AUSTRALIA is through to yet another decider of a major tournament, this time defeating New Zealand by five wickets to book its spot in the Gold Medal match.

After being sent into bat, New Zealand got off to a less than ideal start when Suzie Bates got dismissed on the fifth ball of the innings. Not to worry for New Zealand as skipper Sophie Devine got to work and provided a solid rock for much of the innings.

Her score of 53, alongside Amelia Kerr’s 40 runs ensured New Zealand made a very competitive total. The White Ferns did lose three wickets in the last two overs, but Devine and Kerr’s earlier good work ensured the Kiwis had a very competitive total on the board of 7/144.

Meanwhile for the Aussie bowlers it was Megan Schutt who topped the wicket tally with three, while Tahlia McGrath picked up two of her own and Jess Jonassen picked up one.

In reply, some sloppy fielding from the opposition helped Australia get off to a pretty solid start. Alyssa Healy unfortunately went pretty cheaply again, but the Aussies were still going at nine runs an over so things were looking up for the Australians. The result still came down to the final over.

The Australians only needed two more runs, but an appeal on the first ball of the last over would have made a few in the Aussie camp a little nervous. It was not to worry for the Aussies in the end through as Ashleigh Gardner and Grace Harris finished things off nicely to see the Aussies over the line. Earlier Beth Mooney had made 36 while McGrath had made 34.

For the Kiwis it was Lea Tahuhu, who remember was only a late inclusion into the squad as an injury replacement, who was the star with the ball, picking up three wickets.

The win sees Australia through to the Gold Medal Match to face India in a repeat of the 2020 World Cup decider, while New Zealand will battle England for bronze.