Australian bowler Adam Zampa is congratulated by team mates after taking the wicket of Glenn Phillips during the second T20 Chappell-Hadlee cricket international between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport) Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Australia have beaten the Black Caps by 72 runs in the second T20 cricket match in Auckland to retain the Chappell-Hadlee trophy.
A good bowling effort by the Black Caps meant they were left to chase an obtainable 175 to level the three match series but they will be disappointed with their batting.
The visitors were threatening a huge total when they were 103 for 2 after just eight overs after being put into bat by New Zealand.
But the Black Caps started to pick up regular wickets and dismissed Australia for 174 with one ball remaining.
Lockie Ferguson (4-12) stared with the ball, backing up his performance in Wellington, while Ben Sears (2-27) was also in the wickets.
But New Zealand suffered a blow when opening batsman Devon Conway had to leave the ground to undergo an X-ray on his left thumb after sustaining a knock while wicket-keeping.
Earlier, Rachin Ravindra was ruled out of the match after experiencing knee pain following the first game in Wellington, where he was a stand-out with the bat.
New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson appeals successfully for a LBW decision to dismiss Steve Smith during the second T20 Chappell-Hadlee cricket international at Eden Park in Auckland. (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport) Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
He was replaced by Will Young, while Trent Boult and Ben Sears also came into the side.
New Zealand lost their first three wickets cheaply but Glenn Phillips, who came in at number four, top scored for the home side with 42.
But wickets continued to fall around him and when Phillips lost his wicket the game was as good as over.
New Zealand were bowled out for 102 after 17 overs.
Ravindra will be treated over the coming days before a decision is made on his availability for the third T20I on Sunday in Auckland.
The X-ray later cleared Conway of an obvious fracture.
Australia's Pat Cummins, who contributed with the bat and ball, was named player of the match.
Cummins told TVNZ his team had a good night with the ball.
"The wicket helped a little bit, it had a little bit in it," Cummins said.
The New Zealand batting order was disrupted by the absence of Conway, and captain Mitch Santner was promoted to number three.
"It's unfortunate with Devon but the good news is it's not broken ...we'll see how he goes in a couple of days but we've obviously got Test matches coming up and they are pretty important as well," Santner said.
Santner told TVNZ that the Australian bowlers really put them under pressure during the power play period.
"Maybe we could have soaked it up a little bit longer but they bowled extremely well and whenever you lose three or four in the power play it's always tough from there."