New Zealand vs Australia Ball by Ball Commentary - Chappell-Hadlee T20I Trophy 2025

Well, the captains shake their hands after a short chat with the umpires. That's it then. So, from 20 to 18 and eventually 9 overs per side, we just got 2.1 overs of cricket after waiting for 2.30 hours. It was certain, THE MATCH HAS BEEN CALLED OFF! More importantly, Australia have retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, having also claimed victory in the previous series. New Zealand still have one opportunity to level it up, as that will be the best outcome from this series for the hosts. Right then, one final game remains in this series. These two will meet again within 24 hours from now, on Saturday, 4th October, and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 6.15 am GMT. Let us all hope that the weather doesn't spoil the party in the third and final T20I. Do join us earlier for the build-up. Till then, cheers!

UPDATE - 8.42 am GMT - HALT! Hello, unwelcomed rain gods! The players are running off the field while the groundsmen are running in with the covers. We are in for yet another delay. There is a strong breeze flowing across, hopefully it will brush the rain away as well. Stay tuned. The live visual shows spectators leaving the ground, they have lost hope for anymore cricket to be seen. We have not though. We do have a few minutes of window left before the cut-off time for a 5-over contest. We will keep you posted.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Matthew Short is the new man in.

Jacob Duffy to share the attack.

All set for action. The umpires are making their way to the middle. The Kiwi players are out in the middle as well. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head to open for Australia. Matt Henry to bowl first. Let's play...

UPDATE - 8.17 am GMT - We have a start time! The match will begin at 8.30 am GMT. It will be 9 OVERS PER SIDE, while the Powerplay will be of 2.4 overs.

UPDATE - 8.11 am GMT - The umpires are out in the middle, inspecting the outfield. They seem to be a bit concerned after such a heavy spell. Let's hope we receive the revised conditions soon and get some cricket to watch.

UPDATE - 7.35 am GMT - Good news! The rain has stopped but due to the heavy spell, the ground staff need a bit of time to make the ground game-ready. Let's hope this was the last break! Stay tuned.

UPDATE - 7.15 am GMT - The match would have been underway by now under the revised timings and conditions, but with the rain lashing down, more valuable overs are surely set to slip away. IF the game ends in a no result, Australia will retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, having also claimed victory in the previous series. But let’s hope it does not come to that and we get at least some cricket tonight. Stay tuned for next update!

UPDATE - 6.54 am GMT - We are all in readiness for the action. Well, scratch the update! We were done with all the build-up but the rain has arrived again. It has started to drizzle at the Bay Oval, and as we write, the rain has picked up the pace. The covers are being brought in and placed on the pitch once again. We are in for a delay, once again. Stay tuned.

Australia (Playing XI) - Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Matthew Short, Tim David, Alex Carey (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott (In for Ben Dwarshuis), Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tim Seifert (WK), Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (C), James Neesham (In for Bevon Jacobs), Matt Henry, Ben Sears (In for Zakary Foulkes), Ish Sodhi (In for Kyle Jamieson), and Jacob Duffy.

TOSS - New Zealand have won the toss and will BOWL first!

UPDATE - 6.44 am GMT - More encouraging signs as players from both sides have taken the field for their pre-match warm-ups. Interestingly, the first Powerplay has been set at 5.2 overs under revised playing conditions. Frankly, a rather unusual figure for sure.

UPDATE - 6.32 am GMT - We have a very positive development, folks! It seems our wishes have been granted, as the rain has finally stopped. We are also hearing that the covers are being gradually peeled off by the ground staff. The official word is that the TOSS will take place at 6.45 am GMT, roughly about 15 minutes from now, and the contest will be shortened to 18 OVERS PER SIDE. Though we don't have any update on the start time, one presumes that the game will start at 7.15 am GMT, but conditions applied - IF there is no further rain.

UPDATE - 6.26 am GMT - The rain appears to have eased significantly for now, though the conditions remain wet under a heavy overcast sky. Let’s hope the showers hold off entirely, allowing the ground staff to begin their cleanup and restore the playing surface as swiftly as possible. Fortunately, Bay Oval boasts an excellent drainage system, which should aid a quick recovery. Stay tuned for the next update. 

A rainy evening in Mount Maunganui contrasts with clear skies over Ahmedabad, where Day 2 of the first Test between India and West Indies is underway. The hosts have stamped their authority on the contest, widening an already significant gulf between the two sides. West Indies were bundled out for a modest 162, failing to bat through the day. Mohammed Siraj, with a superb four-wicket haul, and Jasprit Bumrah, striking thrice, spearheaded India’s charge with the ball. The visitors never managed a meaningful partnership, though the middle order did show flashes of resistance after being reduced to 90/5. Justin Greaves top-scored with 32, but no one else could capitalise on their starts. In reply, India’s top order looked in complete control, swiftly erasing the deficit. KL Rahul remains unbeaten on a fine century, while skipper Shubman Gill departed soon after reaching his half-century. With a lead of 56 runs already, the West Indies bowlers look set for a long and testing day ahead. For those eager to follow every ball, you can catch the live action from that match by simply switching tabs.

While we wait for the skies to clear, let’s quickly rewind to the series opener at Bay Oval. New Zealand had a rather shaky beginning with the bat, but Tim Robinson lit up the evening with a dazzling 106 off 66 balls. Add in some handy knocks from the middle order, and the hosts managed a respectable 181 on the board. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa were miserly with the ball, while Ben Dwarshuis, despite being a touch expensive, struck twice at crucial moments. The chase, though, was a stroll in the park. Captain Mitchell Marsh played a breezy and commanding 85, with Head, Short, and David chipping in smoothly. In the end, Australia romped home in just 16.3 overs with six wickets to spare, taking a comfortable 1-0 lead in this three-match T20I series.

UPDATE - 5.47 am GMT - By this time, the toss would ordinarily have taken place, but with relentless rain sweeping through Mount Maunganui, the TOSS HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DELAYED. It is not looking good right now, and all we can do is pray for things to get better. We will be back soon with the next updates, hopefully positive. Please stay tuned.

UPDATE - 5.34 am GMT - Latest reports from Mount Maunganui suggest the weather is far from encouraging, with rain persisting through most of the day. At present, the Bay Oval remains shrouded under covers as we speak. The forecast shows light rain at present, but the outlook for the remainder of the day appears far from promising. Let's just hope that the rain relents and we get a complete game of cricket. Stay tuned for the next update.

New Zealand, too, have upheld an impressive record in T20Is this year, securing victories in nine of their ten outings. Yet Australia continues to cast a long shadow over them, with the Blackcaps unable to triumph since the 2022 T20 World Cup. Whether on home turf or across the Tasman, the Aussies maintain a commanding edge, leading the head-to-head tally 14 to 5, including a tie. The Blackcaps last won a T20I series against the Aussies back in 2020, at home. The opportunity to repeat that is right here, right now. Stay tuned for toss and team updates.

Australia have steamrolled through the shortest format this year, winning eight of nine T20Is with brutal efficiency, all while chasing. Their batting is stacked with hitters who can strike from any position, top order or sloggers alike, and change the game in a heartbeat. At the forefront, skipper Mitchell Marsh and Tim David, with his brute force, have been particularly unstoppable. Bowling is the area that demands immediate tightening, as every time they have bowled first this year, they have conceded at least 170 runs, including three instances where the opposition crossed 200. Amidst the chaos, Josh Hazlewood has been razor-sharp, and Adam Zampa, suffering from Raynaud's disease, has held firm. 

Despite a heavy defeat in the first game, the Kiwis have a few bright spots to hold on to. Tim Robinson's breezy century stood out, while contributions from the middle order offered some promise. If Tim Seifert and Devon Conway can assert themselves at the top of the order, New Zealand’s batting could become far more ruthless and punishing. The absence of Santner, sidelined as he recovers from abdominal surgery, leaves a noticeable gap in the bowling department, but the rest of the attack must step up and maintain control. With a pace-heavy arsenal at their disposal, it will ultimately come down to belief and execution to swing the match in their favor.

An early 1-0 lead gives Australia a safety net, allowing them some room even if they falter in this contest. New Zealand, however, cannot afford to slip up, as a loss here would put them under significant pressure. Beyond the immediate stakes, both teams will also see this series as an important opportunity to fine-tune combinations, sharpen skills, and prepare for next year’s ultimate stage, the T20 World Cup 2026, where every lesson learned now could prove crucial.

The Trans-Tasman rivalry heats up again in Mount Maunganui as we bring you the second T20I of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 2025. Australia, fresh from a ruthlessly commanding win in the opener, will be eager to impose their authority and close out the series. New Zealand, however, will fight with passion and precision, determined to turn the tide and push the battle to a thrilling decider on Saturday.

... MATCH DAY ...

Lightning doesn’t strike twice… unless you’re Mitchell Marsh with a bat in hand! The Bay Oval will host the 2nd T20I of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, where New Zealand are not just fighting for a win but for pride, confidence, and maybe their sanity, too. The last 1st T20I? Oh boy, that was like showing up for a boxing match only to realise your opponent is Mike Tyson in peak mode. Australia chased 182 in 16.3 overs. Marsh smashed 85 off 43, Travis Head threw in fireworks, and the Kiwis? They were basically spectators on their own turf. Sad, but true. But wait, there was beauty in the mess. Tim Robinson. The new kid. The rookie who walked out with the calmness of a monk and ended up smashing a century. 106 not out. His teammates fell like dominoes, but he stood tall. Pure grit. Pure poetry. If cricket had background music, Robinson’s innings deserved violins. Yet, cricket is cruel. Robinson’s masterpiece wasn’t enough. Because when your bowlers leak runs like a broken water tank, no score looks safe. Jamieson, Henry, Foulkes - all went for more than 10 an over. No Maxwell, no Green, no Inglis, but did it matter? Nope. Australia still looked like a cricketing Avengers squad. Marsh as the Hulk, Travis Head as Thor with his hammer, and Tim David as the calm Iron Man finishing things off. Balance, depth, swag - they had it all. New Zealand’s sadness doesn’t just end with that loss. Rachin Ravindra? Injured. Out. A huge void. And Robinson can’t do it alone. Devon Conway has to wake up. Seifert and Chapman must do better. If no one joins Robinson, then this Kiwi batting lineup looks like a one-man show, and we all know one-man shows rarely win sequels. On the flip side, Australia’s batting is so stacked it almost feels unfair. Marsh is in video-game mode, Head plays like he’s late for dinner, and Tim David? Oh, he just strolls in and finishes with elegance. Add Matthew Short’s power-hitting, and suddenly, bowlers are asking, ‘Where do we even bowl to these guys?’ What about the Bay Oval? Usually, chasing here isn’t a piece of cake. But Australia made it look like Sunday breakfast in the opener. For New Zealand, maybe the trick is to bat first, put up 200-plus, and then pray for miracles. Not a great strategy, but hey, desperate times. Stats time - Robinson’s strike rate was 160.6 in the first match - sensational. Marsh’s strike rate was 197.6 - insane. Robinson’s innings was beautiful. Marsh’s innings was brutal. That’s the gap. One gave you art, the other gave you trauma. Don’t forget Adam Zampa. Four overs, only 27 runs, while battling his Raynaud’s syndrome in the freezing cold. Respect. He proved that Aussies don’t just win with muscle, but also with heart. That’s why they’re so dangerous. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s bowlers need therapy after that first game. Henry’s wickets came at 10-plus economy, Jamieson couldn’t stop boundaries, and poor Foulkes got hit for four sixes in 15 balls. If they repeat that, the scoreboard might need mercy rules. Captain Michael Bracewell? He had a rough night, too. Seven runs with the bat, wicketless with the ball. Leaders are tested in storms, and right now, this Kiwi ship is rocking hard. If Bracewell doesn’t find something special, the series will slip away. Daryl Mitchell, though, is a shining hope. He made 34 off 23 in the opener before falling. He looked solid. If he and Robinson can stitch a big stand, New Zealand’s batting suddenly looks human again. Without that? It’s back to nightmares. And don’t think Australia’s bowlers were perfect. Stoinis leaked runs, Bartlett was expensive, and Dwarshuis too. But when your batters finish the job in 16 overs, the bowlers get a free pass. Luxury, thy name is Australia. Key Battles? 1. Tim Robinson vs Josh Hazlewood - the new Kiwi star against Australia’s accuracy machine. Can Robinson handle the pressure of a master seam bowler? 2. Mitchell Marsh vs Kyle Jamieson - Marsh destroyed everyone last game. Jamieson’s height and bounce are the only tools that can trouble him. Clash of power vs persistence. 3. Devon Conway vs Adam Zampa - Conway failed once. Zampa thrives under pressure. If Conway doesn’t step up, New Zealand’s hopes sink. 4. Travis Head vs Matt Henry - Head swings hard early. Henry loves to strike with the new ball. One blow either way could tilt the match. So what’s at stake? Everything! If New Zealand win, we get a decider - pure drama, tension, excitement. If they lose, the Aussies celebrate another series win, and Kiwi fans go home with more heartbreak. It’s a classic ‘all or nothing’ scenario. Can New Zealand dare to dream? Yes, if Robinson shines again, if Conway redeems himself, if the bowlers suddenly remember how to bowl. That’s a lot of ifs. But hey, cricket lives on hope. Australia - the clear favourite, but sport has a way of surprising us. Maybe, just maybe, the Kiwis will flip the script. Or maybe Marsh will walk out, smile, and hit again. Either way, the Bay Oval will be lit up!