Women’s World Cup 2023, Aus w vs NZ w Match 3 : Australia is up and running in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Australia defeated New Zealand by 97 runs in match 3 at Boland Park, Paarl.
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The world champions Australia begin their title defence by defeating their neighbouring country New Zealand by a huge margin of 97 runs. Australia batting first scored 173/9 in their 20 overs.
Alyssa Healy’s good run of form in the T20 World cup continues. Healy, opening the innings, scored 55 runs in 38 balls striking at 144.74. Healy smashed 9 fours in her knock of 55 runs. Ellyse Perry scored a quickfire 40 runs in 22 balls striking at 181.82. Meg Lanning on her return from a long break to international cricket scored 41 runs in 33 balls.
Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu picked up 3 wickets each. Eden Carson’s catch in the bowling of Tahuhu to dismiss Beth Mooney was the moment of the match.
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Ashleigh Gardner’s Five- Fer wins it for Australia
New Zealand chasing a target of 174 was pegged back early by Megan Schutt. Schutt dismissed both the Kiwi openers Suzie Bates & Sophie Devine for a duck in the 1st over of New Zealand’s innings. Bernadine Bezuident on her world cup debut added 20 runs to the 3rd wicket. Ellyse Perry dismissed Bernadine for 14 runs.
Ashleigh Gardner took care of New Zealand’s middle and lower order. Gardner’s first dismissal was that of Amelia Kerr. Kerr scored 21 runs in 30 balls. She then picked up the wickets of Hannah Rowe, Tahuhu, Jess Kerr and Eden Carson. Gardner becomes the first bowler to pick up a 5- wicket haul in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.
AUS w vs NZ w, Match 3 Player of the match : Ashleigh Gardner is named as the player of the match for her match figures of 5/12 in 3 overs bowling at an economy of 4.00.
Gardener on her match winning performance – I think that was set up by our batters, gave us some flexibility, and I was lucky enough to take those wickets in the end. I have worked a lot on my wrist position. It’s more about my length. Some were bouncing and some weren’t and I bowled at the stumps and that helped. Our whole bowling unit kept bowling it straight, some shoot up and some don’t. Alyss told us to bowl on stumps and to keep all dismissals in play, so that is something that we will continue to work on as a bowling unit.
Aus w vs NZ w, Match 3: Captain’s Corner
Australia Captain, Meg Lanning :
We are really happy, we knew it would be a challenge. Healy was really good upfront and Perry was incredible to put NZ under pressure. Taking early wickets always helped and picking Devine and Bates early on helped. Can’t complain too much and hopefully we can improve throughout the tournament.
New Zealand Captain, Sophie Devine :
We were poor today in all facets of the game. Australia were really good with the bat, Tahuhu was great with the ball and Amelia Kerr was outstanding but 170 was always going to be a tough chase. Losing early wickets also made it hard. You have to find positives from the game, to nearly bowl them out was pleasing.