• Matthew Short's quickfire knock helped Australia defeat New Zealand in the third T20I and register a clean sweep over the hosts.

  • Short even chipped in with a crucial wicket and was adjudged Player of the Match for his exceptional performance.

Twitter reactions: Matthew Short’s explosive knock in 3rd T20I seals Australia’s clean sweep over New Zealand
Australian team with the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy (Image Source: Twitter)

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Australia showcased their dominance over New Zealand in the 3rd and final T20I of the series at Eden Park, securing a clean sweep and making a resounding statement in the process. The match, marked by rain interruptions and the implementation of the DLS method, saw Australia emerge victorious by 27 runs.

Australia sets a challenging target

Opting to bowl after winning the toss, New Zealand faced a challenging target as Australia posted 118/4 in 10.4 overs. Despite rain interruptions altering the game’s dynamics, the target was revised to 126 in 10 overs for the Kiwis.

Matthew Short’s impressive knock

Australia’s innings saw some noteworthy performances, with Travis Head leading the charge with 33 runs. However, it was Matthew Short‘s explosive knock of 27 off just 11 balls that provided the much-needed impetus to Australia’s innings. Alongside contributions from Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis, Australia reached a competitive total. New Zealand’s bowlers, including Adam Milne and Josh Clarkson, managed to take crucial wickets.

Glenn Phillips’ spirited effort in vain

Chasing the revised target of 126, New Zealand put up a spirited effort but fell short at 98/3 in their allotted 10 overs. Glenn Phillips played a stellar innings, scoring 40 off 24 balls, but the Australian bowlers, led by Short, Spencer Johnson, and Adam Zampa, proved effective in restricting the Kiwis in this rain-affected thriller.

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Player of the Match

The Player of the Match rightfully went to Short for his quick-fire knock that not only shifted the momentum in Australia’s favour but also played a pivotal role in setting up a challenging total.

Australia registers a clean sweep

With this victory, Australia sealed the T20I series with earlier wins in the 1st T20I by 6 wickets and the 2nd T20I by 72 runs. The clean sweep over the Blackcaps sends a powerful message about Australia’s T20 prowess and their form leading into the upcoming cricketing engagements.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Transition to Test Cricket

As the T20I series concludes, attention now turns to the longer format with the 1st Test of the two-game series between the two cricketing giants scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, at Basin Reserve. The Australian team will look to carry the momentum gained from the T20Is into the Test series, while New Zealand will be eager to bounce back on home soil and turn the tide in their favour.

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.