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Australia Secure Dominant Victory Over New Zealand

SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 08: Megan Schutt of Australia celebrates with teammate Alyssa Healy after dismissing Georgia Plimmer of New Zealand (not pictured) during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match between Australia and New Zealand at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 08, 2024 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

By Deepak Sharma (Indian Correspondent)

E-mail: spacewalker008@gmail.com

 

Sharjah, UAE (08-10-2024): Australia maintained their unbeaten streak in Group A of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with a commanding 60-run win over New Zealand.

The reigning champions posted a challenging 148 for eight at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, despite New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr shining with the ball, taking four wickets for 26 runs.

In response, New Zealand crumbled to 88 all out, with Megan Schutt leading Australia’s bowling attack, claiming three wickets for just three runs in 3.2 overs, including the crucial scalp of Kerr for 29, and finishing off the White Ferns’ innings.

Australia’s Innings: Australia opted to bat first, with captain Alyssa Healy starting confidently. After successfully overturning an LBW decision, she went on to score 11 runs off Fran Jonas’ over, reaching the milestone of 3000 T20I career runs. Healy’s aggressive approach brought Australia to a solid position before she was caught by Georgia Plimmer for 26 in the final over of the powerplay.

Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney then steadied the innings, with Perry surviving a dropped catch on the boundary early in her innings. Mooney, who had been in fine form, contributed 40 runs before being dismissed in the 12th over, leaving Australia at 86 for two. Perry continued to accelerate, reaching 2,000 T20I runs before being dismissed for 30, becoming Kerr’s second victim of the day.

Kerr’s excellent spell continued as she bowled Grace Harris for a duck with a googly on the very next ball. Phoebe Litchfield fell for 18 to Brooke Halliday, while Georgia Wareham narrowly avoided being Kerr’s hat-trick victim but was dismissed soon after. Australia’s tail was cleaned up in the final overs, but they still managed to post a competitive 148, the highest score at Sharjah in this tournament.

New Zealand’s Innings: Chasing 149, New Zealand’s opening partnership faltered early. Georgia Plimmer, who had impressed in the powerplay against India, was bowled by Schutt for a duck, leaving the White Ferns at 5 for one. Suzie Bates and Kerr attempted to rebuild the innings, but the required run rate continued to climb.

By the halfway mark, New Zealand was falling behind, and Bates, struggling to score, was bowled by Sophie Molineux for 20 off 27 deliveries. Kerr’s dismissal soon followed, and a flurry of wickets saw New Zealand slump to 60 for six, with Annabel Sutherland taking two wickets in as many balls.

Sophie Devine fell for seven as she tried to accelerate, only to be caught by Molineux. Schutt capped off her brilliant day with the final wicket of Eden Carson, as New Zealand folded for 88 in 19.2 overs, giving Australia a comfortable 60-run victory.

Scores in Brief

Australia: 148/8 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 40, Ellyse Perry 30; Amelia Kerr 4/26, Brooke Halliday 2/16)

New Zealand: 88 all out in 19.2 overs (Amelia Kerr 29, Suzie Bates 20; Megan Schutt 3/3, Annabel Sutherland 3/21)

 

Result: Australia won by 60 runs.

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