
Southee goes short and Wade pulls him away for a single out to square leg.
A slower delivery gets the full treatment. Finch smashes Southee over midwicket and lands just short of the rope, so it's four.
Another poor ball from, Southee a he slides down the leg side for another wide.
Finch keeps the runs coming with a single to square leg.
Southee goes full and Wade sweeps him away flat and all the way for six through square leg. Great way to end the power play. (AUS 47/1)
Fifth over - Boult to continue with his second over.
Boult slides onto the pads of Finch who can't flick him away but it comes off the pads and they scamper through for a leg bye.
After two dot balls, Boult gives Wade some width and he goes up and over cover for four more. Great shot.
A top edge from Wade just falls out of the reach of Chapman who is running back and can't quite get there and the batsman come back for two. (AUS 32/1)
Fourth over - Santner continues with his second over.
After two dot balls, Finch goes up and over cover and after and bounces into the rope for four.
Finch drives for Santner to cover and takes a risky quick single.
Wade opens the face of the bat to a back-of-a-length delivery and there's a fumble at point to allow the second run.
The last ball of the over sees Wade sweep Santner away through square leg for four. (AUS 25/1)
Third over - Trent Boult will come into the attack for the third over.
WICKET - Boults gets the first wicket. The fast bowler goes full and straight and Philippe plays all round it and it crashes into the pads. The umpires finger goes up straight away, what a great start from Boult.
Josh Philippe lbw b Boult 2 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25
Matthew Wade is the next man in.
Boult goes full and on the pads of Wade who whips him away behind square for four.
The next ball sees Wade flick Boult down to fine leg for a single. Boult struggling to find swing early here.
The Kiwi fast bowler struggling with line here as he slips onto the pads of Finch who flicks him down to fine leg for a single. (AUS 14/1)
Second over - A surprising move by Williamson, who opens up the second over with the impressive Mitch Santner.
After two dot balls, Philippe plays Santner across the line and it skews out to square leg for a single.
Great start from Santner who starts his first just the one single off it. (AUS 8/0)
First over - Tim Southee to open up for the Blackcaps with Australian captain Aaron Finch and a change at the top of the order with Josh Philippe moved up to open the batting.
Philippe is off the mark straight away with a quick single to short cover.
Finch's first ball sees a big shout for LBW but it's sliding down the leg side.
The next ball sees the first boundary of the day. Southee slides onto the pads of Finch who flicks him away for four.
Finch dances down the wicket and flicks Southee out to square leg for a single.
The last ball sees another shout for LBW on Philippe but again it's sliding down the leg side. (AUS 7/0)
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11:59am - When asked about Mark Chapman coming in, Williamson said: That's the idea," Williamson says to Magic Talk Radio. "We'll have to adapt, but judging by the last match it did take that turn, he's that spinning all-rounder for us.
11:36am - Team news for the Blackcaps with one big change. Kyle Jamieson has been dropped with Mark Chapman coming into the side.
Blackcaps: Martin Guptil, Tim Seifert (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Chapman, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Josh Philippe, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith
11:33am - Australia win the toss and choose to bat first.
Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson says his side would've batted first as well. In the previous four matches the side batting first has won the contest.
******
Kia ora and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the final Twenty20 international between the Blackcaps and Australia from Sky Stadium in Wellington.
With most of the country now back at COVID-19 Level 1, the series decider will be played in front of a bumper crowd at the 'Cake Tin'.
The hosts will be looking to bounce back from two convincing defeats in the third and fourth encounters as try complete a series win, while the Aussies are out to complete the remarkable turnaround and claim the series title.
All eyes will be on the Blackcaps batsmen after limping through to a timid 106 in the fourth T20.
Only three players reached double figures for the host, so a vastly improved performance will be required if they want to wrap up the series.
We'll have the over-by-over action for you from 7pm.
TAB betting odds: Blackcaps - $2.00 Australia - $1.75
Pre-match banter:
Blackcaps coach Gary Stead blasts side for timid batting performance
Blackcaps coach Gary Stead has blasted his side for failing to fire a shot in a disappointing batting performance during the fourth T20 at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Set an above-par 156 for victory on a surprisingly spin-friendly and slow wicket, the Kiwi batsmen crumbled to be dismissed for a timid 106, with only Kyle Jamieson putting up any resistance when it was far too late.
For the second time running, the batsmen have let the side down and Stead is frustrated at the approach they took in the difficult chase.
"The disappointing thing for me is, I don't think we really fired a shot at them tonight and when Kyle came in and played the way he did it was too late, the game was already gone," Stead said. "We need to think about how we do that earlier.
"I think in those situations when it is tough and that was a very good score they had, then you have to try and get ahead of the game and ahead of the run-rate if you can.
"That provides a bit more of an opportunity for the middle order to figure out how to play it."
A clearly frustrated and downcast Blackcaps coach was disappointed his side took their foot off the gas and let their rivals back into the series.
"It's that intent to hit boundaries, get on the front foot and even running between wickets," he said. "I thought we took a step backwards from where we had been in this series and there are some controllable things we can do better and I know we'll do better."
In a batting lineup stacked with talent, only three players reached double figures on a pitch that will be similar to what will be found at the T20 world cup in India in October and November, which is a real cause for concern.
"T20 cricket can change very quickly, we just need to get clear on the options we are going to play and how we are going to play each of their bowlers," Stead said. "You have to imagine spin will play a major part but in the big picture of things, it's good we get exposed to this now as we got a world cup further down the track.
"We are going to play on some wickets that are challenging and tough to play on so I think for us we'll have a chat around it and you have to move on quickly as we have a game in two days, but we have to get really clear on the way we are going to play."
One key difference between the sides was Australia were able to bowl 11 overs of spin compared to the Blackcaps' eight, with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi once again effective in tandem.
"I know Kane was thinking about [bowling] himself and Glenn Phillips but just felt the matchup wasn't right with Aaron Finch still at the wicket. It's an option for us that we’ve got to keep exploring.
After two poor performances, all eyes will be on what Stead and Williamson decide to do with the lineup for the series decider, with Wellington Firebirds quick Hamish Bennett and batsman Mark Chapman options to come in.
"I haven't actually thought about it at this stage but Kane and I will have a chat on Saturday when we debrief the game and talk about what we want our options to be in that final game."
In what was already a sour night, senior bowler Tim Southee has been reprimanded and earned a demerit point for 'shouting at the umpire in a disrespectful manner’.
The incident occurred in the first over of the match on Wednesday, when Southee shouted at the umpire in a disrespectful manner after a leg before wicket review taken against Australia opener Aaron Finch was declared an umpire’s call and given not out.
When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned.
Southee's disciplinary record was clean before the incident with Wednesday's indiscretion being his first offence in a 24-month period.
The Blackcaps will welcome back a rowdy home crowd after the previous two matches were played in COVID-19 level 2 conditions with no crowd.
