AUSTRALIA has whitewashed its ODI series with New Zealand, after winning the third and final match by 75 runs to claim the Rose Bowl Trophy. Following being bowled out for 290 with one over left in their innings, Australia then bowled their hosts out for 215 halfway through the 44th over.
The result also means Australia will be winners of the ICC Women’s ODI Championship for the third cycle in a row, and it also means New Zealand may have to go to the World Cup qualifying tournament if results in next month’s series between the West Indies and Bangladesh do not go their way.
Australia got its innings off to a great start, with openings Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield putting on an 88 run opening stance. Although there were some lacklustre partnerships in the partnerships that followed, a 63-run fifth wicket partnership followed by a 40-run sixth wicket partnership gave the innings another boost, and really helped pushed the score to the extremely competitive total it ultimately became.
It was Ash Gardner who went on to top score for the Australians with 74, while Litchfield made 50 and Annabel Sutherland made 42. Meanwhile for the hosts, Amelia Kerr took four wickets, Rosemary Mair took three and Sophie Devine took two.
New Zealand made a solid enough start to its innings – putting a 43-run opening stand on the board – but then really accelerated with a 63 run second wicket partnership. However, the innings fell apart after that.
There were a pair of partnerships in the 40s in the middle part of the innings, but with most other partnerships in the single digits the scoring really dropped and New Zealand ultimately had no hope of reaching the target in time.
Suzie Bates was the star with the bat for New Zealand with 53, while Maddy Green made 39 not out and most other batters made scores in the 20s. It could have been even worse for New Zealand if Australia had bowled straight, with the Aussies conceding 16 extras.
Meanwhile for the victors, Sutherland and Alana King were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each.
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