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31st over: Australia 187-5 (Gardner 46, McGrath 22)
Amelia Kerr is back to try to break this partnership. She bowls a tight over – both batters are treating her with a lot of respect having seen the damage she has done so far in this match. Drinks are on the field now.
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30th over: Australia 185-5 (Gardner 45, McGrath 21)
Jess Kerr continues, she gives away a wide early on and Gardner pounces on the next ball to run a quick two and bring up the 50 partnership between these two. Soon after Gardner finds the ball she’s been looking for and drives one beautifully past long off for four. A good over for Australia, with 10 from it.
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29th over: Australia 175-5 (Gardner 38, McGrath 19)
Devine continues her second spell and this batting pair continue to push the singles through. Gardner finds a gap in the infield – she can’t get it to the boundary, but they run a good two. It’s not super aggressive bowling, Devine seems happy to just continue to clamp down on the run rate for now.
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28th over: Australia 171-5 (Gardner 35, McGrath 18)
Jess Kerr returns – she’s been the least impressive of the NZ bowlers today, but she was bowling early on when the runs were flowing for Litchfield and Healy. Let’s see if she can have more impact here against the middle order. She does manage to keep things tighter than her earlier spell, just five singles from the over.
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27th over: Australia 166-5 (Gardner 32, McGrath 16)
Devine returns to the attack – she knows that NZ need to break this partnership and pick up a wicket and she has backed herself to make that happen. She starts the over well with four consecutive dots, looking to frustrate the batters into throwing away their wicket. McGrath stays patient however and waits for her chance to take the single. Gardner follows her lead, but it is a great over from Devine.
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26th over: Australia 164-5 (Gardner 31, McGrath 15)
Another over of spin from Carson. Gardner and McGrath have started to build a partnership and NZ are very keen to bring it to an end. Carson is bowling nicely, but both batters are looking more confident in their shots and happy to take the singles on offer and pounce on the loose balls.
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25th over: Australia 157-5 (Gardner 26, McGrath 13)
The halfway point of the innings looms and Illing starts the over coming around the wicket to Gardner. There are a few technical difficulties with the broadcast, so apologies if we run into some blank space at any point! Gardner gets one up and over the field down the ground and to add insult to injury, it’s a backfoot no ball. Gardner makes her pay with another four from the free hit. Illing brings it back with some better line and length to finish the over.
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24th over: Australia 146-5 (Gardner 17, McGrath 12)
Another spinner enters the attack, with Eden Carson bowling her first over of the day. Some quick running from Gardner and McGrath sees the strike turned over quickly and some scampering through for two. McGrath ups the ante with a four as this pair look to get things back on track.
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23rd over: Australia 137-5 (Gardner 13, McGrath 7)
Kerr gets a break and Illing resumes. McGrath slashes one down to third, but there’s protection on the boundary. She’s playing some good shots, but Illing is bowling well to her field and McGrath can’t sneak her way through them as easily as she would like.
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22nd over: Australia 133-5 (Gardner 11, McGrath 5)
Tahuhu continues and Gardner starts the over with intent – it’s just a single, but it’s a confident stroke that looks far less tentative than the batters have looked in the recent overs. However, Mooney loses her wicket and puts the brakes on the progress Australia has made. Tahlia McGrath comes to the crease and takes her time to get the feel of the bowling, then flicks one through the field to get off the mark with a boundary.
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WICKET! Mooney c A Kerr b Tahuhu 12 (Australia 128-5)
Just when it seemed this partnership was going to settle in and make some big runs, Mooney is bamboozled by Tahuhu and hits it straight to Amelia Kerr.
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21st over: Australia 127-4 (Gardner 10, Mooney 12)
Kerr bowls her sixth over in a row. There’s a run out chance early in the over, but the batters manage to scamper through. Gardner finds another boundary, getting past two diving fielders, timing it to perfection. It’s a better over from Australia after some very tough ones.
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20th over: Australia 120-4 (Gardner 4, Mooney 11)
Another over from Tahuhu, with Mooney on strike to start the over. There’s not a lot of confidence in the batting at the moment – no one looks to have the answers to increase the run rate. Runs are coming here and there, but the dot balls are piling up and something needs to shift. Maybe Gardner holds the key as she punches one through the field for four – can she build some momentum out there?
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19th over: Australia 114-4 (Gardner 0, Mooney 10)
Kerr bowls her fifth consecutive over and the first ball is overpitched. Sutherland jumps on it with a well-timed cover drive for four. Kerr corrects well and frustrates Sutherland with consecutive dot balls, tricking her into throwing her wicket away. Gardner starts cautiously, not getting off the mark in this over.
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WICKET! Sutherland c Bates b A Kerr 5 (Australia 113-4)
Sutherland gets impatient after a couple of dot balls and slashes at a ball, sending it straight to the ball magnet Bates, who takes her third catch of the day.
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18th over: Australia 109-3 (Sutherland 1, Mooney 10)
Tahuhu bowls her second over and misses her line on the first ball. Mooney’s eyes light up, but she can’t quite get it past the diving Maddy Green and has to settle for a single. Perry’s wicket brings Sutherland to the crease and Australia will have to rebuild in tough conditions. Sutherland is watchful to start, trying to get her eye in, before she finds a way to get off the mark on the last ball of the over.
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WICKET! Perry c Bates b Tahuhu 33 (Australia 108-3)
The build up of pressure eventually gets to Perry, trying to hit Tahuhu over the top, she only succeeds in skying it and Bates settles under it to take a simple catch.
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17th over: Australia 107-2 (Perry 33, Mooney 9)
Another over from Amelia Kerr and Perry is looking a little more comfortable with the spin now, getting a quick single straight away. The second ball is overpitched and allows Mooney to turn over the strike easily as well. Perry edges one, but it goes just wide of the keeper and there’s no protection, so it races away for a boundary. But Kerr is creating chances and not allowing the batters to settle.
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16th over: Australia 101-2 (Perry 28, Mooney 8)
Lea Tahuhu comes on to bowl her first over of the match. There’s a bit of a miscommunication early in the over, with Mooney trying to pick up a quick single, but being sent back by Perry. She gets safely back in her crease though. It’s a good first over from Tahuhu, with the Australian batters unable to get back their flow of scoring that they were finding so easily earlier in the match.
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15th over: Australia 99-2 (Perry 27, Mooney 7)
Kerr continues and Perry is trying everything to fight back against this spin attack. It’s tough going out there, with the flow of runs slowed right down since Kerr came on to bowl. A huge misfield from Eden Carson gives Mooney her first boundary of the day – she’ll be thankful for that. Drinks are on the field now.
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14th over: Australia 93-2 (Perry 26, Mooney 2)
Devine bowls the fourth over in her spell with Mooney getting the strike for the first time in a while. She’s looking for a single after a misfield, but decides against it. She’s taking a little while to get settled and NZ will want to make sure that she doesn’t manage to find her rhythm, because she’s very hard to unsettle once she gets in. It’s a strong over from Devine – the Kiwis have found their groove since that Litchfield wicket.
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13th over: Australia 90-2 (Perry 25, Mooney 1)
Another over from Kerr and Perry looks relieved to find a ball she can hit and picks up the first boundary from the spinner. There are two LBW appeals in the over, but nothing is moving the umpires so far.
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12th over: Australia 86-2 (Perry 21, Mooney 1)
Devine starts with a good length ball that Perry can’t get underneath – her confidence looks up after that strong over from Kerr. She starts the over with three dots and Perry looks a little frustrated at not being able to get the bowling away. She finally finds a ball she can attack and picks up two runs. She finds a gap in the infield on the last ball of the over, but Kerr makes a good save on the boundary to keep it to just one.
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11th over: Australia 83-2 (Perry 18, Mooney 1)
Our first look at spin for this match with Amelia Kerr into the attack and she’s immediately successful, taking the wicket of the fast-scoring Litchfield. This brings Beth Mooney to the crease and she’s keen to keep the score moving, getting off the mark quickly. There’s a big appeal for LBW on Perry with another googly, but the umpire isn’t convinced. The spin has the batters a little rattled – it has certainly slowed down the scoring.
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Updated at 12.21 CEST
WICKET! Litchfield b A Kerr 45 (Australia 81-2)
The introduction of spin immediately does the trick and Litchfield is bamboozled by the googly. She’s gone, just as she was looking very dangerous.
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10th over: Australia 81-1 (Perry 17, Litchfield 45)
Another over from Devine – a great ball to start, but Perry takes a liking to the second ball of the over, with a front foot flick for four. Devine is finding some great length some balls, but is struggling a little with her consistency. Litchfield picks up on one of those overpitched balls for her second six of the match.
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9th over: Australia 69-1 (Perry 12, Litchfield 38)
Illing continues and her first ball is too straight, but they’ve got protection on the boundary, so she gets away with just a single. Late in the over, Litchfield flicks one over the infield and past deep mid wicket for another four. She is playing with patience here – looking for her opportunities, but trying not to push her luck.
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8th over: Australia 63-1 (Perry 11, Litchfield 33)
Devine is bowling her first over of the match and Perry pays her plenty of respect, defending the first couple of balls of the over. Eventually she finds a length she likes and darts down the pitch for a quick single. Litchfield plays a forward defence too, but it’s a strong one, which is misfielded by Kerr so the pair are able to run another single. Perry has her eye in on Devine’s bowling now and finishes the over with a well-timed four.
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7th over: Australia 57-1 (Perry 6, Litchfield 32)
Litchfield brings up the 50 for Australia with the first six of the match, driving the ball over deep cover. Illing fights back with a couple of good length balls, before Litchfield times one perfectly to pick up another four runs. Australia are going at a cracking pace, with a run rate of over eight an over so far.
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6th over: Australia 47-1 (Perry 6, Litchfield 22)
Another over from Jess Kerr and Litchfield takes things a bit easier to start the over, but Perry is determined to up the ante and gets off the mark with a drive that splits the fielders and goes past deep cover for four. It’s a nice, quick start from her to continue Australia’s momentum after the loss of Healy.
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5th over: Australia 40-1 (Perry o, Litchfield 21)
Illing to Healy again, Healy plays an easy backfoot shot for a single. A stronger over from Illing this time, adjusting to the batters to restrict the easy runs they were picking up in the first four overs. She takes a wicket late in the over to send Healy on her way.
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WICKET! Healy c Bates b Illing 19 (Australia 40-1)
Illing fights back with some tighter bowling and Healy gets frustrated. She hits a mis-timed drive straight to Bates at cover.
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4th over: Australia 38-0 (Healy 18, Litchfield 20)
Jess Kerr continues her spell and Healy plays the first ball cautiously, defending well, then runs a quick single. Some innovation from Litchfield, with a slog down the leg side past fine leg for four. She brings ip her 1,000 ODI runs with a beautiful drive past long off for another four. She is playing very well so far.
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3rd over: Australia 27-0 (Healy 17, Litchfield 10)
Illing returns for her second over of the day. There’s a big appeal for LBW on Healy on the first ball of over, but the umpire shakes her head – it looks to be going down leg. Illing cramps Healy up for another dot, but Healy soon finds a gap, splits the fielders and drives the ball pas deep cover to the boundary rope. Healy turns the strike over and Litchfield pounces with a stunning drive that flies over Plimmer in the field for four.
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2nd over: Australia 18-0 (Healy 12, Litchfield 6)
Jess Kerr opens the bowling from the other end for NZ. She doesn’t quite hit her length first ball, but Healy can’t quite get under it and it’s played just past the bowler for a dot. But next ball, Healy finds a beautiful gap and gets her second boundary, before dabbing another away just behind her to turn the strike over. Licthfield comes down the pitch, using strong footwork to pick up her first boundary next ball. Kerr fights back with two dots to finish the over.
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1st over: Australia 9-0 (Healy 7, Litchfield 2)
Bree Illing opens the bowling for NZ in her World Cup debut. Her first ball is a little short and Healy pulls it away strongly, but fortunately for Illing, it’s just a single. Litchfield gets off the mark with a single next ball as well. The two batters continue to turn the strike over for the next few balls, settling into the pace of the wicket and the rhythm of the left arm fast bowling of Illing. Healy gets the first boundary with a nice flick off her pads late in the over and it’s a strong start from the Australian pair.
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Anthems are being played now, not long to go until the match is underway…
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And here’s one from me on Australia’s generation next and what the future holds after this ‘end of an era’ that we’re currently witnessing.
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If you feel like this World Cup has crept up on you and you’re not quite up to speed on what to expect, we’ve got you covered. You’ve got a bit of time before the first ball is bowled, so firstly check out this piece from Mrinal Asija about how the gap is closing between Australia and their rivals for the trophy.
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Toss and teams
Australia has won the toss and will bat first.
Australia
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Alyssa Healy (c, wk)
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Phoebe Litchfield
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Ellyse Perry
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Beth Mooney
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Annabel Sutherland
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Ash Gardner
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Tahlia McGrath
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Sophie Molineux
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Alana King
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Kim Garth
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Darcie Brown
New Zealand
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Suzie Bates
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Georgia Plimmer
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Amelia Kerr
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Sophie Devine (c)
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Brooke Halliday
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Maddy Green
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Izzy Gaze (wk)
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Jess Kerr
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Lea Tahuhu
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Eden Carson
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Bree Illing
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Preamble
Megan Maurice
Hello and welcome to what is shaping up to be an exciting and pivotal game in this World Cup between traditional rivals Australia and New Zealand. No matter the sport, these two always want to beat each other and that desire will be ramped up with both teams wanting to open their World Cup campaign with a bang.
It’s an interesting time, because both teams have players who have been stalwarts of their countries for a very long time, who are likely playing in their last ODI World Cup. For Australia, it is Alyssa Healy (35) and Ellyse Perry (34), while on the New Zealand side of the ledger, Sophie Devine (36), Suzie Bates (38) and Lea Tahuhu (35) who are unlikely to make push out their international careers for another four years. So there is extra motivation to ensure these legends of the game take home some silverware this time around.
When you look at the stats, Australia are the dominant team, with 102 wins to NZ’s 31 in the ODI format. In the past 10 years, NZ have only beaten Australia twice in ODIs, while Australia have won 17 times. However, NZ will be looking to replicate the form they found in last year’s T20 World Cup, where they took home the trophy, while Australia failed to make the final.
Both teams have exciting and skillful players by the bucketload, so it’s sure to be a cracking game. Thanks for joining us wherever you are around the world – let’s get into the match!
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