**New Zealand vs Australia Live Score Updates, 1st T20: Santner’s High Aspirations**

New Zealand vs Australia Live Score Updates, 1st T20: In the exciting cricket clash between New Zealand and Australia, Mitchell Santner’s New Zealand aims to kickstart the 3-match T20 series with a bang, facing off against the formidable 50-over World Champions Australia at the Sky Stadium in Wellington.

New Zealand vs Australia Live Score Updates, 1st T20: Mitchell Santner, leading New Zealand, exhibited his prowess during day four of the first cricket test match against South Africa at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on February 7, 2024. (AFP)

New Zealand vs Australia Live Score Updates, 1st T20: The stage is set as Mitchell Santner-led New Zealand locks horns with the 50-over world champions Australia in the inaugural T20I of the 3-match series at the Sky Stadium in Wellington. This T20I showdown unfolds just three months before the commencement of the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

With regular skipper Kane Williamson absent, having recently guided the Black Caps to a historic first Test series victory against South Africa, the responsibility falls on young Mitchell Santner to secure a resounding win against the Kangaroos on home turf, providing a significant morale boost ahead of the T20 World Cup.

In contrast to the squad that competed against India post the 50-over ODI World Cup, Australia arrives in New Zealand with a formidable lineup featuring stalwarts such as Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, and Glenn Maxwell.

Having emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline against the West Indies in the recently concluded T20 series, the Australian team is brimming with confidence and is eager to maintain their winning streak against their trans-Tasman rivals. Additionally, the young Australian side aims to bid a fond farewell to David Warner in his final bilateral T20 series.

The presence of marquee players from both sides sets the stage for a potentially high-scoring encounter in the first T20 between New Zealand and Australia. While the Sky Stadium pitch may offer some assistance to the bowlers, it is expected to be predominantly favorable to the batsmen, hinting at a substantial total as the likely outcome.

**Head-to-Head Record:**

Australia and New Zealand have crossed swords on 16 occasions in international T20 cricket, with the Kangaroos holding the upper hand, clinching victory in 10 encounters, while the Black Caps have managed to emerge triumphant in 6 clashes. Their most recent encounter was in the 2022 T20 World Cup, where New Zealand secured a convincing 89-run victory.

**Squads:**

Australia:
– Tim David
– Travis Head
– Josh Inglis
– Matt Short
– Steven Smith
– Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper)
– David Warner
– Mitchell Marsh (captain)
– Glenn Maxwell
– Pat Cummins
– Nathan Ellis
– Josh Hazlewood
– Spencer Johnson
– Mitchell Starc
– Adam Zampa

New Zealand:
– Finn Allen
– Devon Conway (wicketkeeper)
– Will Young
– Mitchell Santner (captain)
– Mark Chapman
– Josh Clarkson
– Glenn Phillips
– Rachin Ravindra
– Lockie Ferguson
– Adam Milne
– Ben Sears
– Ish Sodhi
– Tim Southee

**When and Where to Watch:**

The 1st T20I encounter between New Zealand and Australia is scheduled to commence at 5:10 PM AEDT or 11:40 AM Indian time. Although the series will not be broadcast in India, viewers can catch the live-stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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