shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > Sports News > Cricket News > Article > Womens T20 World Cup 2024 Champs Australia thrash New Zealand by 60 runs lay down the marker

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Champs Australia thrash New Zealand by 60 runs, lay down the marker

Updated on: 09 October,2024 06:40 AM IST  |  Sharjah
IANS |

Mooney’s innings came to an end when she mistimed a shot off Melie Kerr, offing a simple catch to Maddie Green, departing for 40 (32)

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Champs Australia thrash New Zealand by 60 runs, lay down the marker

Australia's Beth Mooney bats during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium, United Arab Emirates. Pic/AP, PTI

Listen to this article
Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Champs Australia thrash New Zealand by 60 runs, lay down the marker
x
00:00

Defending champions Australia proved why they are considered the top favourite to retain the title, coming up with a dominant performance to outclass neighbours New Zealand and take control of Group A at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup here on Tuesday. In the five-team Group of Death which has India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the other contenders for the knockout spots, Australia scored their second successive win and moved up to four points. 


The six-time champions bested their antipodean neighbours in all departments of the game, winning by 60 runs to cement their spot at the top of Group A. It was the Australian top order that set up the win with an aggressive batting effort, as Alyssa Healy (26 from 20), Beth Mooney (40 from 32), Elysse Perry (30 from 24) and Phoebe Litchfield (18 from 18) did the heavy lifting to set New Zealand 149 to win in Sharjah.


And New Zealand slumped to a 60-run loss as they were blitzed by a brilliant bowling effort from the defending champions, for whom Megan Schutt returned extraordinary figures of 2/3 from her three overs, with Sophie Molineux (2/15) and Annabel Sutherland (3/21) also impressing.


The margin of defeat could have been even greater were it not for Melie Kerr, who hit back to restrict Australia with an inspired display in the field, taking 4/26 and holding on to a terrific catch, before top-scoring for her side with 29.

New Zealand’s chase suffered an early setback when Megan Schutt wrote herself into the record books, bowling Georgia Plimmer (4) in the third over to become the leading wicket-taker in the history of women’s T20Is.

Also Read: India’s fate hangs in balance against Lankans

The White Ferns looked intent on setting a platform early in their effort, reaching 29/1 at the end of the powerplay, with Melie Kerr and Suzie Bates surviving a testing spell against the Australian attack. But the innings turned on the wicket of Kerr (29 from 31), who looked to take on Schutt to up the scoring rate and miscued a catch straight to Annabel Sutherland.

And the wickets tumbled from thereon in.

Georgia Wareham got in on the act, accounting for Brooke Halliday (2), before Sutherland took centre stage, putting herself on a hat-trick as she cleaned up Maddy Green (1) and then had Isabella Gaze (0) trapped in front next ball. The hat-trick wasn’t to be, but Sutherland bagged her third wicket when she returned to clean up Rosemary Mair, finishing with figures of 3/21.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first, and they got off to a superb start as Alyssa Healy sparkled in the early overs, peppering the boundary in her 26 (20).

New Zealand picked up the big wicket when Healy skied a catch off Rosemary Mair to bring Ellyse Perry to the crease, but fellow opener Beth Mooney picked up the mantle to build a decent platform for the defending champions.

Australia reached 43/1 at the end of the six-over powerplay and Perry struggled to get going at the start of her innings as the scoring rate briefly slowed. However, Mooney carried on where she left off in Australia’s win over Sri Lanka, keeping the scoreboard ticking over to give her team’s deep batting lineup a large platform to build off in the back end of the innings.

Mooney’s innings came to an end when she mistimed a shot off Melie Kerr, offing a simple catch to Maddie Green, departing for 40 (32).

New Zealand hit back through the middle overs as an inspired Kerr bowled Perry (30 from 24) and new batter Grace Harris with consecutive balls to reduce the Aussies to 109/4.

Kerr picked up a fourth wicket when she had Georgia Wareham caught for 4 (5), finishing with figures of 4/26, and she was heavily involved in the field too, pulling off an excellent catch in the deep to remove Phoebe Litchfield (18 from 18) off the bowling of Brooke Halliday.

Australia closed on 148/8, leaving New Zealand with a target that proved far too challenging in the second innings.

Brief scores:
Australia Women 148/8 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 40, Ellyse Perry 30, Alyssa Healy 26; Amelia Kerr 4-26, Rosemary Mair 2-22, Brooke Halliday 2-16) beat New Zealand Women 88 all our in 19.2 overs (Amelia Kerr 29, Suzie Bates 20; Megan Schutt 3-3, Annabel Sutherland 3-21, Sophie Molineux 2-15) by 60 runs.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK