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Australia made short work of the run chase of 182 as they won the three-T20I series opener against New Zealand with 21 balls to spare at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on October 1. After Tim Robinson's unbeaten 66-ball 106 helped Kiwis post 181/6, Australia's top order, especially Mitchell Marsh rendered Kiwi attack toothless. His 43-ball 85 helped Australia get over the line in the 17th over with six wickets in hand.
Brave Robinson rides on luck to score maiden T20I ton
Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Josh Hazlewood got Tim Seifert caught inside the circle for a single-digit score. In the second over, Ben Dwarshuis struck twice to dismiss Devon Conway and Mark Chapman off consecutive deliveries. Robinson and Daryl Mitchell helped New Zealand recover. Robinson rode on luck as well as he got a few reprieves. Matthew Short broke the partnership with Daryl's wicket for a 23-ball 34.
Robinson did not get much support from Bevon Jacobs who scored 20 runs from 21 balls. Robinson stayed till the end and completed his century on the penultimate delivery. He finished the innings with a six. The 23-year-old remained unbeaten for 106 off 66 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes. He became the second New Zealand batter after Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill to score a T20I century against Australia.
Easy run chase for Aussies
Chasing a target of 182, Marsh went berserk in the powerplay overs. Travis Head joined the party with three fours off Kyle Jamieson in the fourth over. In the sixth over, Matt Henry dismissed Head for an 18-ball 31. Australia were 68/1 after powerplay overs. Matthew Short did not take much time to get going and targeted Jamieson. Marsh hit Zakary Foulkes for two sixes in the ninth over to reach his fifty from 23 balls. At the halfway stage, Australia were 122/1.
Jamieson broke the partnership in the 12th over. Short gout out lbw for an 18-ball 29. Marsh was taken aback by Tim David denying him a single off the first ball of the 15th over. Next ball, he found the sweeper cover fielder Robinson. The opener departed for a 43-ball 85, laced with nine fours and five sixes. David remained unbeaten for a 12-ball 21. After Alex Carey's wicket, Marcus Stoinis finished the run chase with a boundary off Foulkes in the 17th over.
Marsh misses golden chance
21 balls remaining in the run chase is the third-most in a successful 180-plus run chases in T20Is featuring full-member teams. Marsh's 85 is the joint second-highest score against New Zealand for Australia. He missed out on breaking former captain Ricky Ponting's record for unbeaten 98 in the first ever men's T20I in 2005.
The second T20I will be played on October 3 at the same venue.
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