NZ vs AUS 1st T20I Pitch Report: New Zealand vs Australia 1st T20I at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 1 October 2025, 11:30 IST
New Zealand and Australia are set to kick off a thrilling three-match T20I series at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Wednesday. While the Kiwis enter the contest with strong home form, Australia come in as clear favourites after a dominant run this year.
This series opener promises fireworks, with both teams boasting power-packed line-ups.
Bay Oval Mount Maunganui Pitch Report – NZ vs AUS 1st T20I
The Bay Oval surface is a batting paradise early on, offering plenty of runs with short square boundaries (63–70m). The ball comes nicely onto the bat, making stroke play easier. However, under lights, seamers may find some swing and movement, especially with a bit of moisture in the air. Spinners can come into play later as the pitch slows down.
Batting Conditions
-
Average first-innings score: 190+
-
Highest T20I score: 243/5 (NZ vs WI, 2018)
-
Big-hitters like Tim Seifert, Travis Head, and Glenn Maxwell will relish the conditions.
Pace Bowling
-
New-ball bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Matt Henry can exploit early swing.
-
Short-pitched bowling often gets punished due to the short square boundaries.
Spin Bowling
-
Spinners must vary pace and lengths to be effective.
-
Adam Zampa and Ish Sodhi could play key roles in containing batters in the middle overs.
Toss Prediction – NZ vs AUS 1st T20I
Chasing has generally been the safer option at Bay Oval. With dew potentially helping the team batting second, the toss-winning captain is likely to bowl first.
Average 1st Innings Score (T20I at Maunganui)
170-180 runs
Read Also:
NZ vs AUS Weather Forecast – Sharjah (27 Sep, Evening)
Clear skies, warm conditions, and no rain threat make for a perfect evening for a game. Dew may settle in later during the second innings.
| Time | Temperature | Rain | Wind Speed | Wind Direction | Cloud Cover | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 16°C | 0 mm | 5.7 km/h | W | 76% | Cool, cloudy |
| 03:00 | 17°C | 0 mm | 5.8 km/h | W | 65% | Breezy, partly cloudy |
| 06:00 | 14°C | 0 mm | 5.4 km/h | WSW | 44% | Clear, mild breeze |
| 09:00 | 12°C | 0 mm | 3.9 km/h | WSW | 2% | Sunny, dry |
| 12:00 | 13°C | 0 mm | 3.3 km/h | W | 23% | Pleasant, clear skies |
| 15:00 | 12°C | 0 mm | 2.7 km/h | W | 84% | Cloudy, humid spells |
| 18:00 | 12°C | 0 mm | 1.8 km/h | W | 81% | Cloudy, calm evening |
| 21:00 | 16°C | 0 mm | 2.8 km/h | W | 94% | Cloudy, humid night |
What Conditions Suggest – NZ vs AUS
-
If Australia bat first: Expect them to push past 200, with Marsh and Maxwell key to setting up a huge score.
-
If New Zealand bat first, Seifert and Conway will look to anchor early, while Mitchell and Chapman aim for a total around 185–190.
Key Factor: With Bay Oval favouring big hitters, this match could turn into a high-scoring thriller, but early swing under lights might test the openers.
