Twitter Reactions: New Zealand steal marginal win despite Stoinis’ heroics

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy three-match ODI series went underway today at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand posted a challenging 287-run target and Australia without David Warner, Steve Smith and Matthew Wade absolutely struggled as half their team was back to the pavilion with just over fifty runs on the board. That was when allrounder Marcus Stoinis rose to the occasion and smacked a splendid hundred. He didn’t have enough support from the other end and they fell short of the target handing the Kiwis a 6-run win and lead in the series.

Wade who was supposed to be leading the side in the series with Smith injured and Warner opting out had strain in his back and was thus unable to take field. The fourth man in line Aaron Finch was out leading the team and won the toss. He opted to bowl first. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood started well and soon enough Starc sent back Tom Latham to give the Aussies a lot of confidence.

But Martin Guptill at the other end played a beautiful knock worth 61 adding a 74-run second wicket partnership with skipper Kane Williamson. Williamson was the first to get out as he handed Maxwell a catch off Stoinis. At No. 5 Niel Broom scored a half century and that gave structure to their innings; 48 from allrounder James Neesham and a quick 16 by Trent Boult helped the Black Caps get 286/9 in their 50 overs. Stoinis was the pick of the bowlers claiming three wickets for 49 in his 10.

The Australian innings started with back to back jolts from Boult. In the fourth over of the innings, he sent back Finch and the man in form Travis Head while they had just 10 runs on the board. Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, and Lockie Ferguson joined the party and claimed another four wickets in quick succession and the Aussies were stumbling at 67/7 in 18.2 overs.

Having already had a great outing with the ball it was time for Marcus Stoinis to display character, temperament and his skills with the bat. Counter-attacking the bowling he scored a magnificent hundred but the job wasn’t done he carried on and pulled together vital partnerships with the tail but in the end, it was Williamson who stole the moment from him running out his last partner Hazlewood while they needed just 7 more runs to win in 3 overs.

Here is how Twitter reacted to this exciting match:

https://twitter.com/akshay_shah114/status/825950505646055424

https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/825953043396956161