Allround Australia pocket maiden series win post COVID-19; take unassailable 2-0 lead

New Zealand skipper spoke about going in front of the mirror and having a hard look at the faults they made the other day. But the story was similar to the old one as none of the batters could really stand in front of a daring Aussie bowling attack.

Opting to bat first, New Zealand lost their first when Devine (nine) gifted a simple return catch to Sophie Molineux in third over before Mady Green was run out in the next for seven.  Suzie Bates joined Amy Satterthwaite in the middle and the duo played some delightful shots as they rebuilt the sinking ship with a 49-run partnership for the third wicket.

ALSO READ: Sophie Devine wants New Zealand to have a long hard look at themselves in the mirror

Australia skipper Meg Lanning introduced Georgia Wareham into the attack and the 21-year-old leggie was right on the money dismissing Satterthwaite (30), thanks to some lightning-quick glovework from Alyssa Healy. It was also Healy’s 50^th T20I dismissal, thus becoming only the second player to do so after England’s Sarah Taylor.

Things turned worse for New Zealand when Hayley Jensen was cleaned bowled by Wareham in the 12^th overs as the visitors went from 80 for 4 to 128 all out in 19.2 overs. Unlike the first match where Megan Schutt got four wickets, the right-arm pacer proved costly in the day conceding 23 runs in two overs without success.

Wareham finished with 3 for 26 in her four overs, while Delissa Kimminse picked up the prized wicket of dangerous Suzie Bates (22) returning with 3 for 21. Molineux was the most economical among all with figures of 4-0-17-2.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 makes its way into ICC headquarters; work from home for all staffers

In reply, Australia started on a devastating note with Healy going bonkers from the word go. The right-hander hit Bates for 22 runs in the fourth over which included three back-to-back boundaries and a six off a no ball. However, the wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed the next over giving a catch to Bates at the cover for a 17-ball 33.

Beth Mooney too followed suit a couple of overs later holing out to Satterthwaite off the bowling of Amelia Kerr for 24. Things got a bit slower thereafter for Australia, but Lanning (26 not out) and Rachael Haynes (40 not out) made sure there are no further hiccups as the hosts romped home easily with 3.2 overs to spare pocket first series win post-COVID-19.

Brief scores: New Zealand 128 all out in 20 overs (Amy Satterthwaite 30, Suzie Bates 22; Georgia Wareham 3/26; Delissa Kimminse 3/21) lost to Australia 129/2 in 16.4 overs (Rachael Haynes 40*, Alyssa Healy 33) by 8 wickets. POTM: Sophie Molineux.