NZ VS AUS - 3rd T20I, Australia tour of New Zealand, 2021

New Zealand dominated the first, a really close contest in the next and today Australia returned the favour back to the hosts. These two sides don't fail to entertain us in this format of the game. We will take a day's break and return on Friday for the fourth contest to be played on the same pitch as today. See you all then. Take care!

Aaron Finch | Australia captain: Nice to get the win. The stand with Maxi (Maxwell) allowed us to put up a big total. Taking wickets throughout was the key. When you get wickets in the powerplay and having 10.5 rpo, New Zealand have to take risks even off good balls and I thought that was the difference. Meredith bowled really well, we have seen him in the BBL. Brilliant for him to get that opportunity, he deserves that success and we are excited for him. We just want to improve as a team.

Kane Williamson | New Zealand captain: I thought Australia were outstanding. The momentum they got with the bat, we were defending for a large part, and we had to take risks with the run-rate getting ahead. It's important for us to move ahead quickly after taking a few learnings. It's always a healthy total, 210, but it was a good surface, and we got off to a good start. We lost wickets, which didn't help, and we didn't get the partnerships that we got in the previous games, so we probably need to move ahead quickly. Playing on the same surface for three games there might be something to look at. We know the power and match-winners that Australia have and they certainly showed that today.

Ashton Agar | Player of the Match: It is always nice to pick wickets especially when you go wicketless in the first two games. But I was lucky, we had 200 on the board and it makes my job a lot easier, the boys also bowled well upfront. I think in the past it (going wicketless) would have got to me but now I have played enough to move on, take it as a new game and a new chance to do something good here. Once I started tossing the ball up I got something out of it. They (the batsmen) have been amazing. Maxwell was incredible, Finchy is back among the runs and really good signs going ahead in the series.

22:05 Local Time, 09:05 GMT, 14:35 IST: Ashton Agar - 6/30. Sure he wouldn't have dreamt of those figures in the morning today. Some feat that in a T20 game. New Zealand were placed pretty well at 109/3 in the 13th, but Agar came on and got Phillips, Conway, Neesham.. all in the same over to rock the New Zealand dugout. The hosts completely lost their way and Australia tightened to screws to take the last 7 wickets for just 35 runs. Guptill did start well. He managed a decent stand with Conway too, but Agar stole the show. Earlier, Finch and Philippe set up a nice base for Maxwell to tee off and the Australian management would be pleased to see their captain get quality runs. In the end they got a total that was big enough to out-bat the Blackcaps.

K Richardson to Ish Sodhi, out Caught&Bowled!! Big mishit, very high in the night sky, Richardson wants that himself and he pouches it. What a thumping win for Australia. Ish Sodhi c and b K Richardson 1(2)

K Richardson to Ish Sodhi, THATS OUT!! Caught&Bowled!!

Kane Richardson [2.0-0-17-0] is back into the attack

Trent Boult, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Agar to Jamieson, out Lbw!! Jamieson walked across to try the scoop shot, missed the ball completely, the ball hits him high on the pad. Impact in line with middle and leg. Umpire thinks and raises the finger to help Agar record the best bowling figures (6/30) ever in a T20I for Australia. He's bettered his own effort (5/24). Jamieson reviewed but the ball tracker showed ball clipping top of middle and leg. Jamieson lbw b Agar 11(9) [4s-2]

Agar to Jamieson, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

Jamieson given out LBW, but he's reviewed. No bat, umpire's call

Agar to Jamieson, FOUR, bit of width, Jamieson backs away and swings, connects decently well through extra-cover

Agar to Ish Sodhi, 1 run, pushed to cover

Agar to Jamieson, 1 run, driven to long-on

Ish Sodhi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Agar to Chapman, out Caught by Zampa!! It's a fifer for Agar in a T20 game. What an achievement and there had to some drama to get that sort of a milestone. So this was a big top edge that flew straight to short third man, it certainly appeared so when Zampa was happily settling under it but then he realised the ball is swirling away last second and had to put in an acrobatic dive to the right to help his mate. Takes the catch and looks at his team-mates suggesting how on earth did that move away! Chapman c Zampa b Agar 18(10) [4s-1 6s-1]

Agar to Chapman, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Agar to Chapman, SIX, he's connected the slog sweep alright and that has gone a long way back over deep mid-wicket

J Richardson to Chapman, 1 run, yorker on the leg stump, Chapman digs it out to mid-wicket