Cricket T20: Australia beat New Zealand by 64-runs in Wellington

It looked like he may be axed for the Twenty20 world cup, but Aaron Finch has redeemed himself with a stunning innings against New Zealand.

Australia have kept their T20 series alive with a dominant win over New Zealand in Wellington. Picture: Getty Images.

Aaron Finch has wasted no time repaying selector George Bailey’s faith, reminding the world why he is certain to lead Australia’s quest to win its first Twenty20 crown in India this year.

But there was one moment of panic for Finch when he was struck on the pads first ball, with New Zealand players so confident in Tim Southee’s appeal that they were laughing.

Umpire Chris Gaffney’s finger stayed down and while DRS confirmed the ball was hitting the stumps, Finch was spared a golden duck thanks to umpire’s call.

The Marylebone Cricket Club’s world committee debated removing umpire’s call for 90 minutes at last week’s meeting – but Finch was due some luck, and he rode it for the next 15 overs as his brutal form in the nets finally translated to runs in the middle.

The destructive right-hander switched to become a leftie and swept Ish Sodhi over the fence to bring up a half-century which drained all the pressure that had been piling up.

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Australia have kept their T20 series alive with a dominant win over New Zealand in Wellington. Picture: Getty Images.

It was a subdued celebration, and it almost looked as though Finch was fighting back a smile as big as that six.

Bailey told News Corp that Finch’s international record had him safe for the World Cup, but the doubters persisted – until last night.

Finch’s 69 (44) in the 64-run win will prove to be a defining knock, just as his 93 in India was two years ago leading into the 50-over World Cup.

The Aussies head into Friday’s game trailing 1-2 but with all the momentum in the five-match series.

For Finch it was his first T20 half-century in 27 games and his best T20 score for Australia since thumping 172 against Zimbabwe three years ago.

Last week batting partner David Warner said Finch’s path out of the rough was through straight hitting and in Wellington that is exactly what transpired.

Finch thumped Jimmy Neesham over his head for six and then began commentating to himself after each ball.

“That’s a bad shot,” “Ohhh, come on,” and “Ohh, you b-----d,” were some of Finch’s offerings after mistiming deliveries or finding fielders.

Shane Warne said Finch finding his voice showed he had also found confidence, and the boundaries followed.

“I don’t think he’s been under pressure in our changeroom,” Glenn Maxwell said.

“He’s probably never felt any pressure from inside the room.

“Everyone backs him 100 per cent (and) his record speaks for itself.

“He’s still one of the top five batters in the world in this format, he’s got the highest score in international T20 cricket (172) as well.

“That (innings) was always going to come. He’s been hitting the ball so well in training and practice games and looked so good for us.

“I think every player in the changeroom knew that eventually it was going to change.”

Aaron Finch has redeemed himself with a solid knock of 69 runs. Picture: Getty Images.

The Victorian creamed Kyle Jamieson for back-to-back fours and when nemesis Trent Boult returned Finch cut his first ball to the boundary, hooked a sharp bouncer to the rope and then struck for a third time in a pivotal over.

Finch – who owns two of the biggest T20 international scores in history (172 and 156) – then handed over to former housemate Glenn Maxwell, who morphed into a mode no other batsman possesses.

Maxwell made just five runs off his first nine balls and then 65 off his next 20 (strike-rate of 325).

That golden run included 28 off a Neesham over – all scored in boundaries – as Maxwell stood and delivered in what was a chair-shattering knock, as one six crushed a hole in one of the vacant yellow seats.

“It was pretty ugly at the start,” Maxwell said.

“I wasn’t batting very well right-handed, so I thought I’d try left-handed.”

Warne waited until Riley Meredith’s international career was one ball old to call for his elevation into the Test attack, replacing Mitchell Starc.

Ashton Agar demolished New Zealand with ball in hand, ending on 6-30. Picture: AFP.

Meredith – who replaced Daniel Sams in the team– rewarded Warne’s unwavering faith by closing his debut over with his first wicket.

The Hobart speed demon who burst through the 150km barrier then landed the biggest of blows, trapping captain Kane Williamson plumb in front in a powerplay the Kiwis otherwise owned.

Warne went all-in on Meredith after his second over.

“Next time I’ll wear ‘I love Riley Meredith’ (on a T-shirt),” he said on Fox Cricket.

“Get him in all Australian teams.”

Ashton Agar’s first six overs this series yielded 0-62.

But his next seven balls brought four wickets, killing New Zealand’s hopes of sealing the series with two games to spare.

The Kiwis lost 7-35 as they skied catch after catch to be dismissed for 144 in 17.1 overs.

Agar finished with 6-30 – the best figures ever recorded by an Australian, and he now owns Australia’s best two T20 returns.

Originally published as Cricket T20: Australia beat New Zealand by 64-runs in Wellington