Amelia Kerr’s career-best figures in vain as Ashleigh Gardner turns it around with the ball to give Australia T20I series victory
The Australian women’s team led by skipper Alyssa Healy clinched the 1st T20I courtesy of a comprehensive five-wicket victory to go 1-0 up in the three-match T20I series. Phoebe Litchfield was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant, unbeaten half-century (64* off 43 balls) with the bat. It was also her career-best score in the format.
Australian skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bat first in the 2nd T20I at the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay. The Australian openers Beth Mooney and wicket-keeper batter and skipper Alyssa Healy got their side off to a flying start with a 28-run opening partnership, scoring almost 10 runs an over. Fran Jonas cleaned up Beth Mooney to provide the first breakthrough for New Zealand.
Ellyse Perry joined skipper Alyssa Healy at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 43-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side in a solid position. Eden Carson picked up the big wicket of the opposition skipper Alyssa Healy to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side. Ashleigh Gardner joined Ellyse Perry at the crease and the duo stitched a 20-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to take their side close to the 100-run mark.
Ellyse Perry was found short of her crease to provide the 3rd breakthrough for New Zealand. Phoebe Litchfield joined Ashleigh Gardner at the crease and the duo stitched a 23-run partnership for the 4th wicket to take their side past the 100-run mark. Brooke Halliday cleaned up Phoebe Litchfield to provide the 4th breakthrough for her side. Australia suffered a horrible collapse as they lost their last six wickets for just 28 runs.
The home side Australia were bundled out for 142 with three balls to spare. Skipper Alyssa Healy (38 off 25 balls), Ellyse Perry (34 off 33 balls), and Ashleigh Gardner (18 off 19 balls), were the top performers with the bat for Australia. Amelia Kerr (4-0-20-4), Brooke Halliday (1.3-0-11-2), Eden Carson (4-0-26-1), Lea Tahuhu (4-0-27-1), and Fran Jonas (4-0-32-1) were the top performers with the ball for New Zealand.
Chasing a target of 143, the New Zealand openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer got their side off to a cautious start with a 37-run opening partnership. Georgia Wareham cleaned up Georgia Plimmer to provide the first breakthrough for Australia. Amelia Kerr joined Suzie Bates at the crease and the duo stitched a 13-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side to the 50-run mark. Ashleigh Gardner picked up the wicket of Amelia Kerr to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
New Zealand suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 23 runs. Wicket-keeper batter Isabella Gaze joined Maddy Green at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 35-run partnership for the 6th wicket to take their side past the 100-run mark. Ashleigh Gardner returned and picked up the wicket of Maddy Green to provide the 6th breakthrough for Australia.
New Zealand were restricted to 113/7 in their quota of overs, falling short of the target by 29 runs. Suzie Bates (34 off 34 balls), Maddy Green (21 off 18 balls), wicket-keeper batter Isabella Gaze (18* off 17 balls), and Brooke Halliday (11 off 13 balls) were the top performers with the bat for New Zealand. Ashleigh Gardner (4-0-16-3), Annabel Sutherland (4-0-18-1), Georgia Wareham (3+0-19-1), and Darcie Brown (3-0-21-1) were the top performers with the ball for Australia.
Ashleigh Gardner was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant all-round performance. She scored (18 off 19 balls), with the bat and returned with brilliant match figures (4-0-16-3) with the ball. She played a crucial role in helping her side get over the line while defending a tricky total. The home side, Australia has sealed the three-match T20I series with one match to go.