Women’s ODI World Cup: Live Blog – Australia vs New Zealand

All hopes of victory were pinned on Devine as New Zealand kept their head above the water through mesmerizing strokeplay. However, Annabel Sutherland has knocked over two batters, including the rampaging Devine, and pinned one in front of the sticks to tilt the scales entirely in Australia’s favour. The centurion left the field to a standing ovation, of course, but with her departure New Zealand’s chances also disappeared.

Isabella Gaze was going at the rate of knots but Australia have managed to see her back. Long-on settled under nicely under her miscue to end an ebullient cameo.

After uncorking three fours against Darcie Brown, Gaze meted out the same treatment to Ashleigh Gardner as New Zealand inch closer to the target. The equation is, obviously, still steep with over 100 runs required for the win but with Devine in command and Gaze providing able support, Australia won’t be able to breathe easy just yet.

Devine let out an expletive as another ball kept low in the second innings but the way she is striking the ball right now variable bounce doesn’t have the power to faze her. A quartet of boundaries to glean 16 runs off an over bowled by Darcie Brown!

Although New Zealand lost Maddy Green due to an episode of miscommunication, Devine is serving the mantle of the chief aggressor to keep her team in the hunt.

The seasoned pro is taking the game by the scruff of its neck, and Australia have made a mistake in the field that may prove costly given her range-hitting prowess. Ashleigh Gardner has had an amazing game but this dropped chance just goes to show that she is a human too, after all.

Ran in from mid-wicket, dived forward but moved too far inside and the ball actually landed on her wrists and ricochet for four. Was a short delivery, Devine hammered the pull and got the desired result.

She was striking the ball clean as a whistle but Alana is a brave leg-spinner who floated the ball above the eyeline once again to bait the southpaw. She accepts it, even the connection is pretty good but mid-wicket is interested and the firm hit nestles into her palms.

Even though New Zealand have played 100 dot balls in the first 25 overs (64.4 %), half-centurion Sophie Devine is the binding glue holding their innings together and keeping the flame of hope intact.

The leg-spinner strikes, having kept the stumps in play all through as she bowled to Amelia Kerr, who was feeling the heat as she struggled to get the ball off the square. Then came the sucker punch, a loopy tempter that invited an ambitious drive. The fielder at cover was waiting with bated breath for a miscue and there it comes, eventually. Gobbled up to leave New Zealand three down in a tall chase.

Sophie Devine has joined an exclusive club that comprises of Stafanie Taylor and Ellyse Perry. She is anchoring the chase in company of the composed Amelia Kerr and there are embers of hope emanating in the New Zealand camp.

The experienced campaigner is coming to New Zealand’s rescue in Indore after the major setback early on. Her partnership with the young Amelia Kerr has crossed fifty.

She was on fire with the ball and is now displaying her class with the bat. Her strokeplay has been underpinned by gorgeous timing and she has also made it a point to hit the gaps to perfection.

New Zealand ought to have received a healthy start from their top-order if they harboured any aspirations of chasing down the monstrous total they are up against, but Australia have wreaked havoc with the ball upfront to leave the White Ferns in a tizzy at 0/2.

Georgia Plimmer becomes the first opener to be dismissed without facing a ball in the Women’s World Cup as an alert Sutherland fired a throw to the keeper’s end. Things went from bad to worse for New Zealand when two balls later, Suzie Bates chopped on versus Sophie Molineux.

This is Australia’s highest score against New Zealand in Women’s ODIs, and they would be the happier team going into the interval. They rode on Ashleigh Gardner’s exploits to reach a total that would be difficult to gun down. She becomes the first batter to register a century from No.6 or lower in ODI World Cups. The previous highest was Alex Blackwell’s 90 vs IND-W at Derby in 2017.

Improvisational scoops, down-the-ground tonks, cheeky dabs, you name it. Garth can play shots around the dial and her cameo has spurred Australia to an extremely strong total.

The pacer has proved mighty expensive today but the prized scalp of the centurion will make her feel a little better about her performance. Gardner walks off to a standing ovation as Indore has been treated to an absolute masterclass. Just a feather on the diagonal-batted drive as Illing opens her account in her eighth over.

She has not only bailed Australia out of choppy waters but also tonned up in the process. The Holkar Stadium is Indore in not chockfull by any means but the modest crowd is up on its feet to applaud a heroic effort established on the virtues of flamboyance and grit.

Kim Garth, an Irish-Australian cricketer, and Ashleigh Gardner occupy the crease as the women in yellow eye a finishing kick. If the half-centurion can stay on till the very end, Australia might well have batted the White Ferns out of the contest.

They were tottering at one stage as wickets fell in quick succession but you just got to doff your hat to Australia’s fighting spirit. They have scripted a complete turnaround after losing half their side before the halfway mark, with McGrath spearheading the comeback through a majestic 80* off 60 balls. Ten boundaries and a six to her name.

New Zealand have struck at regular intervals in this match, stifling the progress of Australia whenever they threatened to run away with the game. Full on middle, Molineux readies herself to loft and picks out Devine in the deep. She takes it and turns around to fist-pump. Bit more power and elevation and it would have been six, for sure.

The wicket of Tahlia McGrath transpired against the run of play, clipping the wings of an alliance that was troubling New Zealand, but that’s the thing with Australia. You just cannot push them into a corner. They will keep finding ways to not only survive but thrive. Gardner is approaching her seventies and Australia, despite being under the pump at 128/5, are now on the verge of an impressive total.

That’s a soft dismissal. Full delivery on middle and leg, angling in, McGrath gets forward to flick and can’t keep it along the carpet. Picks out the lone fielder inside the ring on the leg-side.

Meanwhile, Gardner is going strong at the other end. She reaches her fifty in style, shimmies down the track and takes it on the half-volley, bangs the loft high and all the way over long-off. Mid-off was in anyway. Scintillating stroke and it has thrown Amelia Kerr off as she drops a rare loose ball to invite punishment.

Australia are retaliating with this solid stand between Gardner and McGrath. Both have added 59 so far. Australia would look to get close to 300 from here.

She came in with her side in deep trouble but the all-rounder, who has been an integral part of the all-conquering Australia team, played some audacious strokes to push the field back and is now milking the singles and doubles to move along the scoreboard. New Zealand are still holding their own, make no mistake, with Sophie Devine maintaining an excellent channel but the growing alliance between McGrath and Gardner ought to be a concern.

The outfield in Indore is lightning quick and Ashleigh Gardner has managed to put a few balls into the gaps to help Australia get a move-on. Bree Illing has found it incredibly hard to keep a check on the economy; her six overs conceding 51 runs.