AUSTRALIA has fallen at the first hurdle of its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, falling by a whopping 89 runs to New Zealand at the SCG on Saturday night.

The reigning champions came into the tournament as one of the favourites, boasting a star-studded roster and the home ground advantage, but were taught a lesson by a classier New Zealand side in the first match of the tournament for both teams.

The Aussies now face a tougher path on their quest to consecutive titles, while it was New Zealand’s first victory against the Aussies in any format of the game since 2011, and produced one of their better T20 performances in recent memory.

Australia (111) def. by New Zealand (3/200)

The visitors batted first, and set the tone immediately, as opener Finn Allen smacked Mitch Starc over the boundary multiple times to tally 14 runs in the first over. The Aussies were suddenly on the back foot, as the pace trio of Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were carted all over the SCG. Allen was dismissed for an outstanding 42 from 16 deliveries in a masterclass of power hitting, but even after he was bowled by Hazelwood, fellow opener David Conway was still chugging away.

Whether it was their quicks or spinner Adam Zampa, the Aussies were simply being smoked all around the SCG. The frustration was visible from Australia’s bowling attack, and came to the forefront whenever a dismissal was conjured. They could not find the wicket of Conway over the course of 20 overs, as the likes of Kane Williamson (23 runs), Glenn Phillips (12 runs) and Jimmy Neesham (26 not out) all chimed in and helped get the Kiwis to a whopping 200, which is overs in the grand scheme of things at the start of the tournament.

David Warner got the Aussies on the board with an edge that zipped past slips and raced away for four, but his luck ran out shortly after. He tried to get on the front foot and find the boundary, but the ball ricocheted off his bat into his pads, back into his bat and then finally into the stumps.

His skipper and opening partner Aaron Finch looked to get off to an ideal start as he smacked a 102m six down leg side, before producing another boundary in the same over. He and Mitch Marsh looked to get Australia off to a better start than the first innings, but both were dismissed after biting off a bit too much with their shot selection.

T20 veteran Glenn Maxwell tried to get the Aussies going with some creative shots, but to no avail. Marcus Stoinis may consider himself unlucky after Phillips took a screamer in the outfield to send him on his way. The Kiwis were holding all of their catches in a terrific display of fielding. Cummins came in late in the order and boosted the Aussies’ total with some power hitting of his own, but it was too little too late as Australia fell well short of the required total.

Australia will look to bounce back when it takes on Sri Lanka on Tuesday night, while the Kiwis will look to make it two on the trot when they face off against Afghanistan on Wednesday.