Adam Zampa and Aussie bowlers make more unwanted history in T20 win over New Zealand

Adam Zampa and Australia's bowlers have made some very unwanted history that is sure to cause concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup. The batting of Mitch Marsh and Tim David was the hero in the first T20 against New Zealand on Wednesday night, and the victory papered over the cracks of what was another sub-par bowling performance.

Marsh thumped 72 not out off 44 balls and David played the perfect late cameo, blasting 31 not out off 10. David smacked a boundary off the final ball of the match as Australia chased down New Zealand's total of 215 in thrilling fashion.

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But it marked the fourth-consecutive game in which the Aussies have conceded over 200 - the first time that has ever happened in international T20 cricket history. The West Indies made 202, 207 and 220 in the three-match series that preceded the New Zealand tour, before the Kiwis also passed 200 on Wednesday night.

Remarkably, Australia have won three of those four matches - showing just how formidable their batting lineup is. But their luck is sure to run out if they keep conceding such high totals, especially in the pressure cooker of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

As good as Zampa has been in white-ball cricket over the last few years, his form this summer is sure to raise some alarm bells. The leg-spinner has played in all of the last four matches in which Australia has conceded in excess of 200, returning figures of 3-26 off four, 1-39 off four, 1-65 off four and 0-42 off three.

His figures in the first two matches were rather good, but his last two performances have left much to be desired. In the third T20 against the West Indies he conceded the worst figures by an Australian bowler in an international T20 ever. And tellingly, he didn't even bowl his full four overs on Wednesday night as he went for a whopping 107 runs in just two games.

"We're all about breaking records so there's another one for us," captain Marsh joked about the four-consecutive 200-plus totals conceded. But no-one will be laughing if it continues at the World Cup.

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Australia blooded some youngsters against the West Indies and didn't have the bowling attack they will likely go with at the World Cup. But they did on Wednesday night, with front-line quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all playing.

The pacemen hadn't played much T20 cricket in recent times and showed some rust in the format, with Starc going for 1-39 off four, Hazlewood 0-36 off four and Cummins 1-43 off four. They will probably find their form in the shorter format as they play the rest of the New Zealand series and more IPL cricket later this year, but time will tell whether Australia's bowling attack can win the World Cup.

Crucially, Zampa always seems to rise to the occasion on the biggest stage. He equalled the record for most wickets by a spinner at the ODI World Cup last year, starring throughout the tournament as Australia came away with the trophy. But as we've seen over the last few weeks, T20 cricket is a different kettle of fish.

As was the case in the West Indies series, Australia's batters made up for the underwhelming bowling performance. David came to the crease with New Zealand firmly in the box seat, but proceeded to score 29 off the last 32 runs required off the last nine balls.

"It was special to watch and really proud of him," Marsh said of David. "(It takes) complete trust in your game and a real confidence to go out there and do that."

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