NZ vs AUS 2nd T20I Commentary - Dunedin (25 February 2021)

OUT! It's a WICKET! Neesham, you lucky chap! The crowd goes bananas. Crucially, it's a dot ball. Full toss on middle, Sams tries to heave it over mid-wicket but finds the fielder near the fence. Glenn Phillips hangs on to the pressure catch. 15 needed off 5 balls. Stoinis is back on strike.

Wide NOT given! The crowd rejoice. Stoinis can't believe it. Full and angling down the leg side, Marcus moves across to flick but misses.

TURNS DOWN THE RUN! A low full toss on off, Stoinis only manages to force it down to long on. 15 needed off 3 balls.

SIX! This one has gone the distance! A low full toss on middle and off, Stoinis shows the power of the Hulk. Latches onto it and dismisses it over wide long on. 9 needed off 2 balls.

OUT! It has gone sooooo high... SOUTHEE UNDER IT! The crowd has gone bonkers. Too full and on middle, it's in the slot, Stoinis tries to hammer it over the leg side but ends up skying it behind the bowler. Southee moves across to his left from long on and hangs onto the catch. Neesham has done it. Kane is the new batsman.

FOUR! But that's not enough! Too full and wide outside off, Jhye throws his bat at it and edges it past short third man for a boundary. New Zealand win by 4 runs!

Wide! Southee delivers full and wide outside off, the batsman allows it through. Tim is not happy with the call.

Only a run! Short and wide outside off, Stoinis whacks it to deep point. The crowd is getting involved, this is going down to the wire.

Another single! Too full and around leg, it's flicked to deep square leg for one.

FOUR! Gets one away! Southee misses his line and delivers a full ball on the pads, Stoinis whips it behind square leg for a boundary. 23 needed off 9 balls.

SIX! It's huge! Short in length and on off, Stoinis hangs on the back foot and pulls it thunderously over mid-wicket. Into the top tier. 17 needed off 8 balls.

Slower full toss outside off, Marcus only manages to push it to covers for one.

Too full and on off, Sams keeps it out to covers for one.

On a length and outside off, it's lofted over covers for a run.

Too full in length on middle, Sams clears his front leg and drills it down to long on for a run.

DOT BALL! A low full toss outside off, Stoinis drives it straight to Williamson at extra cover.

Wide! A length ball down the leg side, Stoinis moves across for the paddle shot but misses.

Mix-up, safe! Too full in length and on middle, Stoinis eases it down to long on for a run. Sams turns for the single but Marcus ain't interested. The throw is at the bowler's end, i.e. the wrong end.

Robbed off a boundary! A low full toss on middle, Sams drills it straight back and it hits the umpire at the other end and deflects to long on. Only a run.

Just a run as it's pushed down to long on for a run. Brilliant from Boult, execution under pressure was immaculate. Only 6 from the over, 30 needed off 12 balls.

FOUR! Good shot! Length ball on off, Stoinis punches it through point for a boundary.

FOUR! Terrific shot! Short delivery on off, Stoinis guides it towards third man for a boundary.

Short ball on middle, Stoinis pulls it through mid on for a single.

SIX! Hammered! Slower delivery, short and around off, Sams attacks it with all his might and dismisses it behind long leg for a maximum.

Full on middle, Sams drives it through mid on for a single.

Full toss on middle, Stoinis eases it through mid on for a run. 17 from the over, runs leaking.

FOUR! Too full in length around off, Stoinis walks across the stumps and scoops it over short fine leg. Moves to 46 off 20 balls.

Back of a length delivery outside off, slower in pace, Marcus punches it to covers for one.

SIX! Sams joining the party and Australia have a little bit of momentum now. It's right in the slot, full and on middle, Sams launches it over the bowler. 150 up!

Shortish and outside off, Sams slaps it past to short third man and sweeper cover stops it. Two taken.

SIX! Sams showing off his skills now! Is something special on the cards here for Australia! Full and outside off, Daniel demolishes it over covers.

SIX! Yet another one has gone the distance. 50 stand up in 19 balls. Slower delivery, it's picked early by Sams as he turns and smokes it into the bank at mid-wicket. 45 runs in the last two overs, 53 needed off 24 balls.

SIX! Smashed! Short in length and on middle, Stoinis hangs on the back foot and pulls it with disdain over mid-wicket.

Floated and full on middle, Marcus forces it down to long on for a run.

Short and outside off, Sams punches it to long off for one.

SIX! Gone the distance! Sodhi drags it short again, around off, Stoinis brutalizes it over wide long on for a maximum.

Wide! Ish feels the pressure and bowls a full ball way wide outside off, Marcus leaves it.

Nearly holes out! Tossed up ball landing full outside off, Stoinis lofts it over mid off and it doesn't carry to the fielder in the deep.

FOUR! Put away! Sodhi bowls it too full and wide outside off, Sams reaches out and powers it over extra cover. 20 from the over, Australia still into it, 78 needed off 30 balls.

Length delivery on off, Stoinis lofts it over point for a couple.

Full on off, Stoinis drives it through mid off for a single.

Length delivery on off, Sams guides it towards third man for a run.

Full on off, Stoinis drives it back towards the bowler where Boult does well to stop it.

Length ball on off, Stoinis pushes it towards covers for a single.

FOUR! Terrific shot! Back of a length on off, Sams guides it towards third man where Jamieson tries to stop it but misfields and concedes a boundary.

FOUR! Boundaries are flowing at the moment! Short and wide outside off, Stoinis rocks back and whacks it through point for a boundary.

Turns it on the leg side for a single.

OUT! That is a simple catch to the fielder. A fine knock by Philippe is over. Santner has two now. Floated and full around off, Philippe leans into the drive and tries to go inside-out but fails to time it well. A simple catch for Conway at deep cover.

Hangs back and punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

OUT! The move to send Agar up the order backfires. Once again Santner and Conway combine to pick up a wicket. A short delivery around off, Agar camps back to pull but it comes off the bottom half of his bat and he hits it aerially to Conway at deep cover. Australia staring down!

OUT! Third wicket in the over and the wheels are coming off for Australia. Marsh has been strangled down the leg side. Santner delivers an arm ball around leg, Mitchell tries to flick but gets a faint tickle behind. Seifert shows great reflexes to catch it and Marsh walks. 6 runs and 3 wickets in Santner's last over of the spell and it has pushed Australia deep into a corner.

FOUR! Boom! Too full in length around off, Stoinis attacks it with all his power and drills it down the ground for a powerful boundary.

Flatter and shorter on off, punched to extra cover. Dot.

FOUR! Sodhi fails to land this delivery and Stoinis spanks it past extra cover for a boundary. 100 up!

SIX! Stoinis is off to a flying start here! Sodhi drags his length short around off, Marcus stays back and flat-bats it down the ground for a biggie at long on.

Flatter and shorter on middle, forced to long on for a single.

A leg spinner on the shorter side outside off, Philippe tries to cut but chops it down past the keeper. 15 from the over, 113 needed off 48 balls.

OUT! No show from Big Show! Santner gets the wicket. Maxwell falls flat in the trap! Flighted and full around off, Maxwell nails his reverse sweep but cannot beat the brilliance of Sodhi at short third man. He times his jump to perfection and plucks it out of thin air. Disbelief on the face of Maxwell as he returns.

Short and wide outside off, Stoinis slaps it through point for a run.

Short again, around off, Philippe pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

A long hop around off, played down from the back foot to covers for one.

Arm ball on middle, short in length, Philippe smashes it to wide long on. Easy two there but Stoinis slips and they have to satisfy with a run.

Santner continues to drop it short on middle, Stoinis pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one. Poor lengths but a good over, just 5 runs off it along with Maxwell's wicket.

Taps a length ball down to backward point for a run.

Steers a length ball to point where Santner does well to stop it.

Back of a length ball on middle, hurrying into the batsman, Glenn eases it down through mid on for a run.

Slower length ball is angled into the attack, Philippe gets back and pushes it on the leg side. Straight to mid-wicket.

Edgy but it's over! Too full and outside off, Josh slices his attempted drive over the leaping point fielder. Two taken.

FOUR! Fuller and around off, Philippe lifts it over mid off and Williamson runs back. Attempts for the catch but it falls wide of him and he then fails to pull it back. 8 from the over, 133 needed at the halfway mark.

Helps it off his pads through mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Full and floated around off, Philippe goes straight down the ground and powers it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Play and a miss! Loopy and full wide outside off, Philippe tries to sweep but misses.

Goes inside-out to a full ball around middle and lofts it over covers for one.

Flatter and shorter around off, Maxwell pushes it to cover-point for a run.

Wide! Serves it way too wide outside off, Philippe tries to reach out but misses.

In the air... SAFE! Loopy and full around off, Philippe mistimes his lofted shot and it drops in no man's land near long off. A single taken.

Short and turning away from outside off, the batsman cuts it straight to point.

Aerial but safe! Short and wide outside off, Philippe cuts again and this time it's uppish. Falls short of point and sneaks through for a couple.

Too full and outside off, Philippe goes hard with his drive but it takes the inner half and rolls to mid on for a run.

A half-tracker outside off, Finch slaps it to the right of sweeper cover for two.

Wide! Tossed up ball way wide outside off, Finch leaves.

Loopy and wide outside off, Finch allows it through again.

OUT! Sodhi strikes in his first over to dismiss the Aussie skipper. Smart bowling. The leggie kept on asking Finch to hit through the off side but he restrains. This time it's short and Finch decides to go across the line. Attempts for a big pull shot but fails to time it well. It goes high in the air and Glenn Phillips takes a tumbling catch at deep mid-wicket. Another flop show by Aaron. 150 needed off 72 balls.

Tossed up delivery on middle, Philippe flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Floated ball on middle, Finch flicks it through square leg for a single.

SIX! What a shot that is! Full and floated around middle, Philippe hops back to make room and lofts it nonchalantly over wide long off for a maximum.

NOT OUT! Missing the stumps. Tossed up ball around off, Josh tries to sweep but misses. He is hit on the flap of the front pad and they appeal. Not given and New Zealand have taken the DRS. It's very close to the gloves. Ultra Edge detects a flat line and shows that it brushed the right forearm. The Ball Tracker shows the impact to be umpire's call and it's missing the stumps.

Floated and full outside off, Philippe tries to slog sweep but gets a top edge. It falls safely near short third man and they get a couple.

Short ball on middle, Philippe pushes it through mid on for a single.

No run. Boult delivers a back of a length ball around off, Philippe tries to pull but is hurried up. It goes off his thigh pad to point.

A full toss outside off, Philippe pushes it to mid off. The fielder is at the edge of the ring and it's an easy run.

Clips a length ball to square leg for a quick run. The interest is shown over the second run but the fielder from the deep is too quick.

Very full and on middle, Philippe digs it out off the leading half to covers.

Back of a length ball on middle, Philippe glances it towards mid-wicket for one.

Shortish and on leg, Finch tries to flick but misses. It clips his thigh pad and rolls on the leg side. Josh wants a run and Finch is also down the track as Boult rushes to the ball. They decide against the run as Trent dives and tries to throw the ball at the stumps at the striker's end. Outstanding over, just 3 runs off it. 53/1 in the Powerplay for Australia.

SIX! Off the top edge. Bad luck for the bowler. Slightly short and on off, Philippe tries to heave but gets a top edge and it goes all the way over third man.

Good length ball on off, Josh pushes it off his back foot to the off side.

SIX! Flicked away for a biggie! Just the flick of the wrists to a length ball and it has cleared the square leg field. Wow!

Slower one, a touch short on middle, Philippe turns it to square leg and rotates the strike.

Short and on off, pace off, Finch pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

50 up! Angles in a shortish ball on off, Philippe gets back and taps it down to backward point for one. Good finish to the over after an expensive start.

Shortish and on off, it's pulled away in front of square leg for a run.

Play and a miss! Pace up from Tim. Short and wide outside off, Wade throws his bat at it but fails to connect.

OUT! Caught at mid off! Southee serves a short of a length ball outside off, at 135 kph, Wade hangs back to slap it through the line and aims to clear the infield. But the ball sits up a bit onto him and he ends up handing a simple catch to Kane Williamson. 186 needed off 99 balls.

Slower length ball outside off, Philippe taps it down to backward point and wants a run. He is sent back as the fielder slides and attacks the ball.

On and around off, a length ball, Josh gets too close to the line and plays it down in front of the keeper.

A shade aerial but safe! Back of a length delivery on off, stopping up a bit off the surface, Philippe hits it early and it goes a bit uppish to mid off. They cross. Classy over by Southee, only two runs off it along with the wicket of Wade.

FOUR! Up and over the keeper! Wade predicts the length to be on the shorter side, he jumps across the stumps and loops it over the keeper for a boundary. Also, it's a no ball for overstepping. Free Hit loading...

Wide! Free Hit stays... A full toss wide outside off, Wade swings and misses.

Well bowled! Nothing off the Free Hit. Pace off. A touch short and outside off, Wade is early into his attempted heave and misses.

SIX! Good execution and it's gone all the way! Short in length and outside off, Wade jumps across the stumps again and powers it over fine leg for a biggie.

Well stopped, Guptill. Back of a length ball outside off, Wade punches it from the back foot and it races through covers. Guptill gives the chase from point and does well to pull it back near the fence, saves a run for his team.

Aerial but safe! Jamieson pitches it up and around off, it holds up a bit off the surface and Finch ends up chipping it in the air at mid-wicket. It goes wide of the fielder.

Back of a length ball on middle, forced off the back foot to deep square leg for a run.

 Shortish and on off, Wade stands tall to punch but finds the cover fielder. Expensive over, 16 from it. 28 in the last two.

FOUR! Pulled and pulled well! Boult delivers a short ball on middle, Wade turns and puts it away through square leg for a boundary.

Shortish and outside off, Wade leans back and plays it down to point.

Wide called for height! Boult digs in a short ball outside off, it's well over the batsman as he makes a leave.

FOUR! This has been nailed! A length ball around off, Wade clears his front leg, hangs on the back foot and hammers it over mid-wicket. Almost went all the way, inches short of the crease.

NOT OUT! Finch is safe. A gentle nudge by Wade to the off side and they cross. Neesham attacks the ball and scores a direct hit at the striker's end as Finch stretches in. They appeal, it's referred upstairs but Aaron is safe.

Angling down the leg side, eased away to fine leg for a run.

Too full and on middle, Wade flicks it through mid-wicket and runs the first run hard. That's all he will get as Sodhi is sharp in the deep. 12 from Boult's first over.

Starts with a good length ball on middle and off, Wade has to jump a bit to defend that.

Well adjusted! Just a hint of swing there. Fuller and wider outside off, Wade walks across for the paddle shot but then at the last moment he dabs it out behind.

Short and around off, Wade pulls it in front of square leg for a run. Australia are underway!

Beauty! Just enough movement again for Southee. Pitches it up and outside off, Finch tries to loft it over the bowler but the ball nips away to beat the outside edge.

Finch is down the pitch this time, probably to negate the movement. Aaron tries flicking but misses.

FOUR Good length ball on middle and leg, Finch tucks it off his pads and it races past Sodhi at short fine leg. Finds the fence and Aaron opens his account. Still, a tidy first over by Southee.