Australia win by five wickets with the highest T20 chase in history. What an extraordinary match, even with the short boundaries. That winning six was the 32nd of the match and equals the most in a single game. Phew, I need to catch by breath! And, amid all this, the result means England are still alive in the tri-series. They played New Zealand at Hamilton on Sunday. In a match of 488 runs, did the way Australia finished with the ball win that?
Satish kumar: "This match was more like highlights of that Johannesburg match b/w Aus and SAF"
Jigar: "Finch is a silent contributor of this Aus team. his score of 36* of 14 ball is a clear difference between two team. While NZ middle order failed to accelerate Finch doing it without any fuzz. He can be long term no. 4 for Aus in ODI too."
Peter: "32 sixes in 39 overs..... I guess that is what the T20 crowds want, and hopefully there's not the thinking to make this the norm rather than the exception. But you never know what money can deliver."
Burli: "Can someone crunch the numbers for what extent England need to be New Zealand by on Sunday to get through to the final?" Being worked on now
Man of the match is D'Arcy Short. "Great run chase by the boys. We knew we had the firepower to do it."
Kane Williamson. "It was a very good surface, small ground. We've sometimes seen scores on the lower side here. At the halfway point you feel you have a fairly good score on the board. It's a very tough one, Australia played very nicely. Hard to be too critical of the bowlers. Half hits would go 20 rows back. Any time Mitch plays he's outstanding, you want to have him but injuries happen. All the bowlers will feel it today, tough to swallow, but we need to bounce back. Hamilton will be a different surface."
David Warner "Fantastic effort from the guys, you just have to take the scoreboard out of it. We brought it back slightly [with the ball], a fantastic knock by New Zealand as well. I said from day one to have a lot of energy, keep a smile on your face. Was a fantastic surface. 240 might not be enough in the final! We'll need to think about it. Early wickets are the key."
Well, what an evening that was. I'll wrap things up there. There'll be more reaction on the site over the next few hours. But for now, from Alan and Gnasher, it's goodbye and see you on Sunday.
MP Stoinis run out 4 (9m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 80.00
Karthik K: "I remember reading an article in Cricinfo regarding how to build a T20 team, looks like AUS selectors hv read that, packed top 7 with 4 power hitters and with couple of accumulators (openers) and an allrounder (Stoinis) and 4 bowlers who cn hit some runs at the end." Here's that piece by Jarrod Kimber
END OF OVER:18 | 7 Runs | AUS: 234/4 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 13.00, RRR: 5.00)
- Aaron Finch29 (12b)
- Marcus Stoinis2 (3b)
- Tim Southee4-0-48-1
- Trent Boult3.5-0-42-1
Less than a run-a-ball needed. Mind-boggling.
END OF OVER:17 | 25 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 227/4 (17 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 13.35, RRR: 5.66)
- Aaron Finch24 (9b)
- Marcus Stoinis0 (0b)
- Trent Boult3.5-0-42-1
- Tim Southee3-0-41-1
Stoinis with the chance to win the game on the scene of his 146
DJM Short c †Seifert b Boult 76 (84m 44b 8x4 3x6) SR: 172.72
Wheeler takes his cap, the New Zealanders are looking pretty shellshocked at the moment. Well, Boult is going to bowl. Williamson gambling. Free hit to come
Those two balls could seal the game
Free hit
Wheeler will bowl his last over
END OF OVER:16 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 202/3 (42 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 12.62, RRR: 10.50)
- Aaron Finch2 (3b)
- D'Arcy Short75 (42b)
- Tim Southee3-0-41-1
- Ish Sodhi4-0-35-1
Caleb: "After 15.1 NZ were 197 (after Stoinis first ball of the over went for 13), and with the Maxwell wicket there is a glimmer of hope. I didn't think NZ poor finish would have any impact whatsoever on the game... but it has... this could still be interesting!"
GJ Maxwell b Southee 31 (18m 14b 3x4 2x6) SR: 221.42