5th T20I New Zealand v Australia @ Eden Park 5pm AEDT

[Bomberboyokay]

Australia have not enjoyed their recent visits to Eden Park with three defeats on the bounce. Now they have two matches in the space of six days. They are safely in the final of the triangular series having won their three home games, so will get a sighter of conditions with significantly less pressure on them.

Talking of those last three matches at this venue - they have thrown up some remarkable performances, albeit in the 50-over format. Who can forget that World Cup thriller, won by Kane Williamson's straight six after Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc traded devastating spells? Boult was at it again in 2016 when Australia were thrashed by 159 runs, but last year's meeting produced another heart-stopper out of nowhere when Marcus Stoinis' unbeaten 146 almost carried Australia to a stunning win.

Really, though, the side with the most riding on this match is the one not playing: England's chances of squeezing into the final rest on Australia winning, ideally handsomely to dent New Zealand's net run-rate, then beating the hosts in Hamilton on Sunday. New Zealand won't want to leave anything to chance having rediscovered their T20 groove in Wellington.

The captain played his best T20I innings in over a year, the debutants - Mark Chapman and Tim Seifert struck hard and long - Mitchell Santner impressed with the ball and Boult finished it off. More of the same should push Australia harder than they have been so far in this short tournament. All England can do is watch.

[...]

Left-armer Ben Wheeler and allrounder Anaru Kitchen are the other squad members who have yet to play in this tournament but it would be a surprise to see any changes.

New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Mark Chapman, 6 Colin de Grandhomme, 7 Tim Seifert (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult

Captain David Warner was allowed a few extra days at home before linking back up with the squad for this contest. He is straight off to South Africa, where his Test colleagues are already heading, right after this tournament. He looks out of nick, so whether this is the best place for him is a moot point but his captaincy has been excellent.

Australia (probable) 1 David Warner (capt), 2 D'Arcy Short, 3 Chris Lynn, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Aaron Finch, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Ashton Agar, 9 Andrew Tye, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Billy Stanlake

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/10886/preview/1072320/

 

[Kram]

Must piss Finchy off being demoted down the order.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Are foxtel starting their coverage an hour early?

 

[Moonwatcher]

NZ won the toss and elected to bat.

 

[danielnajdek]

A kiwi bagging the MCG. How about having a ground that has boundaries bigger then 10 metres.

 

[eddiesmith]

Finch apparently opening

 

[Moonwatcher]

We'll get some practice chasing big targets.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Decent crowd tonight.

 

[danielnajdek]

This pitch is s**t it's too flat nothing in it for the bowlers.

That's what Plugger would say if Australia were batting.

 

[Plugger35]

Good start

This pitch is s**t it's too flat nothing in it for the bowlers.

That's what Plugger would say if Australia were batting.

That's what a good T20 pitch should be like, the Australian bowlers can't rely on the pitch to get them wickets like at the SCG.

 

[eddiesmith]

This a disgrace of a cricket ground. May as well put some life in the pitch when mis hits go 20 rows back!!!

 

[danielnajdek]

This a disgrace of a cricket ground. May as well put some life in the pitch when mis hits go 20 rows back!!!

Great ground huh

 

[Plugger35]

Guptill destroying the one game wonder Stanlake.

 

[Torz]

Length balls are being hit with consummate ease.

 

[FunkyFreo2]

Is there no stream via cricket australia for this game, despite this series being included?

 

[danielnajdek]

Good start



That's what a good T20 pitch should be like, the Australian bowlers can't rely on the pitch to get them wickets like at the SCG.

Mate the boundaries are like 40 metres. I wouldn't mind the pitch having a little bit in it.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Surprised Kohli isn't up there in the most games played, any Indian really.

 

[KBLT]

Word has it postage stamps are being replaced with 1:1 models of Eden Park

 

[Aussie_boy]

Seems as though the NZ graphic guys don't know the difference between a T20 and a T20I.

 

[Aussie_boy]

Bowling Stoinis on this ground is just asking for it.

 

[danielnajdek]

I could hit a 6 on this ground.

 

[eddiesmith]

Has Stoinis ever successfully bowled a bouncer?

 

[KBLT]

Dis gon be a big score

 

[flamethrower]

Par score on this bandbox would be 300-350.

 

[Sauras]

I thought you were allowed 2 fielders on the boundary, where are they?