In the first T20 between Australia and New Zealand, all eyes were on Ellyse Perry as she was playing an international match after 390 days. But Ashleigh Gardner’s unbeaten 73 alongside Perry’s winning runs helped their side claim victory in the opening game of the series.
After winning the toss, the visitors had opted to chase, putting the white ferns to bat first. Amy Satterthwaite was the top scorer for NZ women with her 40 off 31 balls. But Jess Jonassen’s 3-wicket-haul helped restrict the hosts New Zealand to a low total.
Aussies were chasing an easy score of 131 in 120 balls as they had restricted the New Zealand Women well. But three players from their top order were dismissed early as they were stranded at 14/3. Captain Meg Lanning put up some quick runs before she departed. Gardner and Perry were the star of the show as they put up a 71 run stand for the fifth wicket.
Legend for a reason 🔥
Perry, playing an international match after 390 days, scored 23 Runs off just 16 balls to help Australia complete a successful chase against NZ in the 1st T20I.#NZvAUS #NZWvAUSW @EllysePerry pic.twitter.com/AzQvg44OyJ
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 28, 2021
New Zealand’s efforts to take down Australia were appreciable as the sisters’ duo – Jess Kerr and Amelia Kerr took 2 wickets and 1 wicket respectively.
This match also proved to be the first match since 2015 where Perry wasn’t handed the ball to bowl.
“I guess we just have so many bowlers for Meg to choose from. There’s always plenty of nerves, but it was good to get out there with Meg,” Gardner said.
“Knowing that we were only a couple of big overs away from getting back on top, that’s what I and Meg kept talking about, there was one over there that we just needed to capitalize on and I think she did that with the first Amelia Kerr over,” she added
23-Year-old Ashleigh Gardner ensured victory for Australia in the 1st T20I vs New Zealand earlier today.
A well-deserved, Player of the Match Award for her. 🔥🙌#NZvAUS #NZWvAUSW @akgardner97 pic.twitter.com/ldJUlGKpkK
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 28, 2021
“She has obviously missed a little bit of cricket but she has a lot of experience – it’s nice to have her back,” said Australian skipper Lanning
With Australia aiming to clinch the series and New Zealand aiming to level it, the second T20 will be played in Napier on Tuesday.
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I’m a Senior Masters student pursuing Journalism and Mass Communication. An all time Cricket enthusiast. I could never play the game but always loved watching it, and now writing about it!
