The White Ferns have finally registered a win for the first time in the last 13 attempts across all formats against their trans-Tasman rivals, Australia. This win comes in the 3rd T20I of the 3-match T20 series and will be followed by 3 ODI’s, starting 3rd October.
The credit of this victory goes primarily to an all-rounder, Amelia Kerr, who put on a world-class display with the ball and displayed some fine hard-hitting late in the innings, to secure a victory for the Kiwis. Earlier in the T20I series, Australia had taken a 2-0 lead.
The Kiwis won the toss and elected to field first on a slow wicket at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Before the series, New Zealand captain, Sophie Devine, said in an interview that Amelia Kerr’s experience of having played at the same ground for the Brisbane Heats in WBBL will give the Kiwis some invaluable inputs. After 2 matches, her words have proven to be absolutely right.
7 Continuous Wins for @AusWomenCricket between 29 Sep 2018 and 27 Sep 2020 in Women’s T20Is & the streak is finally broken.
Special Credits to this young superstar – Amelia Kerr who took 2 Wickets (Meg Lanning & Rachael Haynes) and scored quickfire 18 Runs 🙌#AUSvNZ #AUSWvNZW pic.twitter.com/JI5Ks3rjUH
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 30, 2020
Amelia Kerr restricted the Aussies with a spell of 2-18 in the middle overs, and with New Zealand in a tricky position in the run-chase requiring 24 off the last 3 overs, Kerr took the Aussie bowlers to the cleaners. The 19-year old’s cameo of 18 runs from 10 balls helped the Kiwis finally end their 13-match losing streak to their neighbours.
The match kicked off on an overcast day, and understandably, New Zealand decided to bowl first. With Australia already having won the series, the White Ferns were desperate for a good showing to gain some much-needed confidence. The Kiwis kept the Aussies under control throughout their entire bowling innings, picking up wickets at regular intervals to restrict Australia to 57/4 inside the first 10 overs. Australian captain, Meg Lanning and star all-rounder, Ashleigh Gardner, provided some stability in the middle order to steady the ship and propel Australia to a score of 123/7 after 10 overs. Lanning scored 21 and Gardner scored a quick 29 off 21 balls in a low-scoring match, to help the Aussies post a respectable total.
Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine were excellent in their quota of 4 overs, and the trio, including Kerr, took five of Australia’s 8 wickets. Even though the pitch got slower in the second half, the total averaging run-a-ball was always chase-able. After an assured start, New Zealand was struggling at 44/3 after 8 overs. The leg-breaks of Georgia Wareham proved to be a serious area of concern for the Kiwis, as she rattled their batting line-up with 2 wickets for just 19 runs in 3 overs.
Amy Satterthwaite, who is playing her first series since becoming a mother, provided a solid base in the middle order along with keeper, Katey Martin. Satterthwaite managed to register the highest score in the low scoring match, with a knock of 30 from 25 balls. She was supported immensely well by Martin, who scored 23 before being clean bowled by Georgia Wareham.
Amelia Kerr came to the crease, after New Zealand lost 2 quick wickets of their set batsmen, and seemed likely that the Aussies will yet again pull a rabbit out of the bag. However, this was not to be, as Kerr went about her innings with the confidence she garnered from her bowling. She tore into Sophie Molineux and Megan Schutt in the final 2 overs, to get the Kiwis over the line.
Now, it’s time for the ODI series, which kicks off in a couple of day’s time. New Zealand will be a completely different team now having removed the Aussie curse and will fancy their chances of redemption in the 3-match ODI series. The matches will be hosted at the same venue as the T20I’s – Allan Border Field, in Brisbane.
3rd T20I – New Zealand beat World Champions Australia by 5 Wickets in the final encounter.
Australia wins the series 2-1.#AUSvNZ #AusWvsNzW pic.twitter.com/ouWf36xHIh
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 30, 2020
Brief Scorecard:
Australia – 123/7 (20 overs)
Ashleigh Gardner – 29(21)
Lea Tahuhu – 2/29
Amelia Kerr – 2/18
New Zealand – 125/5 (19.3 overs)
Amy Satterthwaite – 30(25)
Katey Martin – 23(24)
Georgia Wareham – 2/19
Your average cricket enthusiast. Loves to write about what he loves to watch.