Australia’s women’s cricket juggernaut rolled on as they clinched their third straight ICC Women’s Championship title with a resounding 75-run victory over New Zealand at the iconic Basin Reserve in Wellington. The triumph crowned an extraordinary campaign where Australia amassed 39 points from 24 matches (17 wins, 3 no-results, 3 losses), leaving every other contender in the dust.
After a rain-soaked no-result in the series opener, Annabel Sutherland took center stage in the second ODI where she smashed an unbeaten 105 off just 81 balls, showcasing her dominance yet again. Despite New Zealand pacer Molly Penfold’s career-best 4/42, Australia posted a challenging 291/7.
Kim Garth set the tone with the ball, removing Suzie Bates and Isabella Rose James early in New Zealand’s chase. Although Melie Kerr’s composed 38 showed resistance, the hosts at 122 for 5 were far behind the DLS-par score of 187 when rain interrupted play at 30.1 overs, handing Australia a comfortable win of 65 runs.
In the third ODI, Australia continued to dominate. After opting to bat first, Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield laid a strong foundation with an 88-run opening stand. Contributions from Sutherland (42 off 43) and a fiery 74 off 62 by Ashleigh Gardner powered Australia to an imposing 290.
New Zealand began brightly, reaching 106/1, but their chase crumbled after Bates fell to a boundary catch, followed by Melie Kerr’s run-out. The middle order faltered under pressure, and the White Ferns were bowled out for 215.
Sutherland (3 for 39) and Alana King (3 for 34) starred with the ball, bagging three wickets each. Sutherland capped off a stellar series as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 147 runs across two games, while Molly Penfold, Rosemary Mair, and Melie Kerr topped the wicket charts with four scalps each.
This victory underscores Australia’s unmatched dominance in women’s cricket. Winning all three ICC Women’s Championship cycles (2014-16, 2017-20, and 2022-25), they’ve cemented their legacy as one of the greatest teams in international sports. Their consistency and success inspire admiration well beyond cricketing circles.
Since 2022, Australia has showcased formidable consistency, clinching 17 wins in 24 ODIs with only 3 losses, achieving an impressive win-loss ratio. Their dominance spans across bilateral series against top teams, beginning with a commanding 3-0 win over Pakistan in January 2023. However, their reign encountered a rare setback in the Women’s Ashes 2023, where England emerged victorious with a 2-1 series win in July.
Despite this blemish, Australia’s dominance remains unparalleled, setting them as the benchmark in women’s cricket. They rebounded strongly with a 2-0 win against Ireland in July 2023, followed by a 2-0 victory over West Indies in October. A hard-fought 2-1 win against South Africa in February 2024 marked their third loss in the cycle, but they quickly regained momentum. Australia sealed emphatic series wins—3-0 against Bangladesh in March 2024, 3-0 against India in December 2024, and concluded with a 2-0 triumph over New Zealand in December 2024.
For New Zealand, the series defeat has jeopardized their automatic qualification for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. With 21 points from 24 matches, the White Ferns risk being overtaken by Bangladesh and the West Indies, who both have games in hand.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has scripted history by securing their first direct World Cup qualification since 2008. Despite a shocking 2-1 series loss to Ireland in August, Australia’s triumph over New Zealand ensured Sri Lanka’s automatic spot. The highlight of Sri Lanka’s campaign dates to July 2023, when Sri Lanka registered their maiden bilateral ODI series victory against New Zealand in Galle, clinching the series 2-1.
As New Zealand faces an uncertain wait, the qualification race intensifies. Should the White Ferns slip out of the top six, they’ll have to navigate the World Cup Qualifier.
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