Follow the live score and updates from the Australia-W Vs New Zealand-W, Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match right here
The Australia vs New Zealand, Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 7:30pm IST. The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network in India, and will be live-streamed on the Disney+Hotstar app and website in India. (Live Scorecard)
New Zealand Women: Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Lea Tahuhu, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer
Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Annabel Sutherland, Megan Schutt, Kim Garth, Alana King, Tayla Vlaeminck, Darcie Brown
Australia women and New Zealand women have met 52 time in the T20 format. Out of these games, Australia won 28 times, with New Zealand emerging victorious only 21 times. One match ended in no result and one was tied.
Australia Women have won the toss and have opted to bat first against New Zealand women at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine(c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze(w), Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson
Australia Women (Playing XI): Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy(w/c), Georgia Wareham, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Annabel Sutherland, Grace Harris, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt
Mel Jones and Pommie Mbangwa: The temperature is slightly cooler at 36 degrees Celsius, and the pitch remains unchanged from yesterday, that is 73m straight boundary and 59m and 63m square boundaries. The conditions favor spinners, with lower bounce expected. There’s plenty of even grass on the pitch, which should help maintain its integrity.
Australia has taken the field in their green and yellow, while New Zealand is in their iconic black caps as the match kicks off. Beth Mooney and captain Alyssa Healy are at the crease, with Mair set to opened the attack.
AUS-W: 3-0 (1.2)
Alyssa Healy is on fire today, hitting three boundaries for a quick 21 off 16 balls! Alongside Mooney, who has 7 off 8 balls, they’ve propelled Australia to a strong start at 29-0 after four overs. Now, Lea Tahuhu, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack for New Zealand.
AUS-W: 31-0(4.1)
Mair finally claims the big fish, taking down Healy, who was just dominating the innings with four fours, scoring 26 off 20 balls already. Healy departs, and now the world's number one all-rounder, Ellyse Perry, steps up to the crease.
AUS-W: 45-1(6.1)
And that marks the tenth over! With the resilient Beth Mooney's 32 off 27 balls and the Perry holding steady at 6 off 13 balls under pressure, Australia have stabilized their innings. New Zealand are eager to break this partnership. Lea Tahuhu returns to the attack, having bowled 1 over for 7 runs without a wicket.
AUS-W: 69-1(10)
And that's exactly what Sophie Devine's side needed! Mooney's impressive innings come to an end at 40 off 32 balls.
Amelia Kerr delivers a well-tossed delivery that spins dangerously; Mooney edges it thickly, and Green at mid-off takes the catch, breaking the partnership! Now, Ellyse Perry at the crease is joined by Phoebe Litchfield.
AUS-W: 87-2(12)
Perry hits her first six and Australia’s first of the campaign! What a shot, showcasing her unique talent. Under pressure, Perry shines like a diamond, scoring 26 off 21 balls with two fours and that six.
Litchfield adds 8 off 7, including a boundary, helping Australia cross the 100-run mark in just 13 overs!
AUS-W: 109-2(13.3)
Amelia Kerr has just held the breath of all watching! She’s taken down Kiwis' biggest fear of the moment Perry, who departs for 30 off 24 balls. Kerr then claims Grace Harris, who couldn’t even settle in, out for 0 off 1 ball.
AUS-W: 117-4(15.2)
Litchfield goes down for 18 runs off 18 balls, falling victim to Halliday’s short delivery, which Kerr catches!
Now at the crease is Ashleigh Gardner, and Georgia Wareham joins her. Amelia Kerr, with impressive figures of 3 overs, 22 runs, and 3 wickets, returns to the attack.
AUS-W: 129-5 (17.2)
In the final over, Halliday successfully stumps Sutherland! Sophie Molineux steps in and hits a four, while Tahlia McGrath contributes 9 off 7. Australia-W finishe their innings at 148/8.
AUS-W: 148-8(20)
Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer are at the crease, leading New Zealand's chase. Sophie Molineux, bowling left-arm orthodox, is currently in the attack. It may be early in the innings, but the Aussies are spreading out nicely in the field!
NZ-W: 7-0(2)
Suzie Bates is struggling at 3 off 11 balls, while Amelia Kerr is finding her rhythm with 12 off 12, including two fours, after Plimmer's departure.
Meanwhile, Megan Schutt, who took down Plimmer 4(7) now holds the record for the most wickets in ICC Women's T20 World Cup history, surpassing Shabnim Ismail. The powerplay concludes with a disappointing score for New Zealand.
NZW: 22-1(5.2)
And just in the first delivery of the 11th over, Bates is dismissed! Molineux claims the big wicket, ending her innings at 20 off 27 balls, including 2 fours. A crucial breakthrough right after the break! Now, skipper Sophie Devine steps up, looking to weave her magic like she did in the opener. New Zealand Women need 93 runs in 54 balls.
NZ-W: 56-2(11)
What a show by the Australian bowlers! In just three overs, Megan Schutt dismisses Amelia Kerr (29 runs off 31 balls), followed by Brooke Halliday (2 off 4 balls) who falls down to Georgia Wareham's delivery. Maddy Green steps in, but Annabel Sutherland takes her out for 1 run. Then, Isabella Gaze arrives, but wait! Sutherland strikes again, taking her down on the very next ball!
Now at the crease are Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine.
NZ-W: 62-6(13.5)
The only hope for a miracle was Sophie Devine, but now she’s gone! Molineux bowls her out for just 7 off 15 balls, sealing New Zealand's fate.
New Zealand Women now need 65 runs in 11 balls. At the crease are Fran Jonas and Eden Carson, witnessing the impending defeat.
NZ-W: 86-9(18.3)
What can we say? Was it a lackluster batting display from the New Zealand batters, or an extraordinary performance from the Australian bowlers and Healy’s fielding strategy? Whatever it was, one thing is clear: it’s once again demonstrated--Australia Women are the strongest team around. They defeated New Zealand by 60 runs today.
AUS-W: 148/8(20)
NZ-W: 88 (19.2)
Megan Schutt is named Player of the Match for her stunning 3 wickets at an economy rate of 0.90.
In the post-match interview, she said: I feel I have lost a few litres, but it was a crucial match, they played well against India and so to come out like that was clinical. It ebbed and flowed in the first innings, we thought we'd get to 160 at one stage, but we lost a few wickets and so were probably 10-15 runs short, but we knew if we do well in the powerplay, it will set us up. I just bowled to the basics, we kept to our plans, to play in heat like this, the extensive preparations did help. It's a World Cup and we certainly want to enjoy ourselves, it's the first World Cup for some of the players, we want to make sure that they do enjoy the experience.
Australia will take on Pakistan next on October 11, Friday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka, a must-win match for both the teams it will be, on October 12, Saturday at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.