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Australia put a foot on New Zealand's throat and completely pinned them down. Much was expected from this contest but the Aussies showed their superiority with the ball and bundled out the White Ferns with six overs remaining in the innings. Now, it's time to look forward to tomorrow's double header and the first one will be a cracker between India and Pakistan at the iconic Newlands before Bangladesh lock horns with the giant killers Sri Lanka. It's going to be a super Sunday for the cricket fans tomorrow, so join us at 6:00 pm IST as we bring you the live coverage of the first match. Until then, this is Pragadeesh and Pradeep signing off. See yaaa
Meg Lanning (Australia Women Captain) I am really happy. We came here thinking it was going to be a challenge because of the conditions.I thought Healy up front and Perry was incredible to put New Zealand under pressure. And then early wickets always makes big difference especially when it's Bates and Devine knowing how dangerous they are. I was disappointed to get out knowing I was getting going but in the end I am happy to contribute. (On Ash Gardner) She's been bowling really well. She is a reliable bowler under any conditions and she has worked really hard to get into this position so it's great that she is getting some rewards
Sophie Devine (New Zealand captain): Australia batted particularly well, Lahuhu and Kerr were outstanding,170 was always going to be tough chase, the way we went about at the start, hard work throughout, really disappointed to be honest. (On a defeat like that) You got to find positives, such a quick turnaround, bowling Australia out was one of the positives. (About the upcoming games) Figure out what to do in the conditions, be really smart and take from what you can and move on. It's playing a little bit slower and lower, we have to expect it for the next two weeks, it's part of the game, ready to adapt.
Ashleigh Gardner is the Player of the Match!Here's what she has to say: I was set up by our batters, gives the flexibility and freedom with the ball, we started exactly the way we wanted and I was lucky to take the rest of the wickets at the end. I worked a lot on my wrist positions, try and turn around, I think for me, it's more about the length, bit of tall and taking the advantage, some are bouncing and some don't, but targeting on the stumps and keeps the lbw's in play always. (How the wickets might play in the tournament) I think so, couple of deliveries, the batters played on, some stayed low and some don't, at least if you bowl it to the stumps and in play, keep the dismissals in play and that's what we're going to work on as a bowling unit.
Australia Women won by 97 runs Alyssa Healy 55(38) | Amelia Kerr 21(30) Ash Gardner 5-12(3) | Amelia Kerr 3-23(4)
This is a demolition act by the Aussies with the ball as they steamrolled New Zealand and registered a thumping win by 97 runs. There was never a contest at any point as New Zealand batters produced a below-par batting effort and capitulated by a huge margin. Things went bad to worse for them when Megan Schutt got rid of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine in the very first over.
Amelia Kerr struggled throughout her stay but eyebrows were raised when the third umpire made a very poor call and signaled Bezuidenhout out on the big screen.
New Zealand didn't recover after this downfall as they kept losing wickets in clusters in the middle overs. To everyone's surprise, Lanning threw the ball to Gardner after the powerplay but the canny offie still produced her goods and got an emphatic fifer. The scorecard is a forgettable reading for the White Ferns as just three batters crossed the single-digit score
14
overs
76/10score
6
W
0
1
0
W
runs
Eden Carson*
0(3)
Fran Jonas
1(2)
Ashleigh Gardner
5/12
13.6 Ashleigh Gardner to Eden Carson, OUT! LOUD APPEAL FOR LBW, GIVEN! Australia finish the annihilation and Ash Garnder picks up her fifer in a T20 game, that's her career best, 5-12! Length delivery, spun sharply into Carson with pace, was strangled on the backfoot as it struck her in front and she's a goner from the moment it hit her pads. Australia finish a dominating performance and plenty to ponder for White Ferns here!
Eden Carson lbw b Ash Gardner 0 (3b, 0x4, 0x6)
Had New Zealand lost this match by 100 runs, their net run rate would've been -5 but they have avoided that for now
13.5 Ashleigh Gardner to Eden Carson, length delivery, turned slightly into Carson who gets forward and taps it back to the bowler.
13.4 Ashleigh Gardner to Fran Jonas, floated a full delivery on the off-stump, Jonas leans and whips it down to long-on for a single.
13.3 Ashleigh Gardner to Fran Jonas, length delivery on the stumps, Jonas presses and clipped it back to the bowler.
Can Gardner get a five-fer?
Fran Jonas, RHB, walks in at no.11
13.2 Ashleigh Gardner to Jess Kerr, OUT! TIMBER! Gardner gets her batter. Was short but much quicker on the stumps, Kerr made room to cut but misses, clips the top of middle and off and Kerr departs as well after that quick cameo!
Jess Kerr b Ash Gardner 10 (10b, 0x4, 1x6)
13.1 Ashleigh Gardner to Jess Kerr, SIX! BOOM! What a strike from Kerr out of nowhere. Shimmies down the track for the length delivery that turned into her and SMOKES it all the way over long-on fielder for a maximum.
13
overs
69/8score
0
0
0
0
0
3
runs
Jess Kerr*
4(8)
Eden Carson
0(1)
Darcie Brown
1/11
12.6 Darcie Brown to Jess Kerr, length delivery on the off-stump, Kerr skips down the track and slices it over the top of mid-off, McGrath gives the chase and pulls it back as they come back for the third.
12.5 Darcie Brown to Jess Kerr, full and angled into Kerr on the leg-stump, skips down the track and drilled it straight back to the bowler.
12.4 Darcie Brown to Jess Kerr, banged in the short delivery, well outside the off-stump, Kerr decides to leave that one alone to the keeper.
12.3 Darcie Brown to Jess Kerr, back of a length on the off-stump, Kerr heaved that one away, struck nicely but straight to the short mid-wicket fielder.
12.2 Darcie Brown to Jess Kerr, length delivery, shapes nicely into Kerr on the leg-stump, leans and clipped it down to mid-on for no run.