Spinner Ashton Agar starred as Australia won the rain-affected Trans-Tasman T20 Series final against New Zealand in Auckland on Wednesday.
Australia won by 19 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system and moved to the top of the ICC T20 rankings for the first time since 2011.
Agar finished the match with figures of 3-27 in four overs, which included the prized scalp of Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson, who made just nine.
READ MORE: NZ coach disagrees with Bayliss on T20s
Despite a strong start by Martin Guptil and Durban-born Colin Munro, New Zealand suffered a wobble in the middle of the innings as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Once star batsman Williamson was out, the advantage swung Australia’s way.
Veteran Ross Taylor stuck around for New Zealand, but the only partnership of significance was worth 38 runs with Ish Sodhi.
Chasing 151 for victory, Australia started well, with captain David Warner and D’Arcy Short putting on 72 for the first wicket.
Short departed in the eighth over when he attemped to play Munro over the top, only to see the ball come off the toe of the bat and into the hands of Mark Chapman.
Warner was joined by Agar at the crease, but they could only put on six runs for the second wicket after the captain was bowled out by Sodhi for 25. Agar didn’t last long either, and was soon back in the stands, having made just two.
Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch were going along nicely for the Australians, and had put on 37 for the fourth wicket when the heavens opened and it started raining.
Australia were on 121-3 when play stopped, well ahead of the revised target of 103.
New Zealand 150-9 (20 overs): Ross Taylor 43, Colin Munro 29, Ashton Agar 3-27, Kane Richardson 2-30, Andrew Tye 2-30
Australia 121-3 (14.4 overs): D’Arcy Short 50, David Warner 25, Colin Munro 1-18, Ish Sodhi 1-21
Australia won by 19 runs (DLS)
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
