They say a week in politics is a long time. Well, so it is too in cricket. Just ask Aaron Finch.
A week ago Australia appeared down and out against New Zealand and their captain looked dead and buried.
On Friday night, Australia took the five-match T20 series across the ditch to a decider on Sunday (12pm AEDT) and they can thank their skipper for squaring the series.
Two days ago Finch returned to form blasting 69 to quieten his critics, as Australia won by 64 runs.
And, again, it was the captain who led the way on Friday evening at Sky Stadium in Wellington, as Australia eventually cruised to victory, winning by 50 runs.
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It didn’t always look like it would finish that way.
It took until the final over of Australia’s innings for the tourists to find any momentum.
On a wicket that was sticking in the wicket and taking turn, Australia was languishing at 6-130.
Then Finch went ballistic, hitting New Zealand’s $2.66 million man, Kyle Jamieson, for 26 off the final over and banging four over the ropes along the way to power Australia to 7-156.
With his teammates struggling to get going, Finch’s innings proved the decision knock of the innings as he finished unbeaten on 79 off 55.
“I just think that last over from Jamieson was so crucial,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“It’s just a totally different mindset if you’re chasing high 130s to over 150 on a surface that is not easy.”
Australia’s total looked like a winning won early as New Zealand struggled to get going.
The home side managed just 25 runs during the six over powerplay and lost danger man Martin Guptill for six, after being caught in the deep by Glenn Maxwell off Ashton Agar.
After his career best figures of 6-30 in the third T20, Agar again was the main man with the ball finishing with the impressive figures of 2-11.
TEAMS
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitch Santner, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
Australia: Aaron Finch, Josh Philippe, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Marsh, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith,
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