Devon Conway scored a brilliant unbeaten 92 as New Zealand thrashed reigning champions Australia by 89 runs in a rematch of last year’s final, opening the Super 12 stage with a bang at the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

Expatriate New Zealanders turned out in numbers at a packed Sydney Cricket Ground and were treated to fireworks from the Black Caps batters as they blasted their way to 200/3 in their 20 overs after Conway smashed the final ball for a six.

David Warner was unfortunate to depart to a freak dismissal off the first ball of the second over of Australia’s innings, but the New Zealand bowlers kept up relentless pressure to dismiss the hosts for 111 in the 18th over.

Seamer Tim Southee took 3/6 as New Zealand handed Australia their biggest loss in a T20I and won their first match in any format against their neighbours in Australia since a Test win in Hobart 11 years ago.

Thanks to partner

Conway thanked his opening partner Finn Allen for the way he took on Australia’s vaunted pace attack on Saturday.

Allen’s 16-ball 42 in his first international against Australia had put the home quicks — Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins — firmly on the back foot.

“I have to give a lot of credit to the way Finn played, because the way he played and the way he put them under pressure allowed me to get those balls that were slightly looser,” the South Africa-born left-hander told reporters.

“In T20 cricket, if you put bowlers under pressure, no matter how good you are, it’s obviously a tough gig.”

Finch’s message

Despite the loss, Australia captain Aaron Finch remained convinced his team could retain the trophy.

“It (the loss) hurts our chances, no doubt,” Finch told reporters. “We can’t dwell on that. All we can do is concentrate on the next game.

“We’ve taken the fate out of our own hands, I think to a point.

“We need to be ultra-positive, ultra-aggressive. We still feel as though we’ve got the right structure of team.”

Written with inputs from Reuters