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Sophie Devine was New Zealand’s top scorer during Game 2 of her ODI series against Australia in Brisbane.
An injury-struck White Ferns team appears powerless to prevent Australia from entering the ODI record books on Wednesday.
Despite a better batting performance on Monday, the New Zealand women’s cricket team could not prevent the hosts from recording their 20th consecutive victory in the one-day format.
That gave the Southern Stars a series victory, backing up their 2-1 win in the Twenty20 series at the same venue in Brisbane, and another final-game victory on Wednesday would see the team equal the record for most consecutive victories of ODI; equaling that of the Australian men’s team in their 2003 World Cup winner.
Batting first, NZ made 252-9 of his 50 overs, but it wasn’t enough to challenge a good batting deck at Allan Border Field as the hosts hit their goal with four wickets and 4.5 overs to spare.
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With star Suzie Bates gone, the visitors lost the services of their fastest pitcher Leah Tahuhu when she left during her third over with a low back strain.
That helped an already dangerous Australian batting lineup to dominate the proceedings, with Meg Lanning anchoring their search. She improved her century by scoring winning runs, finishing undefeated of 101 against 96 balls, while Rachael Haynes made 82 of 89 balls, her highest score against NZ.
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Rachael Haynes of Australia cuts back during the ODI against New Zealand at Allan Border Field.
It was business as usual for Australia, who have never lost in 14 games at the venue, haven’t lost in an ODI since October 2017, and took the Rose Bowl trophy – it’s been 21 years since the White Ferns did. they held and their last victory in the ODI. about his fiercest rivals was in 2017.
Rival starter Alyssa Healy fell in the second over of Australia’s response: she had taken 14 in the opener from Tahuhu before going strong on a full and wide delivery from Rosemary Mair and Amelia Kerr couldn’t get the tough chance for above your head extra cover.
However, she died after adding just seven more when New Zealand captain Sophie Devine brought her down with a perfect full outwinger.
But Lanning and Haynes set Australia up for victory with a 117-of-20-overs partnership, as the pair flourished against a medium-paced diet, despite Devine proving troublesome.
Legspinner Amelia Kerr got rid of Beth Mooney cheaply, but NZ’s chance for an unexpected win didn’t help when Mair spilled a catch-and-pitch offer from Sophie Molineux when she was on one with the last ball of 31 and Australia at 169 – 3.
Kerr took two wickets on the same number of balls soon after, but Lanning could not be denied.
Previously, the New Zealand account relied on two substantial partnerships and key inputs from Devine and Amy Satterthwaite.
The NZ captain propelled herself up the order with Bates out and along with Natalie Dodd (34 of 59 balls) helped the visitors establish a platform they never encountered in their seven-wicket loss on Saturday.
It was the first time since 1997 that New Zealand’s top two tiers had partnerships of more than 50 people against Australia: Devine and Dodd made 75 for the first wicket before she and Satterthwaite added 93 for the second wicket.
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Amy Satterthwaite celebrates with her teammate Sophie Devine after scoring her half century during the second game between New Zealand and Australia in Brisbane.
Devine was beaten on the first ball by the speedy young Annabel Sutherland, but kept her composure to record her highest score against Australia in ODIs.
The 31-year-old started the game averaging just 21.72 against her trans-Tasman rivals, nearly 10 runs less than her career average against all teams, but hit seven fours when she made 79 of 115 deliveries.
She used her feet well against the bowlers who dominated the proceedings on Saturday and was looking to give an extra boost in the later overs when she overcame a big sweep from orthodox left arm Jess Jonassen.
Satterthwaite struggled from the start and was plumb in Ashleigh Gardner’s first over when on a nine-ball, but a weak inside edge may have saved her.
However, the left-hander soon found her rhythm, often going through the box to good effect, and reached 69 with 73 balls before moving one to another left-arm puncher, Sophie Molineux.
Katie Martin (26 of 14 balls, with three fours and six) and Maddy Green (21 of 13) helped New Zealand ensure Australia had to score more than five over, but the tourists lost five wickets in the final two overs .
Australia’s fielding was below par, missing three exit opportunities and a relatively simple catch.
New Zealand 252-9 (S Devine 79, A Satterthwaite 69; J Jonassen 4-36) lost to Australia 255-6 (M Lanning 101 not out, R Haynes 82; A Kerr 3-47) for four wickets.
