On a chilly, breezy autumn night in Wellington, we got a sneak preview of India, where the Twenty20 World Cup will be staged in October. Without the screaming crowds and searing heat.
Playing on a devilish Sky Stadium drop-in pitch that delighted the spinners and frustrated the batsmen, Australia went back to back with a 50-run victory over New Zealand to set up a tense Wellington series decider on Sunday.
Chasing just 157 it got ugly for the beige Black Caps, who were a distant second again in an alarming reversal after wins in Christchurch and Dunedin. Of the top-six, Tim Seifert was the best with 19 and Kyle Jamieson top-scored with 30 off 18, as the hosts were skittled for 106 with seven balls to spare.
A late onslaught from Aaron Finch helped Australia to victory on a tricky pitch.
Yes, with the five-match T20 series poised at 2-2 the batsmen will be nervous with the same patch of grass to be used after ground staff were dealt a tough hand of a hastily rescheduled three double-headers in five days.
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Crowds can attend, too, under Covid-19 alert level 1 after Australia won both in Wellington behind closed doors, and carrying all the momentum now for the Sunday showdown at high noon before they jet home on a charter plane.
Remarkably, just two days earlier, Australia racked up 208-4, the grounds second-highest total, and won by 64 runs.
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Sky Stadium devoid of fans again, but they will be back on Sunday for the series decider.
On Friday, Australias rejuvenated skipper Aaron Finch was clearly man of the match, and took Jamiesons final over for 26 to end 79 not out, a magical knock in the conditions when none of his team-mates passed 20.
Needing less than eight an over it was a struggle for the home batsmen as Australia went straight to leftie Ashton Agar, the six-wicket star of game three.
New Zealand needed one of their top-four to bat through but the innings never got going with Australia hunting up and sensing they had enough runs.
Martin Guptill lofted one to deep extra cover where Glenn Maxwell took a casual juggling catch, and opening partner Seifert edged a few to the rope then chopped on to Kane Richardson who snared three.
The crucial partnership between Kane Williamson and Devon Conway promised a lot but was brief. Captain Kane top edged an attempted slog sweep at offspinner Maxwell who was in the game, then Conway and Glenn Phillips had an awful mix-up and the latter just kept running to the changing room.
With the ball New Zealand were lively and accurate for 19 overs, and well on top, until Finch cut loose to ruin Jamiesons figures.
The towering seamer had 0-23 off three overs and looked right at home, before he was handed the ball for the final over.
It all looked so promising for the Black Caps with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi relishing the conditions.
Finch went 2, 6, 6, 6, 0, 6, standing up and smashing full deliveries over extra cover and long on, as Jamiesons tough series continued and there was little variation.
Of the last five mens T20s at the stadium, the average bat-first total was 193. On a used surface, it soon became clear par was closer to 160, as spin duo Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhis eyes lit up and they combined for 4-48 off eight overs to highlight how vital they will be in India.
Santners first over, the third of the innings, looked like he was bowling on day five in Ahmedabad as it turned and bounced sharply.
Matthew Wade steered one straight to short third man as Santner made an immediate impact and showed how much he was missed on Wednesday when Agar was dominant.
He ended with 1-16 while Sodhi snared three, mixing it up and benefiting from sharp catches from Tim Southee and Williamson.
Trent Boult (2-27) was very good, too, and had game three destroyer Maxwell gone for 18 sitting back in his crease.
AT A GLANCE
Fourth mens Twenty20 international at Sky Stadium, Wellington:
Australia 156-6 off 20 overs (Aaron Finch 79no; Ish Sodhi 3-32, Trent Boult 2-27) beat New Zealand 106 off 18.5 overs (Kyle Jamieson 30; Kane Richardson 3-19, Ashton Agar 2-11) by 50 runs.
Series: Five-match series level 2-2 with one to play.
