Australia ease past New Zealand in rain-curtailed second ODI after Annabel Sutherland’s heroics (Photo Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The second ODI of the series played between New Zealand (NZ-W) and Australia Women (AUS-W) at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington, turned out to be a rain-curtailed affair on Saturday, December 21. However, unlike the first ODI, which was abandoned without a ball being bowled, the second ODI did get a result as Australia won by 65 runs via the DLS (Duckworth Louis-Stern) method.
Host Skipper Sophie Devine won the toss and opted to bowl first before Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield got the tourists off to a decent start. Healy, who was making her return to international cricket after suffering a knee injury, played a fluent knock of 34 runs off 32 balls. She was the first batter to be dismissed as Molly Penfold struck in the ninth over. Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardner got starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores.
However, Annabel Sutherland played a gem of an innings as she notched up a century off just 78 balls. She registered 50-plus stands with Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, and Kim Garth to take Australia to an imposing total of 291/7 in 50 overs. Sutherland finished unbeaten on 105 off 81 balls, belting 11 fours and two sixes. Penfold was the pick of the bowlers for the White Ferns as she took four wickets for 42 runs in her 10 overs.
In reply, New Zealand began with a watchful approach as they were in pursuit of the second-highest run-chase in ODI cricket. In the sixth over, they lost the wicket of Suzie Bates as Garth gave the visitors their first breakthrough. Debutant Isabella Rose James looked good during her 27-run knock but she departed on the last ball of the powerplay.
Kerr showed some resistance against Australia Women
Amelia Kerr played a gritty knock of 38 off 55 balls, even as she lost partners from the other end. Devine and Brooke Haillday departed in quick succession, as New Zealand were reduced to 76/4 in 19.3 overs. After Kerr’s dismissal in the 29th over, the hosts were staring down the barrel.
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In the 31st over, rain stopped play as the home side was left stranded at 122/5, a long way away from the par score. Play was soon called off as Australia clinched a 14th straight ODI victory over their trans-Tasmanian rivals. Garth starred with the ball for Australia as she bagged figures of 2/17 in six overs.