New Zealand defeated Australia by 53 runs in the first T20I of the five-match series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Devon Conway emerged as a hero for Kiwis as he scored an unbeaten 99 off 59 deliveries, as New Zealand posted 184/5 in 20 overs. Devon barely missed the chance for a last-ball hundred.
In reply to 185 runs, the Australian team piled up 131 runs in 17.3 overs and lost the match by 53 runs. A number of veteran players, including Australian team captain Aaron Finch, failed to mark their presence and was the reason for the defeat of the Kangaroo team.
The New Zealand team’s score was three wickets on 19 runs when Devon came to the field. After which, Conway played a stormy inning of unbeaten 99 runs in 59 balls and the team’s score reached 184. He smashed 10 fours and three sixes in his scintillating knock. Notably, the 29-year-old Davan Conway remained unsold in the auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). Devon Conway had included himself in the IPL auction at a base price of 50 lakh.
Twitter Reactions: New Zealand vs Australia 1st T20
Devon Conway is just 4 days late, but what a knock ??? #AUSvNZ
— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) February 22, 2021
And New Zealand wins the first T20 by 53 runs #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/89QVmHBKOr
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) February 22, 2021
Devon Conway’s last 3 T20 innings
91*
93*
99*#NZvAUS— Michael Wagener (@Mykuhl) February 22, 2021
Devon Conway finishes 99* ?
The bloke deserved a ton after a phenomenal innings at the Hagley Oval… pic.twitter.com/3BBfV23hZP
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 22, 2021
Devon Conway and Ish Sodhi both were left out by IPL franchises in this year’s auction turns out to be the stars of the first T20i. Conway scored a magnificent 99* and Ish Sodhi picked 4/28. Conway too good to left out without an IPL contract, hard luck for him.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 22, 2021
5 – Devon Conway has now struck 5 successive knocks worth 50+ in T20 cricket (4 for @cricketwgtninc & 1 for @BLACKCAPS); posting scores of 50, 69*, 91*, 93* & 99*. Supreme. #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/WUaEixlb3n
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) February 22, 2021
Australia after they realise they have played 5 RCB players in their playing 11: #NZvAUS#ausvsnz #DevonConway #Conway#RCB #IPL pic.twitter.com/lIdf7Qv4dS
— Selmon Bhoi (@MohitKo84691450) February 22, 2021