Tim David, Mitch Marsh do the unthinkable in last-ball T20 thriller over New Zealand

Aussie skipper Mitchell Marsh held the innings together with 72 not out off 44 ball, including seven sixes.

But it was Tim David who stole the show, blasting 31 off just 10 balls, including a four to win off the final ball in an all-time heist in Wellington.

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With two overs to go, Australia needed 35 runs to win and always looked behind the eight-ball.

With three balls remaining, a leg bye on a leg stump full toss to Marsh looked like the game had got away from Australia as they needed 12 off the final three balls.

But David came to the rescue, clipping another leg side full toss for six, before mistiming the next ball but coming back for two.

It left four needed off the last ball and Tim Southee bowled a decent ball but only just missed the yorker, which was enough for David to muscle to the boundary.

Glenn Phillips had a last-gasp chance to save the day for his nation but wasn’t able to stop the ball on the boundary, sending the Aussies and commentators into hysterics.

New Zealand commentator Mark Richardson said: “Australia win off the final ball — can you believe it?”

Brendan Julian added: “That is unbelievable. Tim David take a bow. With the skipper out there Mitch Marsh, that is some powerful and amazing hitting from the Aussies.”

“Quite remarkable, Tim David, that is some knock,” Richardson said.

Julian pointed out that Phillips had tried to “whack it back in” when he only needed to stop it, but the power off David’s bat saw it fly across the turf.

If there was any doubt that David would be making the trip to the US and West Indies in July for the T20 World Cup, that has been extinguished as the 27-year-old proved himself Australia’s new finisher.

Australia was in disbelief over the incredible finish.

While Marsh hit 72, Julian believed that David should have been named man of the match, but the Aussie skipper spent almost his entire interview praising his partner — as the pair put on 44 in just 19 balls to win the match.

“That was incredible,” Marsh said. “And pretty lucky in the end — I was swinging like a rusty gate towards the back end of the innings.

“That’s exactly why he’s in this team, he’s been incredible across the last two years in all T20 tournaments around the world and gee, it’s a pleasure to watch.”

It was a belter of a batting deck in Wellington as the Kiwis first cashed in, belting 3/215 from their 20 overs.

Not originally in the squad until Kane Williamson pulled out for paternity leave, 24-year-old prodigy Rachin Ravindra dominated the Aussie bowlers — blasting 68 off 35 balls.

This included 54 off his last 19 balls.

Australia had their big three quicks in New Zealand but even they were powerless to stop Ravindra and Devin Conway (63 off 46 balls).

Mitchell Starc (1/39), Josh Hazlewood (0/36) and Pat Cummins (1/43) all went the distance off their four overs, while Glenn Maxwell had 0/32 off two overs after his first over — the third of the match — went for 20 runs.

Adam Zampa fared little better, going for 0/42 off his three overs, an economy rate of 14 per over.

Luckily for the bowlers, the batters more than made up for it.

6.45pm – Kiwis go huge

This will be a big test for Australia after New Zealand set 3/215 in their 20 overs.

Finn Allen got the hosts off to a flyer with 32 off 17 and Rachin Ravindra took right over.

The youngster who’s only in the team due to Kane Williamson’s absence, has now put his name right into T20 World Cup calculations, blasting 68 off 35 balls with six sixes in a brutal knock.

He was well supported by Devon Conway’s 46-ball 63.

Australia may have brought Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins over for the last T20 series before the T20 World Cup in July but all three copped plenty of stick.

Starc (1/39), Hazelwood (0/36) and Cummins (1/43) all went the distance, while Glenn Maxwell had 0/32 off two overs after his first over — the third of the match — went for 20 runs.

Adam Zampa fared little better, going for 0/42 off his three overs, an economy rate of 14 per over.

Another thing against the Aussies is that 200 is fairly rare in New Zealand in T20Is — it was only the third 200+ score in Wellington.

6.15pm – Kiwis tear Australia apart

Rachin Ravindra and Devin Conway have each smashed 50s.

Ravindra is only playing because Kane Williamson is off for paternity leave, but he is doing some damage.

He brought his 50 up in just 28 balls.

Conway has also hit 60 off 43 balls as the Kiwis move to 1/165 off 15 overs with the pair combining for a 104-run stand.

5.45pm – Kiwis off to a flyer

Australia likes to dominate the power play but after a good first over, it was all New Zealand as Finn Allen and Devon Conway got the home side off to a flyer.

Glenn Maxwell was blasted for 20 off his first over, while Pat Cummins was tonked for 15 as Allen and Conway took flight.

But Allen went one too many times, finally caught after not being able to get Mitchell Starc over the infield, chipping straight to David Warner.

It’s the only success Australia has taster, with the hosts 1/75 after seven overs.

4.45pm – Kiwis win toss, bat as Smith call says it all

The Kiwis will bat first in Wellington but Australia has made a telling call ahead of the match.

Steve Smith will be the 12th man for the match, which says a lot considering this three-match series is Australia’s last before the T20 World Cup in July.

Heading into the match Aussie captain Mitch Marsh said Australia’s top order looks “pretty set”, even suggesting Smith was going to bat at No. 3.

However, it’s Marsh at No. 3 with Smith named 12th man and it’s hard to see who the New South Welshman could displace to force his way into the order.

Behind David Warner and Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Matt Short are biding their time while Jake Fraser-McGurk has been bookmarked for the future.

Only injury prevented Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis from being in the squad in New Zealand, further highlighting the situation Smith is in.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said that if Smith wasn’t opening, he shouldn’t be in the team at all.

“I think his only position really is to open, because he has the skill in the game to maximise that first six overs brilliantly. He is a skilful player,” Vaughan told foxsports.com.au.

“But if he is not going to open, I don’t think he should play. If you are going to play him, he bats in the top two, and that is great. He will face 50 balls and get you an 80 or 90.

“If he is not going to open, I don’t see him having an impact in the middle order after the powerplay. You need people who can whack it into the stands from (overs) six to 20.

“He can do that once he is in, but I think he is a better player in the first six (overs) when there are only two men outside the circle.”

Game 1 teams

NZ: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (c), Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson

AUS: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitch Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Matt Short, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

2.30pm – Warner slapped by Kiwi politician

David Warner has once again been the lightning rod for unhappy Kiwis ahead of the series opener.

It’s been eight years since Warner labelled New Zealand crowds “pretty vulgar” when he said home supporters used extremely personal attacks towards him and his teammates.

The retiring opener stirred the pot further on Monday when he described Oamaru in North Otago as “ghost town” when he played there during New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition in the summer of 2010-11.

Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher hit back on Tuesday by saying the Aussie was “out of touch” with the district.

“I can’t help but feel Mr Warner may have had his experience in Oamaru dampened by being caught behind after only six balls,” Kircher said.

He also appeared to pot Warner with a sledge that references the batter’s role in the infamous sandpaper ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket.

Kircher referenced a local hardware store in his response, saying: “With a wide range of sandpaper and other abrasive products – something Mr Warner is more than familiar with”.

“If he has the time to visit, we’d be more than happy to show him around Ōamaru – once the Black Caps are finished with him”.

2pm – Steve Smith’s position continues to be debated

Aussie captain Mitch Marsh says Australia’s top order looks “pretty set” heading into July’s World Cup in the West Indies and the United States.

Travis Head is set to open with David Warner in the first of the three matches against New Zealand and the skipper said Steve Smith will assume his regular role at number three.

But the emergence of Josh Inglis, who will take the gloves in the absence of Matthew Wade, as a regular run-maker and the power offerings from Glenn Maxwell and Tim David in the middle order along with Matt Short has created questions over where Smith fits in.

Only injury prevented Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis from being in the squad in New Zealand, further highlighting the situation Smith is in.

He skipped the most recent series against the West Indies and could have three matches to prove he still has a place in the T20 outfit which is seeking to secure a third major trophy for Australia in the US and Caribbean from July.

Originally published as Tim David, Mitch Marsh do the unthinkable in last-ball T20 thriller over New Zealand