- Steve Smith once again failed to perform
- The Australian star was out after just three balls
- Australia have made a clean sweep of the T20 series
Australia had to endure three rain delays on their way to a clean sweep in the T20I series with New Zealand, recording a 27-run win in Auckland.
However, former captain Steve Smith suffered another setback on Sunday when he attempted to make the squad for the T20 World Cup in June but again failed to do so.
Australia posted 4-118 from 10.4 overs in an innings twice interrupted by showers in Auckland.
A third rain delay ended their innings and left the Black Caps chasing a revised total of 126, but the hosts were well held to 3-98 by the Australian bowlers at Eden Park.
With little at stake in the dead rubber, most of the attention was focused on Smith’s performance.
Smith’s hopes of cementing his place in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad have suffered another blow
Smith meekly departed after three balls to suggest his place at a fourth World Cup is tenuous
The 34-year-old was reinvented as a top option late in his career and was given another chance to open without David Warner.
He meekly departed after three balls to suggest his place at a fourth World Cup is tenuous.
Smith came off the line with a textbook pull to the boundary, but two balls later he was caught half-heartedly trying to cut off a rising Adam Milne delivery, snapping it at wicketkeeper Tim Seifert.
Smith was the only Australian batsman to be dismissed without a trace.
Matt Short (27 off 11 deliveries) and Glenn Maxwell (20 off 9) played explosive hands, while Travis Head (33 off 30) piled on well.
Finishers Josh Inglis (14 from eight) and Tim David (eight from three) were left behind as rain ended their stint at the crease.
New Zealand, once again under-par with key absences such as Kane Williamson, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, never looked likely in their pursuit.
Australia have endured three rain delays on their way to a clean sweep in the T20I series
The early dismissals of Will Young and Tim Siefert brought key Kiwi duo Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips to the crease as they needed 96 off 43 balls.
Phillips seethed furiously when Nathan Ellis produced four straight dot balls with outswingers, an over with the required run-rate expanded from 12 to 15 per over.
Things only rose further when Allen left Adam Zampa’s bowling alley shortly afterwards, with the match moving away from the Black Caps.
Phillips was New Zealand’s best with an unbeaten 40 from 24, but could not find partners to go with him.
Spencer Johnson (1-10 from two overs) impressed with the ball, as did Ellis (0-11 from two).
Australia made three changes for the match, with Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood rested, as the Test series started at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Thursday.
Marsh was named player of the series despite missing game three.
The result means Australia retains the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, which was previously contested only in ODIs but is now in play during all short series.