The third T20I between New Zealand and Australia at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on October 4, is set for a high drama as both sides gear up for a decisive clash. With the second game abandoned due to rain, Australia hold a 1-0 lead and aim to seal the series unbeaten, while New Zealand are determined to square things up on home turf.

Australia target clean sweep

Australia enter the decider riding on formidable T20I form, having won 11 of their last 12 matches. In the series opener, captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head provided a blistering start, while Tim David showcased his finishing ability. Their bowling unit, spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, suffocated New Zealand’s chase with relentless accuracy. With Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey adding balance, Australia boast both depth and versatility in conditions that typically favour high scores.

New Zealand eye series leveller

New Zealand, led by skipper Michael Bracewell, have shown promise throughout 2025 but faltered in crunch moments against their Trans-Tasman rivals. A major highlight was Tim Robinson’s maiden T20I century in the opening game, a performance that underlined the young opener’s potential. The return of Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears bolsters their pace attack, while the middle order will rely heavily on Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway and Mark Chapman to deliver consistency.

NZ vs AUS, 3rd T20I: Match Details

Date and Time: October 4, 2025: 11:45 am IST / 7:15 pm Local / 06:15 am GMT
Venue: Bay Opaal, Mount Maunganui, Location

NZ vs AUS, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 21 | Australia won: 14 | New Zealand won: 6 | No results/Tied: 1

Bay Oval Pitch Report

The Bay Oval is renowned as a batting-friendly venue, often producing big scores. The surface provides consistent bounce and carry, making it ideal for stroke makers, while the quick outfield further aids run-scoring opportunities. Traditionally, the ground has given an edge to teams setting a target, with batting first proving the more successful approach. However, Australia broke that pattern in the opening match with a successful chase. Pacers can extract a bit of movement early on, but maintaining tight lines and discipline is key to keeping totals in check on this high-scoring track.

Squads

New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Josh Phillipe, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

NZ vs AUS, Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• New Zealand wins the toss and bats first
• New Zealand powerplay score: 50-60
• New Zealand overall score: 180-190

Case 2:

• Australia wins the toss and bats first
• Australia powerplay score: 60-70
• Australia overall score: 200-210

Match result: Team batting first to win the contest.