Australia set out to make a statement in the T20 series against New Zealand after losing their grip on the T20 World Cup before the White Ferns claimed the trophy last year. Tahlia McGrath’s side did just that as they completed a series sweep across three T20Is in New Zealand but not before being given a huge scare as the hosts finally turned up to play with a stirring chase in the last clash in Wellington on Wednesday.
After Australia were sent in to bat, openers Georgia Voll (75) and Beth Mooney (21) once again set the tone while punishing New Zealand for their horror show in the field. Mooney might feel unfortunate to be the only Australia batter dismissed by a catch in the deep as several other chances went begging for the White Ferns, leaving Voll to make the most of her multiple lives and amass a second half-century in the three-match series. Ellyse Perry (32 not out) and Phoebe Litchfield (26) added valuable runs as each of Australia’s batters at least made a start to guide their side to 180-4 and set New Zealand an imposing but not impossible target.
The White Ferns were immediately on the ropes after losing captain Suzie Bates in the first over of their chase and soon slumped to 54 for 4 as Australia rolled their commanding form in the first two T20Is into the third contest at Sky Stadium. That was until Melie Kerr (66) revived the innings with a classy and composed half-century while at the other end Maddy Green (62) lit the fireworks to race to her first T20I fifty off the back of five sixes. It was only when Green was run out in the 18th over that the tables turned back in Australia’s favour and Annabel Sutherland (4 for 35) picked up three wickets in the next over to restrict New Zealand to 172-8.
The tense victory seals Australia’s sweep of the T20I series and signs off on a stunning response from the dominant side in women’s cricket with 15 wins from as many completed matches in all formats since their shock loss in the global showpiece semi-final last year.
New Zealand have saved their best for last with a thrilling chase of an ominous target but fall eight runs short as Australia complete a series sweep of the world champions.
WICKET! A Kerr c Wareham b Sutherland 66 (New Zealand 161-8)
Three in the over for Sutherland as the all-rounder gets the key wicket of Melie Kerr who threatened to drag New Zealand to a lofty target with 66 from 47 balls.
WICKET! Green run out (Wareham) 62 (New Zealand 153-5)
Maddy Green has given New Zealand a chance but can’t quite do enough to steer them home as a sensational, breakout knock comes to an end after a 99-run partnership with Kerr.
New Zealand have all the momentum as cracks start to appear in Australia’s aura for the first time all series, with unlikely no-balls and misfields boosting local hopes. Green smashes McGrath for four through cover but is then run out with little margin for error.
18th over: New Zealand 155-5 (A Kerr 61, J Kerr 1)
17th over: New Zealand 144-4 (A Kerr 57, Green 57) SIX! Another huge hit from Green who is swinging wildly and reaping the rewards. She brings up her first T20I half-century with a six over long-on, then survives a chance from the next delivery as the ball falls safely in the deep. Wareham almost snares Kerr but can’t hold a sharp caught and bowled chance then unusually loses her line as the pressure piles up. But the heat is on the batting pair too and after a shocking mix-up running between wickets both somehow survive.
16th over: New Zealand 131-4 (A Kerr 55, Green 47) Back-to-back sixes from Green and New Zealand have a sniff. Green has four sixes, the most a White Ferns woman has belted against Australia in T20Is. Garth drops Kerr and for perhaps the first time all series, Australia are looking a touch rattled.
15th over: New Zealand 114-4 (A Kerr 51, Green 34) SIX! Green hammers a huge blow by sending a short ball into the stands. Sutherland digs in but can’t get the ball to bounce high enough and Green has little trouble dispatching it. The White Ferns batter follows up with a boundary on the off-side. A productive over for New Zealand.
14th over: New Zealand 99-4 (A Kerr 50, Green 21) Melie Kerr brings up a half-century from 36 balls with six boundaries following a roll of the wrists that allows her to find two runs from the last ball of the over. It has largely been a lone hand to this point, but Green might just be ready to step into a supporting role.
13th over: New Zealand 93-4 (A Kerr 46, Green 19) SIX! Maddy Green joins the party with a huge six after picking up a half-tracker to hoick Tahlia McGrath over the deep square leg rope. Kerr is all class with an effortless drive to the boundary as New Zealand nudge up the run-rate.
12th over: New Zealand 79-4 (A Kerr 40, Green 11) Melie Kerr finds a boundary with a late glance to third before Garth finds a tighter line and length.
11th over: New Zealand 72-4 (A Kerr 35, Green 10) Alana King resumes after the break and almost claims the wicket of Maddy Green as the right-hander gets a leading edge and narrowly clears the bowler. Melie Kerr blazes away from the very next ball with an aerial shot into the deep that falls a few metres short of deep midwicket. New Zealand might have plenty of runs still to get, but not sure they need to be living on the edge just yet.
10th over: New Zealand 64-4 (A Kerr 34, Green 3) That’s drinks with Australia in the driver’s seat and New Zealand all but clinging on just to stay in the game. Melie Kerr is looking confident and comfortable but will need to put together one of the all-time great T20 innings to drag the White Ferns over the line.
9th over: New Zealand 60-4 (A Kerr 32, Green 1) Melie Kerr is playing a lone hand now with Devine holing out in the deep to leave New Zealand on the ropes with four down and 121 still to chase. Kerr picks up a boundary at long-off but will need plenty more support from here.
WICKET! Devine c Perry b Wareham 1 (New Zealand 54-4)
New Zealand could hardly hold onto a catch while Australia don’t look like dropping even the trickier chances. Devine sweeps in the air but falls a few metres short of the deep midwicket rope where Ellyse Perry shields her eyes from the sun then makes the chance look easier than it surely was.
8th over: New Zealand 54-3 (A Kerr 27, Devine 1) Annabel Sutherland returns as Tahlia McGarth makes sure the New Zealand batters can’t get set with frequent changes of bowler. Kerr picks up two and then one as Sutherland drifts too close to her pads before Devine finally gets off the mark - from her eighth ball faced - with a well-placed nudge through midwicket.
7th over: New Zealand 50-3 (A Kerr 24, Devine 0) Georgia Wareham has stayed in the game with a couple of catches but now gets her chance with ball in hand. Kerr and Devine remain watchful with just a single from the over.
6th over: New Zealand 49-3 (A Kerr 23, Devine 0) A classy over from Melie Kerr as she works a shorter ball off her hip with a blend of grace and power before making it two boundaries off Kim Garth when simply guiding the ball to third.
WICKET! James c Wareham b Sutherland 14 (New Zealand 40-3)
Bella James was just starting to look comfortable in her debut T20I knock as she found gaps on the off side – at least until picking out Georgia Wareham at square leg. Australia aren’t going to have much trouble holding onto chances like that to leave New Zealand scoring at a decent clip but at risk of running out of wickets.
4th over: New Zealand 28-2 (A Kerr 13, James 3) Alana King takes the ball during the powerplay as Australia captain Tahlia McGrath looks to turn the screws after a couple of early wickets. The leg-spinner almost makes an immediate impact as Kerr slices a cut and gets under the shot but is fortunate to see the ball float over McGrath’s head at cover. Kerr soon has no trouble dispatching a sweep to the rope.
3rd over: New Zealand 18-2 (A Kerr 4, James 2) Bella James gets her opporunity on debut much earlier than she would have liked as Australia skittle the New Zealand openers within three overs. James’ stay at the crease almost ends before it gets started after she misreads a slower ball from Schutt and is hit on the helmet. She’s fine to carry on though.
WICKET! Plimmer c Voll b Schutt 4 (New Zealand 16-2)
Georgia Plimmer sets herself to clobber Megan Schutt over the leg side but can only get a leading edge after the ball rises sharly. An easy take for Grace Harris at backward point.
2nd over: New Zealand 14-1 (Plimmer 3, A Kerr 3) Kim Garth takes her turn with the new ball and in typical fashion immediately finds her line and length just outside off stump and proves difficult for the New Zealand batters to get away.
WICKET! Bates c Wareham b Schutt 7 (New Zealand 9-1)
Captain Suzie Bates can’t prevent the worst possible start for the White Ferns as she looks to punish a leg-side loosener from Megan Schutt but picks out Georgia Wareham at deep midwicket. That’s Schutt’s 150th T20I wicket – the Australia quick becomes the first woman to reach the mark.
New Zealand captain Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer are at the crease with Megan Schutt at the top of her mark as the White Ferns begin their 181-run chase.
Australia make New Zealand pay a heavy price for a sloppy performance in the field as the tourists pile on 180-4 to set a daunting target.
The White Ferns might have been in a much stronger position if they held onto a string of chances – some simple and some admittedly difficult – with Georgia Voll the main beneficiary on the way to amassing 75 from 57 balls. Voll took some time to get going but in-form opening partner Beth Mooney (21) was in sublime touch from the get-go until holing out to debutant Bella James in the deep.
Phoebe Litchfield (26) kept the runs flowing before Melie Kerr took matters into her own hands with a catch off her own bowling, while Rosemary Mair sent Annabel Sutherland (11) packing in the same way. A cameo from Ellyse Perry (32 not out) ensured New Zealand have a tough chase ahead of them as they hope a deep batting lineup can turn the pressure back on an Australia outfit aiming for a clean sweep of the T20 series.
WICKET! Sutherland c & b Mair 11 (Australia 154-4)
Once again New Zealand are helped by the bowler turning catcher after Sutherland swipes at a wide ball but gets under the shot. Mair calls early but does well to hang on to a falling ball that seemed to do a bit in the air. But there is little respite for the White Ferns as Tahlia McGrath starts her brief innings with back-to-back boundaries.
18th over: Australia 154-3 (Perry 20, Sutherland 11) Oh dear! Eden Carson is done for spin in the deep. Perry whisks Melie Kerr square as the White Ferns fielder sets herself but forgets to allow for the turn on the ball as it bounces past her for four.
17th over: Australia 146-3 (Perry 13, Sutherland 10) Perry and Sutherland have picked up where they left off on Sunday. This time it’s Perry who steps up by clubbing the first ball of the over from Bates to the deep midwicket boundary. The all-rounder adds another when dispatching a half-volley over fine leg.
16th over: Australia 135-3 (Perry 3, Sutherland 9) Annabel Sutherland takes little time to get going as she punishes a slightly wider delivery from Jess Kerr with a cut behind point to the rope. The Australia pair won’t have much time to get their eye in but showed in the second T20 on Sunday that they can be among the more damaging batters around in the death overs.
It was becoming hard to imagine New Zealand hanging onto a catch to dismiss Georgia Voll before captain Suzie Bates takes fielding out of the equation. Voll gets across the line but mixes up the flight of the ball and is bowled off her pads to end another fine knock.
15th over: Australia 125-3 (Perry 1, Sutherland 1)
WICKET! Litchfield c & b A Kerr 26 (Australia 118-2)
Georgia Voll is, quite incredibly, dropped twice more in the over before Melie Kerr takes matters into her own hands to grasp a caught and bowled chance to dismiss Phoebe Litchfield. The Australia No 3 hit across the line but could only send the ball skyward as Kerr races across to take full responsibility.
13th over: Australia 106-1 (Voll 63, Litchfield 21) Georgia Voll is dropped again and New Zealand have grassed more chances than they’ve hung onto across the series. This time it’s Bella James who lets a chance slip at short third, as Litchfield makes the White Ferns pay immediately with back-to-back boundaries. To rub salt in the wound the players are setting up for the next over but have to run back to position for a free hit that Jess Kerr at leasts limits to a single.
12th over: Australia 92-1 (Voll 61, Litchfield 10) It was only a matter of time before Australia would start to make New Zealand pay for so many dropped catches. 16 runs from Carson’s over goes a long way to doing that, as Litchfield hammers a pull shot to the fine leg rope, then Voll finishes off with back-to-back boundaries with exquisitite strokes on either side of the wicket.
11th over: Australia 76-1 (Voll 52, Litchfield 3) Georgia Voll brings up a half-century as Rosemary Mair grasses a simple chance at long-of and the Australia pair scamper through for two. It’s not unusual to see Australia’s opponests failing to take their chances, as England found out in the Women’s Ashes, but New Zealand seem particularly rattled in the field.
10th over: Australia 71-1 (Voll 48, Litchfield 2) Georgia Voll resumes after the drinks break an mandatory concussion tests by stepping down the wicket to smack Kerr over midwicket for a boundary.
Drinks are called a tad early – after 9.3 overs – after Georgia Voll gets down on one knee looking to sweep Melie Kerr but instead cops a blow in the grille. Australia are 66-1.
9th over: Australia 65-1 (Voll 43, Litchfield 1) New Zealand get the breakthrough - and just their sixth wicket in the series - as Mooney’s streak of T20I scores of 44 or more ends at six innings. Phoebe Litchfield joins her great mate Voll at the crease.
WICKET! Mooney c James b Devine 21 (Australia 64-1)
Bella James makes her mark on debut with a sensational catch in the deep. And it’s the key wicket of Beth Mooney after the in-form opener pulls over square but is caught just inside the rope.
8th over: Australia 61-0 (Mooney 20, Voll 41) Eden Carson into the attack but Voll is up and running now as she picks up singles and occasional twos with ease. The opener took time to get her eye in but has 41 from 35 balls, while the White Ferns won’t mind that Mooney has only faced 13 deliveries in eight overs even if she has reached 20 runs.
7th over: Australia 54-0 (Mooney 19, Voll 35) Melie Kerr takes over from Devine wiht the powerplay done, but Voll picks her line straight away and pummels a drive through cover for four. Voll picks up a pair of twos off the back foot and then with a sweep, as the Australia openers round out the over with a series of singles. All too familiar and ominous signs are appearing for New Zealand.
6th over: Australia 43-0 (Mooney 18, Voll 25) Mooney finally takes her turn for a solid block at the striker’s end and ensures Australia finish the powerplay in command. The opener begins the over by caressing a stright drive to the rope and finishes it by dancing down the track to lift Mair over midwicket for another boundary. No doubt Mooney is the prized wicket for New Zealand. But all signs suggest she is set for yet another big score (even allowing for the dreaded #bloggerscurse).
5th over: Australia 33-0 (Mooney 9, Voll 24) Sophie Devine is thrown the ball and continues to contain Georgia Voll. At least until the opener gets away with a punishing boundary behind square. Mooney is, not surprisingly, looking much more comfortable and could do with Voll turning over more of the strike.
4th over: Australia 27-0 (Mooney 8, Voll 19) Mair keeps turning the screws from her end with only the one run coming from the last ball of the over. The White Ferns quick does her best to close out a maiden while using her left boot to try to stop a straight drive but it bounces away for an quick single. A promising over, filled with variety, from Mair.
3rd over: Australia 26-0 (Mooney 8, Voll 18) DROPPED! Voll slices a straight drive skyward as Maddy Green plants her feet at mid-on. Green barely has to move but can only get fingertips to the ball before it tumbles to the turf. What a left off for Australia, and an opportunity that New Zealand can ill afford to waste! And another chance goes begging from the very next delivery. This one is much tougher as Eden Carson dives hard to her right at point but does well just to get a hand to the ball.
2nd over: Australia 11-0 (Mooney 2, Voll 9) Rosemary Mair shares the new ball and quickly shows how much she has learned since leaking runs in the first T20 last week. A tidy over only gives up a trio of singles as the opening pair put Australian hearts in mouths with a chaotic, aborted attempt at a second run off the final delivery.
1st over: Australia 8-0 (Mooney 1, Voll 7) SIX! Georgia Voll makes a red-hot start with a huge six over midwicket. The Australia opener picks up the length, gets down on one knee and heaves the ball over the rope. But she is fortunate to survive a tough caught and bowled chance just two deliveries later. Voll smashes the ball straight back at Jess Kerr, but the White Ferns pacer can’t get a hand around it as it bounces off her lower arm.
Jess Kerr will open the bowling for the White Ferns, in all black today. A sparse crowd is inside the stadium, as Australia’s Beth Mooney takes guard at the striker’s end. Play!
The anthems are done and dusted, and the players are heading out onto the pitch, which is bathed in sunshine on what looks like a glorious Wellington day. Play about to start in the final T20 of this series!
Australia line up for the national anthem. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
“We’ve got a new challenge, though, playing in a new venue, the first time being here today, quick look and adapting to the conditions and hopefully post another big total.”
On the long straight boundary at Sky Stadium, and the short boundary square of the wicket, McGrath says:
“Yeah, we’re going to have to adapt. It looks very long straight and a touch shorter square and like I said, adapt and see how the wicket plays as well.”
Susie Bates says after winning the toss her decision to bowl was partly down to the “fresh wicket” in Wellington.
“I think the way we know Australia are going to play, whatever they put on the board, we’re going to have a crack and have a chase, but yeah, fresh wicket, you never quite know what a par score is and we haven’t played here for a while.
“We’ gotta take wickets and that’s not necessarily through doing anything too different. It’s just being consistent with our bowling and and then with the bat, we’ve just got to keep attacking.
“So we’ve talked a lot about it and now the proof is going to be the pudding today with how we got there with our last game of the summer for the White Ferns.”
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the third women’s T20I between New Zealand and Australia.
Australia set out to make a statement in the three T20Is against the world champions, after giving up their crown last November, and are well down the path to doing just that after a pair of resounding victories – by eight wickets, and then by 82 runs – so far.
The tourists can now target a clean sweep at Sky Stadium while the White Ferns have much more than just pride to play for against their arch-rivals. Australia won the only previous clash between the sides at this venue in Wellington though Ellyse Perry and coach Shelley Nitschke are the only players still with the squad that played in that game in 2010.
Darcie Brown has returned to Australia for family reasons, leaving the tourists to make at least one change with Megan Schutt sure to have been pressing her claims. There can be no complaints about the conditions in Wellington with a predicted high of 19C and plenty of sun around.
First ball will be at 2.45pm local time or 12.45pm AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the toss and team news, but in the meantime keep me company with your thoughts and predictions on email or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
