On October 1, New Zealand batter Tim Robinson made the most of the chance he got in the absence of several injured players. Robinson weathered the storm and rescued the hosts from 6/3 in the second over, scoring his maiden T20I century to help post 181/6 on the board. Robinson became the third Kiwi batter to score a T20I century against Australia.
Robinson (23 years and 156 days old) is also the second youngest Kiwi batter to score a T20I hundred. The record belongs to Finn Allen who scored a century against Scotland in 2022 aged 23 years and 96 days.
New Zealand’s other two T20I centurions vs Australia
Brendon McCullum was the first to achieve the feat in 2010. The wicketkeeper-batter scored an unbeaten 116 off 56 balls against Michael Clarke-led side in Christchurch. New Zealand won the game in super over.
Eight years later, Martin Guptill scored 105 runs from 54 balls against David Warner-led Australia. Despite posting a total of 243/6, the Kiwis lost the match by five wickets in Auckland.
Robinson makes the most of reprieves
In his 13th T20I appearance, Robinson faced a trial by fire. Josh Hazlewood dismissed Tim Seifert in the first over whereas Ben Dwarshuis got rid of Devon Conway and Mark Chapman off consecutive deliveries.
After the early collapse, he stitched a 92-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Daryl Mitchell. He used the fielding restrictions well. He accelerated and cleared the boundary with ease, often stepping down the track like McCullum used to. In the ninth over, he got to the half-century mark from 31 deliveries.
After Mitchell fell in the 11th over, Robinson got a reprieve as Travis Head dropped his catch off Adam Zampa's bowling. Bevon Jacobs struggled to find boundaries. The pressure got to Robinson but his catch was dropped twice in the 17th over. Jacobs departed in the penultimate over. In the final over, skipper Michael Bracewell got run out trying to get him on strike. On the penultimate delivery, Robinson hit Dwarshuis for a boundary to get to his century. Then, he finished the innings with a maximum.
"They bowled really well at the top and the ball was a bit greasy as well. Daryl (Mitchell) and I talked about getting through that phase and then pile on the runs later,and I got away with few (dropped) chances but that is cricket for you," Robinson told the broadcaster after the match.
Robinson hit six fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 66-ball 106. New Zealand posted 181/6 on the board.