The visitors Australia, led by skipper Alyssa Healy, took the ODI series lead over New Zealand with a comprehensive 65-run victory in the 2nd ODI after the first game of the series was washed out without a ball being bowled. Both the teams stuck with the same side that took the field in their previous game in the series decider, the 3rd ODI.
Twin fifties from Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner guide Australia to 290
The Australian openers Phoebe Litchfield and skipper Alyssa Healy got their side off to a solid start with an 88-run opening partnership after the visiting skipper won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd and final ODI at Basin Reserve, Wellington. Melie Kerr picked up the big wicket of the opposition skipper Alyssa Healy (39 off 44 balls) to provide the much-needed first breakthrough for New Zealand.
Australia suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 39 runs. Ashleigh Gardner joined Annabel Sutherland at the crease when their side were in a tricky situation. The pair not only led the recovery with a 63-run stand for the 5th wicket but also took their side close to the 200-run mark in the process. Skipper Sophie Devine picked up the wicket of an in-form Annabel Sutherland (42 off 43 balls) to provide the 5th breakthrough for the home side.
The veteran all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner’s experience came to the fore as she anchored the innings after Annabel Sutherland’s departure while ensuring that the attack was taken to the bowlers. She stitched a crucial 40-run 6th wicket partnership alongside Tahlia McGrath, followed by another 44-run 7th wicket partnership with Alana King to take their side closer to the 300-run mark. She was eventually cleaned up by Melie Kerr in the 45th over of the innings, departing after scoring a brisk half-century (74 off 62 balls).
Australia was eventually bundled out for 290 with one over to spare. Opening batter Phoebe Litchfield (50 off 59 balls) was another half-centurion alongside Ashleigh Gardner for Australia. Melie Kerr (10-0-54-4), Rosemary Mair (10-0-58-3), Eden Carson (10-0-53-0), and skipper Sophie Devine (9-1-49-2) were impressive with the ball for New Zealand.
Alana King and Annabel Sutherland deliver with the ball as Australia clinch ODI series
The White Ferns openers Bella James and Suzie Bates get their side off to a steady start with a 43-run opening stand, chasing a challenging total of 291 to level the ODI series in Wellington. Annabel Sutherland ended Bella James’s (24 off 29 balls) confident stay at the crease in the 9th over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for Australia. Melia Kerr joined Suzie Bates at the crease and the duo took their side past the 100-run mark with another crucial 63-run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
Annabel Sutherland returned and picked up the wicket of Suzie Bates (53 off 59 balls) to provide the 2nd breakthrough for the visitors in the 20th over of the run chase. And as they say, one brings two, the home side lost a couple of wickets in quick succession, including the wicket of their skipper Sophie Devine. Maddy Green joined Brooke Halliday at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 40-run 5th-wicket partnership to take their side closer to the 200-run mark.
Alana King struck twice in the 37th over of the innings to ensure a strong position for Australia in the game. The home side was eventually bundled out for 215 with 39 balls to spare, as a result, falling 75 runs short of the target. Many of the White Ferns batters Brooke Halliday (27 off 36 balls), skipper Sophie Devine (25 off 41 balls) got starts but were unable to convert them into big scores which eventually ended up costing the home side the game and the ODI series.
Alana King (9-1-34-3), Annabel Sutherland (9-2-39-3), Darcie Brown (7-0-30-1), and Kim Garth (6.3-0-33-1) were impressive with the ball for Australia.
Annabel Sutherland was awarded the Player of the Match for her all-round performance, scoring 42 off 43 balls and returned with bowling figures of 9-2-39-3. She was also awarded the Player of the Series for her impressive all-round performances, scoring 147 runs in a couple of innings with the bat and picking up 3 wickets. She played a pivotal role in helping Australia seal the three-match ODI series (2-0).
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