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Australia took four quicks wickets to take back momentum against New Zealand.
AUSTRALIA has lost its first game at the World Twenty20, falling eight runs short of New Zealand’s total of 142 in Dharamsala.
The Australians got off to a flyer with the bat, with Shane Watson (13 off 12) and Usman Khawaja (38 off 27) putting on a 44-run opening stand. But when Watto fell in the sixth over to Mitchell McClenaghan the wheels came off.
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An over later, Steve Smith (6 off seven) joined Watson back in the dugout, stumped after running straight past a Mitchell Santner.
A mix-up between David Warner (6 off 11) and Khawaja (38 off 27) then saw the latter run out, and it was full blown collapse when Australia’s vice-captain perished the next over, pulling Santer (2-30) straight to Martin Guptill at deep mid-wicket.
Mitchell Marsh (24 off 23) and Glenn Maxwell (22 off 23) then put on a 34-run stand, but just as momentum seemed to be returning to Australia, the latter skied Ish Sodhi to Kane Williamson at extra cover.
Marsh and Ashton Agar (9 off eight) then fell in the 19th over to man-of-the-match Mitchell McClenaghan (3-17), leaving Australia with 19 to get in the final over with three wickets in hand.
It proved nine runs too many, with James Faulkner (2 off four) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (1 off two) both out to Corey Anderson.
Australia’s innings followed the same pattern as New Zealand’s had earlier in the day. Just like Australia, New Zealand made a racing start, with Martin Guptill (39 off 27) and Williamson (24 off 20) putting on a 61-run stand. And just like Australia, after the first wicket fell, momentum stayed with the bowling side.