In the ongoing T20I series between hosts New Zealand and Trans-Tasman neighbours Australia, the visitors have suffered a slight setback ahead of the third and final T20I as pacer Darcie Brown will be unavailable for the concluding game of the series.
Brown has flown back home due to personal reasons, but with Australia already leading the three-match series 2-0, her absence is unlikely to have a major impact. While she has been a valuable contributor with the ball, the visitors have enough depth in their squad to adjust their bowling plans as they aim for a series sweep.
The 22-year-old played a key role in Australia’s victory in the second T20I at Mount Maunganui, claiming two wickets as the visitors secured an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series. However, she has returned home owing to family reasons and will miss the last match in Wellington on Wednesday.
With Australia not calling in a replacement, it is mostly likely that veteran pacer Megan Schutt, who did not make it to the starting eleven in the second match of the T20I series, could fill-in for Brown Additionally, all-rounder Charli Knott is in the mix and could be in contention to get her international cap as well.
Prior to the series, Knott was not even a part of the squad picked by the selectors for the three-match series. However, a finger injury to seasoned all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner prompted the management to make a replacement call for the remaining couple of games.
In the opening game of the series, Australia’s Beth Mooney outclassed the opposition with a 42-ball 75 that included 10 fours and 1 six. Accompanying her was Georgia Voll who batted at a strike rate of 161.29 to register her half century. The hosts cruised to the total of 138 in just 13.3 overs, with 8 wickets to spare.
Mooney continued her prime touch against the White Ferns with a 42-ball 70 in the second game of the series as well. With valuable contributors in the form of Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Phoebe Litchfield and a quick fiery cameo from Sutherland, the team posted 204 after the completion of 20 overs. The hosts crumbled under pressure and were bowled at a paltry score of 122, losing the game by a heavy margin of 82 runs.
The Kiwis have been decimated in the first couple of matches of the series and Melie Kerr admitted her side has fallen short of the standards.
“It’s been a tough few games for us and we’re really disappointed,” Kerr said. “They’re a world-class side, but I think we would love to compete a whole lot more than what we have, and we’ve been off the mark personally as a team, with both bat and ball.”
The 24-year-old knows her team is still evolving and wants the players to be aggressive on the field. She noted, “We’ve got to keep growing and learning and trying to get better, and we’ve still got one more game with a lot to play for.”
The star all-rounder said that for them, it is about finding ways to compete more, building belief, and having a bit of mongrel, because they know that if they play their best, they can beat them.
Australia’s stand-in captain Tahlia Mcgrath is desperate for a clean sweep and wants to finish the series on a high note. She shared, “We’re playing against the world champions, and we want to be the world champions.”
(Quotes sourced from ICC)
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