In a thrilling low-scoring encounter at Wellington, New Zealand edged past Australia by two wickets with just one ball to spare, claiming victory in the second match of the series. The game was a rollercoaster dominated by bowlers, where both teams struggled to build momentum with the bat.
Australia, batting first, crumbled under sustained pressure from the Kiwi bowlers and were bowled out for just 60 runs in 9.2 overs. The collapse began early when Mitch Marsh departed without scoring, setting the tone for a top-order failure. Despite brief resistance from David Warner (13 off 10) and Steve Smith (14 off 8), Australia’s innings never found stability.
New Zealand’s spin attack, led by Glenn Phillips (3 for 11), Tim Southee (2 for 10), and Mitchell Santner (1 for 8), was instrumental in dismantling the Australian batting lineup.
Only Adam Zampa, batting at number 10, showed fight with an unbeaten 11 off 7, helping Australia cross the 60-run mark.
Chasing a modest total of 61, New Zealand appeared to be cruising before a dramatic middle-order collapse, triggered by the relentless bowling of Adam Zampa, who turned the game on its head with a stunning spell of 4 for 5 in 2 overs.
Tim Seifert (17 off 20) provided a steady start, while Glenn Phillips (14 off 5) counter-attacked with a quick burst, but wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals.
At 57-8, the match was on a knife’s edge before *Mitchell Santner (1 ) and Adam Milne (6 * off 1) held their nerves to steer New Zealand home with just one ball remaining.
For his exceptional all-round performance — 11 runs and 4 for 5 with the ball* — Adam Zampa was rightly named the Player of the Match, even though Australia fell just short.
This gripping contest highlighted the dominance of bowlers and the importance of composure under pressure, as New Zealand took a 2-0 series lead in dramatic fashion.