New zealand women vs Australia women: Lanning Steps Up as Australia Overcomes Early Setback

Australia 145 for 5 (Litchfield 64, Wareham 26, Penfold 2-24) beat New Zealand 143 for 7 (Green 35, Bates 33, Graham 1-13, Sutherland 1-18) by five wickets

Phoebe Litchfield played a brilliant, unbeaten innings to help Australia win against New Zealand in Mackay, despite a shaky start. Her match-winning half-century was the highlight, but the game was also marked by a strange accident before it even began. Ashleigh Gardner was ruled out after bumping heads with teammate Georgia Wareham during a warm-up game.

 Gardner was withdrawn from the match due to concerns about her history with concussions, even though she passed an initial test. Heather Graham was brought in as a replacement, and Kim Garth (knee injury) and Grace Harris (calf injury) were also sidelined for the series, though they are expected to be fit for the T20 World Cup in 2024.

New Zealand had their own injury concerns, with captain Sophie Devine ruled out due to a foot problem. Suzie Bates took over as captain for the match.

Litchfield stole the show after Australia found themselves struggling at 44 for 3, chasing 144. She delivered an almost perfect 64 not out from 43 balls, hitting 11 boundaries. Litchfield got key support from Wareham in a 50-run partnership that steadied the team after they had fallen to 85 for 4. New Zealand’s standout bowler, Molly Penfold, had earlier taken two wickets for 24 runs, putting Australia under pressure.

Earlier in the match, Australia’s bowlers performed well, with each of the six bowlers taking a wicket, making it tough for New Zealand to get going. Maddy Green (35 from 33 balls) and Suzie Bates (33 from 27 balls) made useful contributions but couldn’t push the score higher. Despite some rusty fielding, including 12 byes from Alyssa Healy, Australia managed to keep control and extend New Zealand’s losing streak in women’s T20Is to eight matches.

Australia’s Bowling Variety Shines in Powerplay

Australia’s captain, Alyssa Healy, mentioned they wouldn’t experiment much in this series, and it was clear that their variety in bowling is a key part of their World Cup plans. In the powerplay, Megan Schutt's swing, Tayla Vlaeminck's pace, and Sophie Molineux's crafty spin made it hard for New Zealand to score, reducing them to 35 for 2. Georgia Plimmer struggled at the crease, managing just 11 runs before miscuing a shot to backward point. Bates eventually found her rhythm with a couple of boundaries but lacked support from her partners. Amelia Kerr was caught out attempting a slog sweep, and Brooke Halliday was dismissed after missing a simple full toss. 

Healy rotated her bowlers smartly, with Graham also taking a wicket as a late inclusion. Molineux and Schutt were particularly economical, while Vlaeminck was a bit more expensive. Despite Green’s 35 from 33 balls, New Zealand struggled to find the boundary, managing only 10 in total. In comparison, Litchfield alone hit more boundaries in Australia’s chase. New Zealand’s innings ended with a chaotic run out in the final over, with Jess Kerr and Leigh Kasperek both stranded at the same end.

Penfold Puts Australia Under Pressure

New Zealand’s Sophie Devine had highlighted Molly Penfold as a rising star in the fast bowling department, and Penfold delivered with an impressive 2 for 24. After Fran Jonas conceded 12 runs in her first over, Penfold responded by troubling Australia’s top order with her pace and bounce. She dismissed Beth Mooney with a sharp bouncer that clipped her glove, and her tight bowling built pressure, resulting in Healy miscuing a shot to cover and Ellyse Perry losing her stumps to Lea Tahuhu. Penfold returned later to bowl Tahlia McGrath, finishing with excellent figures. She also bowled four consecutive dot balls to Litchfield but couldn’t get the breakthrough New Zealand desperately needed.

Litchfield Lights Up Mackay

Phoebe Litchfield wasn’t sure if she would make Australia’s best XI for the upcoming World Cup, but she might have secured her spot with a fantastic innings. No other batter had found much fluency on a tricky pitch, but Litchfield changed the game when she arrived at the crease. Her first boundary was a fortunate edge, but after that, she showcased her impressive skills. In one over, she played three different shots: a lap-scoop for four, a cover drive, and a powerful shot over mid-on. She continued to dominate, hitting three more boundaries against spin before handling the threat of Penfold after losing McGrath.

Litchfield showed off her full range of shots, including reverse sweeps, and reached her second T20I half-century in just 32 balls. Wareham provided valuable support with 26 from 20 balls in a key 50-run partnership. In the end, Litchfield sealed the win in style with another reverse sweep, finishing the game with eight balls to spare.

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