Women’s World Cup: Australia jump to the top of the points table after beating hosts New Zealand

Sport

Australia pushed India off the top of the points table at the 2022 Women’s World Cup after comfortably beating hosts New Zealand in 141 rounds at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Sunday. The pre-tournament favorites lived up to their stats and won their first 3 games straight away without breaking a sweat.

Australia rode the board in 269th position in an all-around show from Ellyse Perry before edging out New Zealand with 128 in just 30.2 overs. The hosts, who were expecting a tough fight for the trophy after a strong performance against India in the run-up to the World Cup, are struggling with two wins and as many losses so far.

Even after losing relatively cheaply to batting stars Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning in just over 15 overs, Australia put 269-8 on the board after batting first at New Zealand’s requests.

Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath strengthened by the fifth wicket with half centuries in a 101-run partnership and Ashleigh Gardner, just emerging from Covid-19 isolation, hit 48 late runs from 18 balls with four sixes and four fours.

“I think it was nice to rebuild there with (Beth Mooney) a little bit through the middle, then Thalia came in and especially Ash Gardner towards the end with real fireworks,” Perry said.

“It was a great way to end the innings because it was a bit slow and it was nice to end with some momentum.”

BROWN DECIMATES NZ

Darcie Brown then led a great performance by the Australian women’s bowlers, who quickly dismissed New Zealand’s prolific top-flight batters Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr to stagger the home team 35-5.

Amy Satterthwaite and Katey Martin were involved in the early days of a recovery, but leg spinner Amanda-Jane Wellington found the conditions in her eponymous town to her liking, firing back-to-back balls from Martin and Hayley Jensen in the 20th over. New Zealand was 73-7 and the match came to a predictable end when it was all down with 128 in 30.2 overs.

Brown took 3-22 and Wellington 2-34.

Satterthwaite pitched from 67 balls to 44, but lacked a partner to stay with her to strengthen the innings.

“We wanted to bowl first because we knew we could put some pressure on if we could contain them and get a couple of early wickets,” said New Zealand captain Devine.

“But I think that shows the quality of this Australian team.

“Even when we let them down three or four and got the run rate under control, the way they were able to start especially in the last 10 overs was too much for us today.”

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