Trans-Tasman Trophy, 5th T20I: New Zealand vs Australia - Things which went wrong for the hosts

Australia pulled-off the highest-ever run chase in T20I in history to beat New Zealand by 5 wickets at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.

Eden Park is the third-slowest scoring T20 venue in New Zealand but the two teams defied all logic and produced an absolute run fest.

Batting first, the Kiwis posted a total of 243/6, which looked almost insurmountable, but, the Aussie blitz set a new world record as they chased down 244 with 7 balls remaining.

Australia have now won all their four matches in the tri-series, while New Zealand have won just one against England.

England, who are yet to win a game in the ongoing series, will face the hosts at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Sunday, February 18, before one of these two teams face-off against Australia in the series finale on February 21 in Auckland.

Now, let us find out what went wrong for New Zealand as they failed to defend a huge total.

#4 Lower-order collapse

New Zealand chose to bat after skipper Kane Williamson won the toss at Eden Park. Williamson believed that a used surface would possibly become more difficult to bat on and going by the history, the team chasing had won only one of the last seven T20Is in Auckland.

Australia's stand-in captain, David Warner, lost the toss for the first time in the series but wasn't disappointed as he wanted to bowl first anyway.

Openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro, who helped himself to a quickfire 33-ball 76, gave a rollicking start to the Kiwis and brought up a 132-run partnership in 10.2 overs for the opening wicket.

In the process, Guptill surpassed his former teammate Brendon McCullum as the leading run-getter in T20Is.

The 31-year-old notched up his second T20I hundred and eventually finished with 105 off 54 balls, getting out to Andrew Tye in the 17th over.

After Munro's departure, the Black Caps could not keep their ship steady and kept losing wickets at regular intervals and posted a total of 243/6 in 20 overs.

#3 Bowling too many extras

Although New Zealand bowlers were defending a mammoth total, they lacked discipline.

It seems that the steep target of 244 they set for Australia made the Kiwis complacent and that is why they ended up giving away 20 extras in as many overs.

As compared to Australia's 12 extras, 3 leg-byes, a no-ball and 8 wides, New Zealand gave away 2 no-balls and 18 wides.

Ben Wheeler was the main culprit as he gave away 5 extras. In his 3.1 overs, he remained wicketless and conceded 64 runs at a mind-boggling economy of 20.21.

The Kiwis were without Mitchell Santner, who was suffering from knee trouble, and that is why Wheeler was included in the playing XI.

#2 Bowlers being too expensive

Although Ben Wheeler had a horrendous day in the office, in his 3.1 overs, he remained wicketless and conceded 64 runs at a mind-boggling economy of 20.21, rest of the New Zealand bowlers were looted for a lot of runs as well.

Trent Boult gave away 42 runs in 3.5 overs and claimed a wicket, Tim Southee went for 48 runs in 4 overs with a wicket to his name, while Colin de Grandhomme accounted for 56 runs in his 3.5 overs and removed one Aussie batsman.

Ish Sodhi, with an economy of 8.75, 35 runs in 4 overs, was the most economical New Zealand bowler as Australia chased down a colossal 244 with 7 balls remaining.

#1 Not being able to contain the Aussie batsmen

When you walk out to bat and there is a massive target of 244 to chase, you have to fire on all cylinders right from the outset.

Australian openers David Warner and D'Arcy Short came out all guns blazing and started dealing in boundaries from the word go.

All the Kiwi pacers, Tim Southee, Ben Wheeler and Trent Boult, struggled to control the run flow as their fielders added insult to injury by dropping catches and making plenty of misfields.

Warner went on to slam his fifty in just 20 balls before he was dismissed by Ish Sodhi for 59 off 24 balls.

Chris Lynn departed on 18, while Glenn Maxwell hammered 31 runs off 14 balls before he was dismissed by Tim Southee.

Short was dismissed by Trent Boult on 76 off 44 balls. Aaron Finch hammered 36* in 14 balls and finished the game with a huge six to create history as Australia defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets.