Overview
- Australia won the opener by six wickets, overhauling 182 in 16.3 overs with 21 balls to spare at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
- Tim Robinson produced an unbeaten maiden T20I century for New Zealand with 106 off 66 after the hosts slipped to 6 for 3.
- Captain Mitchell Marsh blasted 85 off 43, with Travis Head, Matthew Short and Tim David contributing, and Marcus Stoinis finishing with a first-ball boundary.
- Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis made early inroads in the powerplay, and Adam Zampa tightened control through the middle overs.
- New Zealand were without Mitchell Santner, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra, while Australia missed Pat Cummins and Cameron Green; the second T20I is set for October 3 at Bay Oval.