That’s it for our coverage today. Keep an eye out for a match report to go up shortly, and please do join us throughout the rest of the tournament. Bye for now.
As it happens, this is Australia’s 100th ODI win against New Zealand. Now they will take it to the West Indies on Tuesday at this same venue.
Lanning is praising the depth of her squad, especially the lower order who she says “can rescue our innings”. She is, of course, referring to Gardner, who missed the start of Australia’s campaign after testing positive for Covid but returned in indefatigable fashion.
“It was great to have her back,” Lanning says. “Obviously a tough 10 days for her but she’s come back incredibly well. That innings certainly gave us the momentum heading into the bowling. We thought it was a good score without match-winning and probably went a bit too hard to get their key batters out.”
Speaking of Devine, she has just spoken about her side’s performance and is disappointed with their batting display and says Australia’s batting was the “blueprint” for success.
“The reason we wanted to bowl first was to contain them and get a few more wickets and put the pressure on them,” she says. “Guess that shows the quality of the Australian side as, even though they were three to four down, had the run rate under control and were able to launch in the death overs.”
Now she’s talking about Gardner’s performance and Australia’s all-round output with the bat.
“She hit with the wind and was outstanding the way she played. We certainly would have to go back to our plans around how you gonna do it but, it’s always tough with the wind and credit goes to Australia. We certainly can be better. We know this is a good cricket wicket and if we were able to keep wickets in hand, certainly a chasable target. Poor batting performance. The way Australians set it up, that’s the blueprint.”
NZ next face South Africa in Hamilton on Thursday.
And so it transpired, the White Ferns had Australia on the ropes during their innings at 164-4 at the close of the 40th over. Enter Gardner with her unbeaten 48 off 18 balls, which had the hosts reeling and then tasked with chasing 270. Perry’s knock of 68 and her wicket with the ball has her named player of the match. Her dismissal of Devine was key in sucking the wind out of NZ’s innings.
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Australia beat New Zealand by 141 runs
The Kiwis are 128 all out and Lanning’s team win their third match on the hop and regain top spot in the standings, with India in second, South Africa third and NZ fourth. This is a big result for both teams. While Australia are in the box seat for the semis, the path is less straightforward for their trans-Tasman counterparts.
Wicket! Tahuhu 23 c Mooney b Gardner
Gardner bows to Tahuhu and she arcs her shot straight to deep mid-wicket, where Mooney’s safe hands are waiting. She takes it, and Australia take the match.
30th over: New Zealand 128-9 (Lea Tahuhu 23, Jess Kerr 6) Schutt sends down a delivery wide of off and Kerr’s outside edge is in just the right position to send the ball to the ropes between short third and backward point. Another Kerr edge is almost caught and then, in the final ball of the over, Tahuhu chips and King runs in but can’t quite get there.
Wicket! Satterthwaite 44 c Lanning b Gardner
29th over: New Zealand 122-9 (Lea Tahuhu 22, Jess Kerr 1) Satterthwaite, for her impressive innings and a lone hand who helped keep her battling team afloat, is out off what would hardly even qualify as a shot. She scoops Gardner’s delivery towards cover and Lanning makes a run for it. The captain almost looks as if she won’t make it but make it she does, and Australia need one more wicket for victory.
28th over: New Zealand 120-8 (Amy Satterthwaite 44, Lea Tahuhu 21) Schutt starts her second spell and conceded only two singles. There must be another wicket coming soon.
27th over: New Zealand 118-8 (Amy Satterthwaite 43, Lea Tahuhu 20) Big appeal from Australia for lbw on Tahuhu facing Gardner! The White Ferns review. Delivery is good, but did it make contact with bat? Nope, it’s pad first. But ball tracking shows it has pitched outside leg! Safe. Can this pair build a partnership at death’s door?
26th over: New Zealand 116-8 (Amy Satterthwaite 42, Lea Tahuhu 19) It’s Satterthwaite’s turn to put some runs on the board with two fours of her own. Against Wellington she places it perfectly over mid-wicket. The second is a mishit, an edge that races away behind and past the keeper. That’s a bit lucky, but she’ll take it.
25th over: New Zealand 106-8 (Amy Satterthwaite 33, Lea Tahuhu 18) Tahuhu is going for it, and she may as well at this point. Go out swinging, as they say. She tests Ash Gardner on her first over and then swipes over cover for four. Two balls later she scoops another high, a catch-in-waiting that King cannot quite take. The ball scoots away to the ropes for another four. She’s brought up NZ’s century at least.
24th over: New Zealand 95-8 (Amy Satterthwaite 32, Lea Tahuhu 8) Tahuhu hits Wellington for six! She connects perfectly with the delivery and sweeps up and over. It’s almost a done deal but Mooney is there, and we’ve seen what Mooney can do. She takes a courageous leap. She’s just in front of the ropes and looking up into the sun, which doesn’t help her cause as she back-steps into the boundary and the ball sails past. That was nice to watch.
Wicket! Rowe 6 c Perry b Schutt
23rd over: New Zealand 87-8 (Amy Satterthwaite 31, Lea Tahuhu 1) This is surely one of the most straightforward catches of Parry’s distinguished career. Schutt roles over her delivery, Rowe is static and can’t set herself. She pops it up and Perry says thank you very much. Lea Tahuhu comes in and faces two balls for no return before pumping the third straight down the ground for one.
22nd over: New Zealand 85-7 (Amy Satterthwaite 30, Hannah Rowe 6) The tail wags a little as Satterthwaite smacks a four past cover. Wellington tries again and she flat misses before picking up a single and watching Rowe drive for two.
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21st over: New Zealand 78-7 (Amy Satterthwaite 25, Hannah Rowe 4) Rowe takes a few balls to get herself set, blocking and nudging Schutt before driving her for four. Promising start.
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Wicket! Jensen 0 c McGrath b Wellington
20th over: New Zealand 73-7 (Amy Satterthwaite 24, Hannah Rowe 0) Hayley Jensen has barely taken her place and she’s out for a golden duck! Wellington sends her delivery outside off and Jensen is off balance, popping the ball high enough for McGrath to take the catch at cover point. Jensen was invited into that and got done hook, line and sinker. A warm welcome to Hannah Rowe.
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Wicket! Martin 19 lbw b Wellington, New Zealand 73-7
Lanning is tweaking her fielding set-up with each ball. She doesn’t even need them though because Wellington has done it all herself. She’s not the quickest of the spinners but it’s full-flighted and lands at Martin’s toes if not on them. The batter has started walking before the umpire has even given the signal.
19th over: New Zealand 70-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 22, Katey Martin 18) There’s a cry of “come on Schutter” as she mixes up her deliveries and forces the batters to adjust basically with every ball they face. Satterthwaite steals a single but almost pays for it with her wicket, only marginally making it back to her crease. Had the fielder made a direct hit she would not have been so lucky.
There’s a bit of a break in proceedings after the over as Martin takes time out to talk to coaches. The umpires are there too. It’s unclear what the problem is, if it’s injury or if she’s feeling unwell. She hasn’t taken a hit. After a couple of minutes she puts back on her helmet and continues.
18th over: New Zealand 68-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 21, Katey Martin 17) Wellington is giving nothing away, bar a couple of singles. Australia’s bowling has been ... compact. Ungenerous. Unyielding.
Here’s Beth Mooney’s catch from earlier. Well worth the watch.
Beth Mooney with a contender for catch of the tournament! #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/8nI7OvM4CV
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 13, 2022
17th over: New Zealand 66-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 20, Katey Martin 16) Another bowling change-up with Schutt coming in. Much later than anticipated, but in nonetheless. Her opening over is marked by two wides.
16th over: New Zealand 61-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 18, Katey Martin 15) We have some spin for the first time! Leggie Amanda Wellington makes her entrance. I’ve cracked open some Easter eggs to mark the occasion. I’m aware it’s not yet Easter but chocolate tastes better in Easter egg form. I am one of those people at the supermarket two months early, pouncing on the low-brow Cadbury specials. But we digress. Martin drives Wellington’s first delivery but gets no runs for her efforts. She evades the slips in her second for a single before she and Satterthwaite trade singles.
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15th over: New Zealand 57-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 16, Katey Martin 13) NZ are settling a little bit, at a crucial time, and make two boundaries against McGrath. Satterthwaite hits the first. Cuts it, more accurately. Martin follows with her own four, pouncing early for a pull shot that races away to the ropes. Another couple of singles makes for a fruitful over.
14th over: New Zealand 47-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 11, Katey Martin 8) Brown takes over from McGrath again. She bowls two dot balls to Satterthwaite, who then hits her for three to cover. Martin has a crack and her timing is off on the first ball but she has her eye in for the second and takes a couple of runs with a nice chip past mid-wicket. Time for drinks.
13th over: New Zealand 42-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 8, Katey Martin 6) Interestingly, Australia’s run score was almost identical at the 13th-over mark of their innings. They had 44. The main difference, of course, is that they were 44-1.
12th over: New Zealand 41-5 (Amy Satterthwaite 7, Katey Martin 6) I can hardly keep up. Mackay fell in the first ball of this over and before it is out Katey Martin, who has literally just come to the crease, is given out for lbw. But this one too is reviewed and successfully. There was bat on that, she’s edged it (just), and is safe for now. Mind you, she’d just hit Brown for four on her second ball and stole a quick two runs two balls thereafter, which is more to say than her preceding teammates.
Wicket! Mackay 1 lbw b Brown
This is dire. Dire straits. Darcie Brown, the sultan of swing, opts for one straight down the middle that smashes Mackay in the pads and looks plumb. Umpire calls lbw but New Zealand don’t think so – or they are just desperate – and review it. It’s pad first and line is good.
Wicket! Green 3 c Healy b McGrath
11th over: New Zealand 35-4 (Amy Satterthwaite 7, Frances Mackay 1) Tahlia McGrath makes her way up for her first over of the innings and it takes her a measly four balls to exert her influence and take another wicket. It’s regulation, too, a seamer that Green pokes outside off-stump and Healy is there for an easy catch. Frances Mackay walks out just in time for Satterthwaite to pump a four.
10th over: New Zealand 29-3 (Amy Satterthwaite 2, Maddy Green 3) Brown looks to be on her way to a maiden over to Green until the latter drives through extra cover for two. Before that she was forced to defend mainly. Brown has conceded 11 runs and taken two wickets from five overs. Power play is over as of now. At this point in Australia’s innings they had lost one wicket. For the Kiwis it is three.
9th over: New Zealand 27-3 (Amy Satterthwaite 2, Maddy Green 1) Looks windy out there. The broadcasters are doing their broadcasting thing and zooming in on trees swaying in the breeze. A strategically placed camera also captures an ICC flag fluttering around. The punters on the hill don’t seem to mind the windy Welly conditions. Undoubtedly they are more concerned with what is happening on the field. Perry bowls an over featuring one single apiece for Satterthwaite and Green.
Wicket! Bates 16 c McGrath b Brown
8th over: New Zealand 25-3 (Amy Satterthwaite 1, Maddy Green 0) Will this turn into a collapse of all proportions? I don’t want to be presumptive, but the pressure appears to be getting to the White Ferns. Bates tries a pull shot, presumably to break the run drought of the past few overs. She does it despite being crowded by Brown’s barrelling, shortish delivery. It catches the top edge and McGrath is at mid-wicket waiting for it. It’s Maddy Green’s turn.
7th over: New Zealand 24-2 (Suzie Bates 16, Amy Satterthwaite 0) The Kiwis are on the back foot, figuratively and literally – Australia’s attack are not giving an inch. Brown has no interest in leaking cheap runs and she gives only a quick single to Bates in this over.
Wicket! Amelia Kerr 1 c Mooney b Brown
6th over: New Zealand 23-2 (Suzie Bates 15, Amy Satterthwaite 0) What a catch from Mooney! That rivals Green’s from earlier in the day. Brown is on song and again at a good length Kerr wraps her hands around her bat and drives hard, but Mooney is at second slip with an outstretched arm and a hand that does not make a mistake. Gone for one. NZ are surely in deep you know what right now. Amy Satterthwaite is up and gives Brown four dot balls to open her innings.
Wicket! Devine 6 b Perry
5th over: New Zealand 23-1 (Suzie Bates 15, Amelia Kerr 1) Devine has her first boundary! She was superb in the World Cup warm-up match against Australia and this is the first sign in this one of what she can do. But she ain’t gonna get the chance this time. Perry bowls wide of the crease and the ball curves in. Bates is caught out by the smart delivery and her own indecision, beaten on the inside edge as the ball hits the leg stump. Big wicket for Australia. Right-hander Amelia Kerr makes her way out to the crease.
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4th over: New Zealand 18-0 (Suzie Bates 15, Sophie Devine 2) Brown is having a field day with the new ball. Her line and length is on point and that late swing is causing issues, beating the outside edge. The batter finds herself a little crowded on the penultimate ball but still manages a chip with enough momentum for two runs, and repeats the feat with a confident pull stepping up to a shorter ball.
3rd over: New Zealand 13-0 (Suzie Bates 11, Sophie Devine 1) Perry pitches slightly short and a little wide allows Bates to bat straight, and straight she does bat through extra cover for a four. Mixed over from Bates, who judged a couple well but also mistimed a cut off a length delivery.
2nd over: New Zealand 7-0 (Suzie Bates 5, Sophie Devine 1) Devine is off the mark facing a full-tossing Darcey Brown. No Megan Schutt to start in the bowling, interesting. Brown’s next ball is flawless and draws flaws from Bates, who is lured into an attempted drive which she clean misses as the ball swings late and violently away.
1st over: New Zealand 3-0 (Suzie Bates 3, Sophie Devine 0) Thanks Megan and hello all. Well Gardner finished off Australia’s innings in excellent fashion as New Zealand slipped a little off the pedestal they’d occupied throughout much of their opponents’ innings. It’s not an easy target, 270. What can they do? Bates and Devine are at the crease, the former is on strike. Perry opens the attack, kicking off with an inswinging full toss. A couple of dot balls are followed by a wide. Bates is late to the next delivery but the one after that is a cracker of a drive that yields three runs as McGrath chases it down just shy of the boundary.
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Well thank you so much for joining me for the first innings of this key match. I’m handing over to Emma Kemp now who will take you through New Zealand’s batting innings. Paul Cockburn has noted via email that it’s usually popular to bat first at the Basin, so maybe that will come into play later on. Hope you enjoy the rest of the match - I’ll be back to cover another match with you soon!
Australia 269-8
It was a very strong finish from Australia and New Zealand will be disappointed they lost control late in the innings. But they have some big hitting power and this score certainly isn’t out of their reach. Australia will remember their warm up game where they set NZ a score over 300 and weren’t able to defend it. Australia need to take wickets early and regularly if they hope to win this game. It’s certainly a game that can go either way at this point and the way both teams start the next innings will be crucial.
50th over: Australia 269-8 (Ash Gardner 48, Megan Schutt 0)
And of course it’s Tahuhu to bowl the final over, NZ will be hoping she can keep this score in check. It’s a good start with Wellington run out early, but Gardner can’t be contained and she takes two boundaries from the next two balls. Tahuhu beats her on the next ball and Gardner can’t get bat on it. She hits the next one straight in the air and it should be a simple catch for Rowe, but she has too much time to think about it and fumbles it. Gardner punishes her with a six next ball.
WICKET! Amanda-Jade Wellington 1 run out Mackay, Australia 253-8
A great underarm throw from Mackay gets Wellington out trying to grab a quick single.
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49th over: Australia 253-7 (Ash Gardner 32, Amanda-Jade Wellington 0)
Rowe comes on to bowl the penultimate over and Gardner takes her on right away, but it doesn’t quite reach the boundary this time. Gardner keeps going though and a few balls later strikes a six straight down the ground and follows it up with a second consecutive six. Rowe bounces back with two excellent short balls that she dug in really well and forces Gardner to take her first two dot balls.
48th over: Australia 239-7 (Ash Gardner 19, Amanda-Jade Wellington 0)
Tahuhu is back for this over, but Gardner isn’t intimidated, getting on strike on the second ball and immediately hitting it back over Tahuhu’s head for an impressive six. King tries to do the same a couple of balls later, but she doesn’t get hold of it and she has to go for two.
WICKET! Alana King c Bates b Tahuhu, Australia 238-7
King tries to hit a big one back over the bowler’s head, but she doesn’t get all of it and Bates takes another simple catch, which is almost thwarted by her own teammate, but she holds on to it.
47th over: Australia 229-6 (Ash Gardner 11, Alana King 1)
Gardner doesn’t even need one ball to get her eye in against Rowe, she just cuts one deftly for four immediately, then follows it up with a tidy single. McGrath sends one straight to Bates and brings Alana King to the crease. King nearly gives her wicket up immediately, hitting it straight back to Rowe, but she can’t hold on.
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WICKET! Tahlia McGrath 57 c Bates b Rowe, Australia 229-6
McGrath needed to keep pushing forward, but unfortunately she can’t get this one past the field and Bates takes a simple catch.
46th over: Australia 224-5 (Ash Gardner 6, Tahlia McGrath 57)
Gardner establishes herself quickly and gets off the mark with a front foot drive for four. Straight out of Covid isolation and into the fire she moves quickly and keeps the pace up well.
45th over: Australia 214-5 (Ash Gardner 0, Tahlia McGrath 53)
Brilliant fielding from Tahuhu from her own bowling cuts off an almost certain four and keeps it to a dot. McGrath nearly takes out Perry a few balls later, but Perry ducks out of the way well and they bring up their 100 partnership next ball. But then Tahuhu takes Perry with a stunning catch and the game changes again.
WICKET! Ellyse Perry 68 c Green b Tahuhu, Australia 214-5
It looked like a brilliant shot from Perry but Green came out of nowhere to sail through the air Deandra Dottin style to take a stunning catch.
44th over: Australia 211-4 (Ellyse Perry 67, Tahlia McGrath 51)
New Zealand is getting a little worried by Australia’s acceleration as they race past 200. There is plenty for Sophie Devine to consider in how she finishes this innings out with her bowlers. Their plan to frustrate worked well early, but these two batters are feeling very much at ease now and aren’t as susceptible to the frustration and pressure. They need to take one or both of these wickets to get back into the game and finish on a high.
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50 for Tahlia McGrath
A great little knock from McGrath to save the innings when it looked like it was in big trouble.
43rd over: Australia 199-4 (Ellyse Perry 64, Tahlia McGrath 42)
Tahuhu is back and she tempts Perry into a wild shot, but it falls safely with no fielders around. Tahuhu is throwing in a few short balls and coming over the wicket to the right hander and forcing Perry to playing a bit more cautiously after that big shot. She then tempts a big shot from McGrath that gets top edge, but again it falls safely and this time races away to the boundary for four.
42nd over: Australia 192-4 (Ellyse Perry 62, Tahlia McGrath 37)
Amelia Kerr doesn’t offer quite as many opportunities to the batters, but McGrath finds one late in the over with a big sweep to the boundary. There’s a definite increase in intensity late in this innings.
41st over: Australia 184-4 (Ellyse Perry 59, Tahlia McGrath 32)
McGrath is upping the intent now, starting Jess Kerr’s over with two fours. She can see the need for the run rate to increase into the last ten overs. Perry joins the party and brings up her fifty with a four, followed by a six from the free hit. It’s a huge over - 20 runs from it.
50 for Ellyse Perry
Perry gets a gift with a high full toss and she puts it away for four and brings up her half century.
40th over: Australia 164-4 (Ellyse Perry 49, Tahlia McGrath 23)
Perry is timing the ball really well but most of the time it isn’t paying off in a big way. Her strike rate is well below where it could be on the basis of what some of these shots look like.
39th over: Australia 159-4 (Ellyse Perry 46, Tahlia McGrath 22)
The over starts with an excellent piece of fielding from Suzie Bates who cuts off an almost certain four from McGrath and restricts her to one. McGrath isn’t deterred pulls out a brilliant straight drive that can’t be cut off by the field two balls later.
38th over: Australia 152-4 (Ellyse Perry 44, Tahlia McGrath 16)
A chance early in the over, but it falls just short of Maddy Green. They play a little more cautiously after that but a big swing from McGrath late in the over brings about an appeal - Martin is convinced there’s bat involved, but the review proves that it was clear. McGrath finishes with a single.
37th over: Australia 148-4 (Ellyse Perry 43, Tahlia McGrath 14)
Perry picks up three runs from Jensen straight away and then there are a few more singles from the over, but they’ll be wanting to step up the boundaries.
36th over: Australia 142-4 (Ellyse Perry 39, Tahlia McGrath 12)
Now we get Jess Kerr back in the attack, picking up where she left off with her length balls. She played a big role in setting up the frustration of the Australian batters from the start and she continues that role in this over.
35th over: Australia 140-4 (Ellyse Perry 38, Tahlia McGrath 11)
McGrath starts with a four of her own against Jensen, driving it past long on to the boundary. She gets Perry back on strike immediately afterwards and she plays a nicely timed shot for one straight away. Plenty of nice shots this over, well-timed and good running but they will want to pick the speed up.
34th over: Australia 133-4 (Ellyse Perry 37, Tahlia McGrath 5)
Perry plays a straight drive back past Kerr for four in the middle of the over but can’t get more runs away from Kerr.
33rd over: Australia 128-4 (Ellyse Perry 33, Tahlia McGrath 4)
McGrath gets away a nice shot against Rowe, but Amelia Kerr pulls out some excellent fielding to cut it off. Rowe gives away an unnecessary wide with a short ball, before dragging her length back. Australia are rotating the strike, but need to start moving quickly to get their run rate up before they close out their innings.
32nd over: Australia 122-4 (Ellyse Perry 29, Tahlia McGrath 3)
Kerr’s first ball is good, but the second is looser and Perry punishes it immediately with a boundary. Kerr is good enough to adjust and follows up with a dot and a single to bring McGrath on strike. The Australians rotate the strike well through the over and are slowly pushing the run rate up.
31st over: Australia 116-4 (Ellyse Perry 24, Tahlia McGrath 2)
McGrath gets her first look at Rowe and takes her time getting a look at what she’s doing with the ball. She picks up a single from the fourth and then Rowe throws in a nice change of pace to stop Perry charging down the wicket at her.
30th over: Australia 114-4 (Ellyse Perry 23, Tahlia McGrath 1)
Kerr strikes immediately and brings McGrath to the crease, continuing with that excellent flight to build the pressure through four dot balls before McGrath manages a single from the last.
WICKET! Beth Mooney 30 b A Kerr, Australia 113-4
Kerr strikes immediately in her fifth over with a length ball outside off stump taking Mooney’s stumps down.
29th over: Australia 113-3 (Ellyse Perry 23, Beth Mooney 29)
Devine has used six bowlers so far, without bowling herself, so there are plenty of options there. Rowe starts this over with a wide before Perry brings up the 50 run partnership with a nice looking cut shot for a single. Mooney overs up a little chance, chipping one up, but it sails safely past the fielder. A quick single brings about a run out chance, but the throw is just wide from Amelia Kerr. Mooney uses the pace of the ball to steer the ball down past third for four late in the over to ease some more of the pressure.
28th over: Australia 104-3 (Ellyse Perry 21, Beth Mooney 24)
Kerr is getting some really good flight through the air and gives away just two runs from the over.
27th over: Australia 102-3 (Ellyse Perry 20, Beth Mooney 23)
Rowe comes back into the attack, having changed ends, and gives away three singles and then finishes with three dots.
26th over: Australia 99-3 (Ellyse Perry 19, Beth Mooney 21)
It’s fair to say this probably wasn’t the score Australia was envisioning at the halfway mark in their innings, but Mooney and Perry are doing their best to get them back into a winning position. A review for a stumping early in Kerr’s over, but Mooney is safe and she plays out a couple of balls before dashing down for a quick single. Perry finishes the over with caution.
25th over: Australia 97-3 (Ellyse Perry 19, Beth Mooney 20)
Perry is finding her groove now and a very nicely played sweep shot goes straight to the boundary for four and she follows it up with another four before taking a single and giving the strike to Mooney. A straight drive beats Mackay and Mooney is able to rotate the strike back to Perry.
24th over: Australia 87-3 (Ellyse Perry 10, Beth Mooney 19)
Mooney and Perry are getting some good shots away against Kerr, but Kerr is bowling well to her field and there aren’t any boundaries on offer. However they are taking advantage of playing on a big ground by running twos whenever they can.
23rd over: Australia 83-3 (Ellyse Perry 9, Beth Mooney 16)
Perry immediately gets off strike against Mackay and then Mooney finds some space, cutting one to deep backward point for two. There’s a little bit more urgency in the running now approaching the halfway mark of the innings with the run rate still sitting well below four.
22nd over: Australia 79-3 (Ellyse Perry 8, Beth Mooney 13)
Our first look at Amelia Kerr for this match and she starts with a full toss. But she gets away with it and Perry sends it straight to the field. It’s a solid first over from her, with just a single from the last ball.
21st over: Australia 78-3 (Ellyse Perry 7, Beth Mooney 13)
A little drop and run from Mooney on the first ball of Mackay’s next over. A few little singles keep the runs going but then Mackay bowls one too full and Perry is able to take advantage and gets her first boundary, before following up with a single.
20th over: Australia 70-3 (Ellyse Perry 1, Beth Mooney 11)
The Tahuhu v Mooney battle continues and Tahuhu continues to come over the wicket to the left hander, which has been working so well for her so far. She varies the length on the fourth with a good short ball that Mooney has to duck under. Tahuhu tries another on the final ball of the over, but it’s called a wide and then Mooney is able to take a single to finish on the following ball.
19th over: Australia 68-3 (Ellyse Perry 1, Beth Mooney 10)
Mackay is back after her wicket of Healy earlier in the match and Mooney gets one away for a single straight away. Perry is still watchful, she doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to score quickly and plays out five dots.
18th over: Australia 67-3 (Ellyse Perry 1, Beth Mooney 9)
Tahuhu starts around the wicket again and it’s a very similar delivery to the one that got Haynes, but this one flies just over the stumps. Mooney gets bat on the second delivery, but her shot is cut off by some excellent fielding from Satterthwaite. She’s not giving Mooney much at all this over, continuing the plan to frustrate that has been working so effectively so far. She concedes just one run from the over.
17th over: Australia 66-3 (Ellyse Perry 1, Beth Mooney 8)
Mooney isn’t mucking around, she doesn’t want to take too long to settle here. She starts this over with a confident straight drive for four against Jensen and follows it up with a two. These two are very good athletes and well matched in speed, so they will take the extra runs whenever they see them on offer. Jensen takes a breath and tightens it back up after some looser deliveries to start, but then gives away two wides just as she’s finding her form again. She finishes with a dot after all that.
16th over: Australia 57-3 (Ellyse Perry 1, Beth Mooney 1)
A brilliant start from Tahuhu to this over with the Haynes wicket first ball to bring Mooney to the crease. NZ now have the benefit of bowling at two new batters and unsettling them before they have a chance to find their feet out here. Of course that is no easy task against two of the world’s best batters in Perry and Mooney, but NZ will take any win they can against the world number one. It’s a great over from NZ, with only one run from it.
WICKET! Rachael Haynes 30 b Tahuhu, Australia 56-3
A sensational ball from Tahuhu nips back in at the stumps and there’s very little Haynes can do but watch as her stumps crumble behind her.
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15th over: Australia 56-2 (Ellyse Perry 1, Rachael Haynes 30)
Jensen starts with a couple of dots and Lanning is getting impatient. A wild swing on the third ball sends her on her way and brings Ellyse Perry to the crease. Jensen doesn’t give Perry much to work with to start her innings, continuing with her frustrating line and length, but Perry and Haynes are able to rotate the strike for the last couple of balls.
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WICKET! Meg Lanning 5 c Martin b Jensen, Australia 54-2
The White Ferns are doing a brilliant job in their plan to frustrate the batters. Jensen had been so consistent after her less than perfect start and tempted Lanning to swing at one outside off stump and send a top edge to Martin.
14th over: Australia 54-1 (Meg Lanning 5, Rachael Haynes 29)
A bit of a wild looking delivery from Tahuhu to start the over, but Haynes can’t quite get hold of it and it doesn’t get past the fielders. But Tahuhu drops the next one in short and Haynes is ready, pulling it confidently to the boundary for four. She takes a single from the next ball and Tahuhu finds her length a bit more easily to Lanning, who plays out a dot and then rotates the strike back to Haynes, who finishes the over with yet another pull shot for four.
13th over: Australia 44-1 (Meg Lanning 4, Rachael Haynes 20)
Jensen starts with another good length ball, but loses control of the second to send it for a wide that is nicely cleaned up by Martin. She finds her line and length again and cramps Haynes up, not giving her any opportunity to get the ball past the field. Finally she gets her opportunity on the last ball of the over, but it’s just a single.
12th over: Australia 42-1 (Meg Lanning 4, Rachael Haynes 19)
Mackay gets a rest after her big wicket and Lea Tahuhu comes in with two slips in play in an attacking field. Lannintg drives one down through deep extra cover for two and follows up with a single. She seems determined not to take too long to get into her innings and put herself in the position Healy found herself in where she felt the need to go big to speed up the run rate.
11th over: Australia 38-1 (Meg Lanning 1, Rachael Haynes 18)
Jensen continues and starts with five dots to the Australian captain. Jensen has settled into her line and length a bit better now and is getting her field in better position as well. At last Lanning finds one that she likes and sneaks it past the field for a single.
10th over: Australia 37-1 (Meg Lanning 0, Rachael Haynes 18)
The Australians start with a very quick single, followed by a dot and then another very quick single. They look like they’re getting into their groove now, but Healy tries to go too big too soon and gives away her wicket. Lanning comes to the crease and aims to steady the ship.
WICKET! Alyssa Healy 15 c A Kerr b Mackay, Australia 37-1
A mis-timed slog from Healy proves her downfall and she sends an easy catch to Amelia Kerr at deep mid-wicket.
9th over: Australia 35-0 (Alyssa Healy 14, Rachael Haynes 17)
Hayley Jensen comes in to bowl now and starts with a wide, but isn’t deterred. Her next delivery is still a little leg side-ish but Haynes just takes a single from it and gives Jensen a look at Healy. Healy plays out a couple of dots to get her eye in and then flicks a ball to fine leg for a single. Jensen gives away a no ball late in the over and offers up a free hit to Haynes, but her line and length are good enough that she’s not punished for it. However the very next ball Haynes opens up with a lovely pull shot that is misfielded by Rowe and goes over the boundary for four.
8th over: Australia 27-0 (Alyssa Healy 13, Rachael Haynes 12)
Frankie Mackay comes into the attack now and Haynes immediately gets her away for a single. Healy plays her more cautiously, feeling her way in with the new bowler and plays out five dots.
7th over: Australia 26-0 (Alyssa Healy 13, Rachael Haynes 11)
Jess Kerr starts the over with a wide - the first of the match - but doesn’t let the over get away from her and gets straight back into her in-swinging, full deliveries that have proved so hard to score from. Haynes looks to be in an attacking mindset, always looking for runs as soon as she makes contact with the ball, but Kerr ensures they’re hard to come by. Healy finishes the over with a confident boundary from a front foot flick over fine leg.
6th over: Australia 20-0 (Alyssa Healy 9, Rachael Haynes 10)
Healy finds a bit more space against Rowe immediately and picks up three runs to start the over and Haynes follows it up with with a nicely timed drive to almost make it to the boundary, but some superb fielding from NZ keeps it to two runs. Rowe has been a bit loose with her early deliveries, but she pulls her line back late in the over with three dots to finish.
5th over: Australia 14-0 (Alyssa Healy 6, Rachael Haynes 8)
Jess Kerr is finding some beautiful length this over and Haynes is doing her best to dig the ball out, but hasn’t been able to get it past the field early in the over. Kerr maintains her line and length and finishes with a valuable maiden.
4th over: Australia 14-0 (Alyssa Healy 6, Rachael Haynes 8)
Close to a wicket from the first ball of this over from Rowe as Healy flirts with a ball outside off, but misses edging it to the keeper. She plays out one more dot ball, before two quick singles for each of the batters to keep the strike rotating. It’s a nice, tight over from Rowe, but NZ will be looking to take a wicket soon and not let these two settle into the game.
3rd over: Australia 12-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 7)
Jess Kerr continues and Healy starts with a confident stroke, but it can’t beat the field. Katey Martin comes up to the stumps to try to cramp Healy up a bit, but it doesn’t pay off and she immediately opens her scoring with a boundary past long on. It’s an interesting battle between the two teams so far - still plenty of dot balls, but Healy and Haynes are making sure to not the let the pressure build too much with regular scoring.
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Alyssa Healy 0, Rachael Haynes 7)
Hannah Rowe opens from the other end and her first ball is a bit too straight and Haynes flicks it past fine leg for the first boundary of the match. Rowe tightens it up and pulls back the scoring with five dots - a very similar pattern to the previous over.
1st over: Australia 3-0 (Alyssa Healy 0, Rachael Haynes 3)
Jess Kerr opening the bowling for NZ, with the breeze behind her. A good start from Haynes and aggressive running right from the start to get off the mark with three. Healy is more guarded and cautious against the in-swing of Kerr, playing out five dots to start her innings.
A very interesting line up from Australia, who have gone with their two leg spinners in Alana King and Amanda-Jade Wellington for this one. This means Jess Jonassen misses out, but Ash Gardner has returned from Covid isolation to add some off spin to the attack. On the batting side of things, Australia will be hoping for a repeat performance from Alyssa Healy who scored an impressive 72 against Pakistan. Australia bat deep, with even King at eight capable of smashing some quick runs. So they will be looking to put on a big score in this first innings and take the game out of New Zealand’s reach before they even pick up their bats.
New Zealand XI
Sophie Devine (c)
Suzie Bates
Amelia Kerr
Amy Satterthwaite
Maddy Green
Frances Mackay
Katey Martin (wk)
Hayley Jensen
Lea Tahuhu
Jess Kerr
Hannah Rowe
Australia XI
Alyssa Healy (wk)
Rachael Haynes
Meg Lanning (c)
Ellyse Perry
Beth Mooney
Tahlia McGrath
Ashleigh Gardner
Alana King
Amanda-Jade Wellington
Megan Schutt
Darcie Brown
New Zealand win the toss
New Zealand have won the toss and chosen to bowl. No surprises there, if you win the toss against Meg Lanning, you make her do what she’s not comfortable with.
Preamble
Good morning everyone! It’s been a fascinating World Cup so far, so many twists in the tale and fascinating finishes. The West Indies have been the surprise packet in the early rounds, however a heavy loss to India - who look to be finding their form at last - will hurt. England are in some serious trouble after starting with two straight losses and will need to get back on their feet very quickly.
But today we have a classic Trans-Tasman battle between these two old foes - Australia and New Zealand. The warm up game the two teams played revealed some weaknesses in Australia, with the inability to take wickets proving their undoing. New Zealand started the tournament with a shock loss to the West Indies but have bounced back since then with two strong wins over Bangaldesh and India.
It should be an incredible game today, so let’s get into it!
