Australia crush NZ
Australia’s batters provided their experienced bowling unit with sufficient runs to defend on a slow wicket and register a comprehensive 60-run win over New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup here on Tuesday.
Opener Beth Mooney top-scored with a 32-ball 40 as Australia posted a challenging 148/8. Ellyse Perry chipped in with a 24-ball 30 after Alyssa Healy contributed 26 in 20 deliveries at the top of the order.
In reply, New Zealand were all out for 88 in 19.2 overs with Megan Schutt returning excellent figures of 3/3 in 3.2 overs. Annabel Sutherland (3/21) and Sophie Molineux (2/15) were the other major wicket-takers for Australia.
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, who picked up 4/26, top-scored with a 31-ball 29.
With this result, Australia grabbed the top spot in Group A with two wins from as many as matches. “We could have been smarter with the bat at the end, but we came out really well with the ball and I’m really happy with that,” Healy said.
Brief scores: Australia: 148/8 in 20 overs (Mooney 40; Kerr 4/26); New Zealand: 88 all out in 19.2 overs (Kerr 29; Schutt 3/3, Sutherland 3/21).
