Australia has retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after thumping New Zealand by 73 runs in Friday evening’s T20 at Eden Park, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The tourists successfully defended what appeared to be a modest 175-run target after a woeful batting performance from the Black Caps, who have now suffered four consecutive T20I defeats against Australia at the Auckland venue.

The Black Caps, without injured wicketkeeper Devon Conway, were bowled out for 102 in 17 overs after leg-spinner Adam Zampa snared 4-34 in a superb four-over spell. Glenn Phillips was the only Kiwi to offer any resistance, cracking 42 (35) as wickets tumbled at the other end.

Tasmanian seamer Nathan Ellis claimed two wickets during a disciplined spell, while Josh Hazlewood conceded just 12 runs from his four economical overs.”

“The way our bowlers came out and performed was outstanding,” Australian captain Mitchell Marsh said during the post-match presentation.

Earlier, New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson ripped through Australia’s batters in a blistering spell as the tourists were rolled for 174 in 19.5 overs.

“Our backs were against the wall, I thought we were about fifty short,” Marsh confessed.

Despite the venue’s infamous short boundaries, Ferguson claimed 4-12 in 3.5 overs without conceding a boundary as Australia lost 8-70 in a woeful middle-order collapse.

After Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bowl first, Australian opener Travis Head got things off to a blistering start by clobbering 45 (22), including five sixes. Steve Smith, opening for the third time in his T20I career, nailed a lap short over fine leg for six before copping a brutal inswinger from Ferguson, trapped on the pads for 11 (7).

Marsh was gifted a couple of early reprieves, with the Kiwis dropping two chances in the field, but fell victim to rival skipper Mitchell Santner in the tenth over for 26 (21).

However, after cruising towards 2-104 in the ninth over, Australia’s middle order toppled like dominoes before a career-best performance from Pat Cummins (28 from 22 balls) at the death. Adam Milne, Ben Sears and Santner each snared two wickets for the Kiwis, while veteran seamer Trent Boult leaked 49 runs during an expensive spell.

New Zealand’s run chase started poorly, with the hosts losing three wickets during the Powerplay and stuttering towards 4-29 in the seventh over. Black Caps opener Finn Allen chopped back onto his stumps in the opening over for 6 before Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade held onto a superb diving catch to send Will Young packing for 5.

Santner, elevated to No. 3 in the absence of Conway, crawled towards 7 (13) before misjudging a well-disguised slower ball from Ellis and chopping on.

Zampa claimed back-to-back wickets in the 12th over, including a gorgeous wrong-un to topple Adam Milne, to all but seal the Australian victory.

Black Caps rising star Rachin Ravindra missed the match after sustaining a minor knee injury during Wednesday’s series opener in Wellington. The third T20 between New Zealand and Australia gets underway at the same venue on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 11am AEDT.

AUSSIES SPOILED FOR CHOICE IN CAPTAINCY DEPARTMENT

Shortly after Australia’s stunning triumph in the ODI World Cup in India last November, Pat Cummins flagged his intention to continue to captain in the 50-over format alongside his Test duties.

“There’s no end date in sight. I feel like I’ve been managed really well and looked after in a really, really busy year where you don’t really want to give up any cricket,” he said late last year.

But Cummins, who was Player of the Match in Australia’s 72-run triumph over New Zealand at Eden Park on Friday night, has not minded taking on a lesser role in the T20 format with Mitch Marsh assuming the role of captain for this series.

The 30-year-old, who made a very handy 28 late in the order after an Australian collapse before taking the wicket of Kiwi opener Will Young, is enjoying life as just a fast bowler for the time being.

“I love (not captaining). I can go and hide on the boundary — I have not fielded on the boundary for a while — and just concentrate on my bowling and nothing else,” Cummins said.

“Mitch has done a fantastic job. It is not too much different but it is a nice little change.”

The second clash against New Zealand illustrated the wealth of experience Australia has when it comes to leadership in the format.

Aside from Cummins and Marsh, Australia also fielded another former captain in Steve Smith and Matthew Wade, who has significant experience leading for both his country and his state.

SMITH FAILS WORLD CUP AUDITION DESPITE ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ MOMENT

Will Steve Smith get another chance to press his case for T20 World Cup selection?

The New South Welshman, who hasn’t been in Australia’s first-choice T20 side for nearly 18 months, opened the batting in the absence of the rested David Warner during Friday evening’s T20 against New Zealand in Auckland.

Alongside incumbent opener Travis Head, his stay at the crease was brief but uneventful, the highlight being an absurd lap shot against Adam Milne that flew over deep fine leg for six.

“That’s just outrageous,” former New Zealand cricketer Mark Richardson said in commentary.

Smith’s knock ended in the third over after copping a brutal inswinging yorker from Black Caps speedster Lockie Ferguson, trapped on the pads for 11 (7).

Warner is expected to return for Sunday’s contest at the same venue, and it remains to be seen whether Smith retains his spot in the starting XI for the series finale. Unlike several of his Australian teammates, he won’t be travelling to the subcontinent next month for the Indian Premier League.

Realistically, Smith would only be considered for the top three of Australia’s T20 side, but those spots are occupied by Warner, Head and captain Mitchell Marsh. If he does get a plane ticket to the Caribbean, it appears increasingly likely that he’ll spend the T20 World Cup campaign carrying drinks.

ZAMPA PROVES HE’S THE ‘MOST IMPORTANT MEMBER’ OF AUSSIE SIDE

Adam Zampa is back … or did he ever really leave?

The leg-spinner was undeniably Australia’s best bowler during the previous two T20 World Cup campaigns, while he’s the nation’s leading wicket-taker in the format.

However, question marks lingered over Zampa following an underwhelming Big Bash League campaign with the Melbourne Renegades and a woeful performance against the West Indies in Perth.

Andrew Russell went berserk during the series finale at Perth Stadium, with Zampa conceding 65 runs in a wayward four-over spell, the most expensive bowling performance by an Australian in men’s T20I.

Zampa was under some pressure after finishing with 0-42 from three overs during Wednesday’s series opener in Wellington, but the New South Welshman bounced back in Auckland on Friday, snaring four wickets in a masterful spell.

He found himself on a hat-trick after producing a gorgeous wrong-un to knock over Adam Milne in the 12th over before helping clean up the tail. Zampa finished with 4-34, the second-best bowling figures of his T20I career.

“He’s done that so many times for us,” Marsh said in the post-match press conference.

“I’ve said it many times before, he’s probably the most important member of this team.

“Really proud of him.”