AUSTRALIA has kicked off its women’s T20 World Cup preparation in the perfect fashion, downing New Zealand in the first of its three-match series.

After restricting their neighbours to 7/143, the Australians reached the target with two balls to spare to win by five wickets.

It was a pretty even tempo start from the Kiwis, going at about a run a ball before losing their first wicket, but once the wickets started coming they flowed consistently.

The run rate did pick up towards the back end of the innings, but the wickets still kept coming fairly regularly. The biggest partnership was ultimately a couple of 26 runs.

Only two White Ferns’ batters made it out of the teens – Suzie Bates at the top of the order (with 33), and Maddy Green in the middle order (with 35). They were also the only two to fully outscore the extras tally.

On the other side of the equation, the wicket taking duties were very evenly shared amongst the Australian bowlers, with every bowler used picking up one wicket.

In reply, the innings did not start well for the Australians either in their chase.

Their first wicket partnership was of a similar length and size to New Zealand’s, but then they two wickets in quick succession to find themselves at 3/44 at the start of the seventh over.

But when Phoebe Litchfield joined Tahlia McGrath at the crease for the fourth wicket, it all started to turn for the home side.

Those two put on a 41-run partnership before Litchfield and Georgia Wareham put 50 runs on the board, so in the end there was not too much left for Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland to do once Wareham was dismissed.

Litchfield was the true star of the Australian innings, smashing 11 fours on her way to 64 not out from just 43 balls. On the flipside of the equation, Molly Penfold was the only multiple wicket taker for the visitors, picking up two.