Australia vs New Zealand meet in the third and final T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on October 4, 2025, with the series still alive after Australia’s opening win and the second match being washed out. The match will begin at 11:45 AM IST and will decide the trophy.
The two teams have met 21 times in T20 internationals, with Australia holding the advantage through 14 victories, New Zealand winning 5, one game tied, and one abandoned. The Bay Oval is well-known for having one of the flattest and highest-scoring T20 fields, with average scores of 180+. Bowlers can also find help on this pitch under the lights, but chasing teams typically have the upper hand, so another high-scoring match is anticipated.
Among the standout performers, Mitchell Marsh has scored 367 runs against New Zealand in 11 innings, while Devon Conway has 348 runs in 8 innings at an average of 58.00. Marcus Stoinis has contributed 155 runs in his outings against the Australians. On the bowling side, Adam Zampa leads with 12 wickets in 13 innings, Hazlewood has 7 in 5 matches with excellent economy, and Marsh has added 3 wickets in 4 innings. Tim Robinson’s form at Bay Oval is exceptional, with 158 runs in three innings, while Jacob Duffy has taken 11 wickets in four matches at the venue.
Australia vs New Zealand: Head to Head
New Zealand and Australia have faced each other 20 times in T20 internationals. Out of these matches, New Zealand has won 5, while Australia has claimed 14 victories, with 1 match ending without a result. The rivalry began on February 17, 2005, when they played their first-ever T20I, and the most recent meeting came on October 1, 2025.
| Matches Played | 20 |
| NZ Won | 5 |
| AUS Won | 14 |
| Tied / No Results | 1 |
| First-ever Fixture | February 17, 2005 |
| Most-recent Fixture | October 1, 2025 |
Australia vs New Zealand: Predicted Playing 11
The series is on the line for the New Zealand vs Australia third T20I at Bay Oval. The likely New Zealand playing XI will include Tim Seifert as wicketkeeper, Devon Conway, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, captain Michael Bracewell, Bevon Jacobs, Matt Henry, Zakary Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy.
Australia’s predicted XI features Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh at the top, followed by Matthew Short, Tim David, wicketkeeper Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.
The full New Zealand squad also lists Ish Sodhi, James Neesham, and Ben Sears in addition to the expected XI. Australia’s squad includes Ben Dwarshuis, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Josh Philippe as extra options alongside the main XI.
| New Zealand’s Playing XI | Australia’s Playing XI |
| Tim Seifert (wk) | Mitchell Marsh (c) |
| Devon Conway | Travis Head |
| Tim Robinson | Matthew Short |
| Daryl Mitchell | Tim David |
| Mark Chapman | Alex Carey (wk) |
| Bevon Jacobs | Marcus Stoinis |
| Michael Bracewell (c) | Mitchell Owen |
| Zakary Foulkes | Sean Abbott |
| Kyle Jamieson | Xavier Bartlett |
| Matt Henry | Adam Zampa |
| Jacob Duffy | Josh Hazlewood |
Australia vs New Zealand: Predicted Player of the Match
In the build-up to the decider for Australia vs New Zealand at Bay Oval, Travis Head stands out as the predicted top batter for Australia. The left-handed opener scored 31 from 18 balls in the series opener. If he maintains that momentum, he could provide the platform for a big score, which will put the game entirely in favor of the Australian team, which will ultimately make him the player of the match for the T20I series finale.
Australia vs New Zealand: Pitch condition
The pitch at Bay Oval for Australia vs New Zealand has been good for batting, as seen in the first match, and is expected to behave similarly in the third game. However, conditions are also favorable for fast bowlers early on due to the breeze and swing on offer, making the opening overs challenging for batters. Spinners may not find much help from the surface, but they can make use of the strong winds to their advantage, as Adam Zampa did in the opening T20I. Batters will need to negotiate the first few overs with caution, after which scoring on this pitch becomes easier.
Australia vs New Zealand: Weather report
The weather forecast for the New Zealand vs Australia third T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, predicts a 71% chance of rain on Friday, with the temperature ranging between 16°C and 17°C. This could cause interruptions in play. For the third T20I, the toss will be crucial, with the side winning it likely to prefer bowling first and restricting the opposition to around 180–190. For the team New Zealand, it is a must win match to tie the series, while Australia will look to seal the series with back-to-back wins.
Australia vs New Zealand: Where to watch
The third and final match of the New Zealand vs Australia series will be played on Saturday, 4 October 2025, at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The toss is scheduled for 11:15 AM IST, and the first ball will be bowled at 11:45 AM IST. In India, the live telecast of the match will be shown on the Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available through the SonyLIV app and website.
Australia vs New Zealand: Records that can be broken
Several milestones are within reach in the New Zealand vs Australia match. Tim David needs 54 runs to complete 1,000 T20I runs; Tim Seifert is 51 runs short of 500 T20I runs in 2025, and Marsh is six sixes away from completing 100 in the format. Stoinis requires five more wickets to reach 50, while James Neesham is close to a double milestone of 1,000 runs and 50 wickets in T20 internationals.
Australia vs New Zealand match prediction: Who Will Emerge As the Winner?
For the third and final match of New Zealand vs Australia, based on the recent performances of both teams, the Australian team is likely to win their last T20I match against New Zealand. However, the toss will likely decide the outcome. A New Zealand toss win could tilt the match their way, but if Australia wins the toss, they remain favorites to win and seal the series.
At Bay Oval, history favors the side batting first, with 11 wins out of 15 matches. However, teams winning the toss have usually preferred to bowl first in recent games.
If New Zealand wins the toss and chooses to bowl, Australia is expected to post around 175–185, and in that case, New Zealand has the edge to chase successfully. If Australia wins the toss and bowls, New Zealand may end up around 170–180, which makes Australia the stronger side to clinch the game.
FAQs.
Q. Where in India can I watch the New Zealand vs. Australia T20 match?
A. In India, the SonyLIV app and website will stream the game live.
Q. Where will the Australia vs. New Zealand cricket be played in 2025?
A. The Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand, is the venue for all games.
Q. Is Australia eligible to compete in WTC 2025?
A. Yes, Australia’s 3-1 victory over India in the Border-Gavaskar series earned them a spot in the 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final.
Q. In 2025, who will be the top batsman for New Zealand?
A. In 2025, Kane Williamson is the best batsman for New Zealand.
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