Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Australia opener D’Arcy Short and stand-in captain David Warner smashed 76 and 59 respectively to lead their side to a five-wicket win over New Zealand in the fifth match of the T20 tri-series in Auckland.

With Australia chasing down a mammoth score of 244, they broke the record for the highest successful run chase in Twenty20 International history.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand got off to an incredible start as Martin Guptill and Colin Munro amassed a 132-run partnership in just over 10 overs, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

With the Black Caps hurtling towards a massive total, Australia did everything in their power to try and break the stand.

They eventually did so when Munro was caught by Glenn Maxwell at long-on off the bowling of Andrew Tye for 76, which came off 33 balls, which included six boundaries and six sixes.

Tim Seifert fell shortly after, but Guptill and Mark Chapman stabilised things with a 57-run stand, during which Guptill surpassed his hundred.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Guptill went on to score a career-best 105 off 54 deliveries, which included five boundaries and nine sixes, before he was dismissed by Tye.

During his knock, Guptill overtook compatriot Brendon McCullum as the highest scorer in Twenty20 Internationals.

With Guptill’s hundred coming off 49 balls, he also broke McCullum’s record for the fastest Twenty20 International century by a New Zealand player.

Even though New Zealand lost wickets in a hurry after Guptill’s dismissal, Ross Taylor smashed 17 runs off just six balls to help the Black Caps finish on 243/6, which equals their highest score in the shortest format.

Tye and Kane Richardson picked up two wickets apiece, while Billy Stanlake and Ashton Agar chipped in with one wicket each.

Chasing 244 to win, Australia also got off to a scorching start as Warner and Short put together a 121-run partnership, during which Warner surpassed his half-century.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Shortly after doing so, Warner was clean bowled by Ish Sodhi for 59, which came off 24 balls and included four boundaries and five sixes.

Chris Lynn thumped a quickfire 18 before he was caught by Guptill at deep cover off the bowling of Colin de Grandhomme.

Short and Maxwell made up for the loss of Warner and Lynn with a quickfire 56-run stand before Maxwell was clean bowled by Tim Southee for a 14-ball 31.

Short went on to score a career-best 76 off 44 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and three sixes, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Trent Boult.

Despite Marcus Stoinis being run out for four runs, Aaron Finch finished things off for Australia as he concluded the match unbeaten on 36 off 14 balls, which included three boundaries and three sixes.

Boult, Sodhi, Southee and De Grandhomme claimed one wicket each.

Williamson was gutted to have lost, and said: “It was a very good surface, small ground. We’ve sometimes seen scores on the lower side here. At the halfway point you feel you have a fairly good score on the board. It’s a very tough one, Australia played very nicely.

“Hard to be too critical of the bowlers. Half hits would go 20 rows back. Any time Mitch plays he’s outstanding, you want to have him but injuries happen. All the bowlers will feel it today, tough to swallow, but we need to bounce back. Hamilton will be a different surface.”

Warner was over the moon to have won, and said: “Fantastic effort from the guys, you just have to take the scoreboard out of it. We brought it back slightly [with the ball], a fantastic knock by New Zealand as well.

“I said from day one to have a lot of energy, keep a smile on your face. Was a fantastic surface. 240 might not be enough in the final! We’ll need to think about it. Early wickets are the key.”

Short was named Man of the Match, and said: “Great run chase by the boys. We knew we had the firepower to do it.”