The Australian women’s cricket team has beaten New Zealand in a T20 game yesterday by 29 runs at Great Barrier Reef Arena, securing a series win, they lead two nil lead with one game left in the series.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first but were bowled out for 142 in 19.3 overs, as Kiwi leg spinner Amelia Kerr took  career best figure of 4-20. Kerr caused an Australian middle order collapse, which saw the Aussies lose 7-28 in 26 deliveries. Only four of Australia’s batters reached double figures.

In response New Zealand  struggled to score boundaries against the Australian bowling attack. The bowlers bowled well to their field and made New Zealand work hard for their runs. Despite some bad fielding errors by Australia, they restricted the Kiwi’s to 7-113 off their twenty overs.

Australia’s star all-rounder Ash Gardner returned to the side after missing the last game due to a concussion she sustained in the warm up. It was the 27-year-old’s eighth concussion of her career. Gardner was the best of Australia’s bowlers ending up with figures of 3-16 off her four overs. She also made 18 runs, batting at four.

Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry were Australia’s best batters as Healy scored 38 of 25 balls and Perry made 34 of 33 balls.

New Zealand have now lost nine consecutive T20 games, a major cause for concern going into next month’s World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Photo: Pulling by Gordon Chirgwin is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.