Wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll show seals a dominant victory for Australia to give the T20I series lead.
The senior pros are back on national duty, after missing the home white-ball series against the touring Sri Lankan side, Amelia Kerr in particular courtesy of her WPL commitments with the two-time champions Mumbai Indians. Former skipper Sophie Devine announced her return to action, after being on a rejuvenated mental health break, since January 2025.
After the Suzie Bates-led side hosted Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka for a complete white-ball series, the White Ferns will host Tahlia McGrath’s Australia for a short three-match T20I series.
Amelia Kerr’s maiden T20I fifty at home guides New Zealand to a competitive total.
Openers Georgia Plimmer and skipper Suzie Bates got their side off to a solid start with a 32-run opening partnership, scoring at a rate of 8 runs an over after the White Ferns skipper won the toss and opted to bat first in the 1st T20I at Eden Park, Auckland. Darcie Brown broke the ominous stand by removing the opposition skipper Suzie Bates (14 off 14 balls) in the 4th over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for Australia.
Georgia Plimmer soon followed her back to the pavilion to provide the 2nd breakthrough for the visitors. The experienced duo of Sophie Devine (39* off 36 balls) and Amelia Kerr partnered together at the crease and struggled to get the free-flowing momentum to their innings, despite that, they guided their side to a competitive total of 137/2 in their quota of 20 overs courtesy of an unbeaten 90-run partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Amelia Kerr (51* off 46 balls) notched up a well-crafted half-century, her first in the T20I format in New Zealand. She also completed another landmark, surpassing 3,500 International runs, when she was on 37*, chipping down the track and driving the ball to long-on off the bowling of Georgia Wareham. Darcie Brown (4-0-22-1), and skipper Tahlia McGrath (3-0-23-1) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for Australia, while Annabel Sutherland (4-0-21-0) returned with an impressive spell with the ball for her side.
Openers Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll make light work of the run chase with a record opening stand to give the T20I series lead.
Chasing a target of 138, the Australia openers Georgia Voll and wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney came out all guns blazing, notching up their highest powerplay total (77/0) in their T20I history, scoring at a rate of over 12 runs an over in the powerplay. The wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney brought her 26th T20I half-century, her 3rd against the White Ferns in New Zealand off just 28 balls in the 9th over of the run chase.
The White Ferns brought up some fight after a below-par performance in the field, salvaging a couple of quick wickets. The experienced veteran Lea Tahuhu broke the massive 123-run opening stand by removing Georgia Voll in the 11th over of the run chase. She became the 4th youngest Australian at the age of 21 Years and 228 days to bring up her maiden T20I half-century before getting dismissed.
Wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney saw her side through over the line with an unbeaten 75* (42 balls) to seal the 1st T20I of the series by 8 wickets and 39 balls to spare. She extends the lead at the top of the list of the most 75+ scores (11) in the women’s T20Is. Lea Tahuhu (3-0-31-2) was the lone wicket-taker with the ball for New Zealand, while Amelia Kerr (3-0-24-0) had decent returns as she was the most economy bowler on the day for the home side.
Wicket-keeper batter Beth Mooney was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational, free-flowing counter-attacking innings. The visitors take the T20I series lead with a dominant win
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