Gardner upstages Devine as Australia kick off with a win
Australia recovered from 128 for 5 to post 326, and despite Devine's best efforts, New Zealand could only make 237
Australia recovered from 128 for 5 to post 326, and despite Devine's best efforts, New Zealand could only make 237
Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya
And on that note it's a wrap from us. So two days in and the two pre-tournament favourites have registered comfortable wins, and really set the tone for what we can expect over the coming weeks. Tomorrow then we have Bangladesh taking on Pakistan as the action moves to Colombo. Be sure to join us for that, but for now, on behalf of Shashwat and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing out.
Alyssa Healy: "While Soph was going you never feel comfortable, but credit to the girs for hanging in there. [aggression] It's a balance yeah, but we'll probably reflect as a batting group on where we can be a bit more precise. [Ash Gardner?] She's just continuing to mature as a cricketer, and it's really impressive to watch. And the fact that the middle order can get runs when we're in strife is a huge. As well as the lower order making runs for us. Awesome that Sophie can also bowl for us in the powerplay. Annabel also finally found her length out there and got rewarded for it."
Sophie Devine: [focus on innings first] It's bittersweet to be fair, I'd throw it all away to make sure we won. Just happy with the fight this team showed, a couple of years ago we would have thrown the towel in pretty early. But it's a hard one, you wanna be on the winning team, so hard to digest at the moment. It shows the mindset of the group that we stay in the fight. We probably missed line and length a bit on a flat surface. I just think the way players are able to adapt and play their role is what is making this team at the moment. [Next match?] plenty of runs on offer, but it's probably about who can hold their nerve for longer. Great cricket wicket, quick outfield, small boundary. Whether you're setting or chasing you'll always be in the game."
Player of the Match goes to Ash Gardner for her 115 off 83: "It was really special. Obviously when I got out into the middle I had some pretty clear plans just to get myself in, stick to my strengths but also score off as many balls as possible. We always knew we needed a big total here, obviously the venue is quite small, the wicket was really good. So making sure that once I got in I really capitalised. And then knowing that we had 320 on the board, we had something to defend. I guess you look at how Sophie Devine batted, she batted brilliantly, made it really tough for our bowlers to settle. I think that's going to be a pretty big trend for this world cup, just making sure you have plenty of runs on the board. [innings?] I'm just trying to keep my game as simple as possible, feel like when I'm hitting the boundary riders really hard and running my runs hard as well, it really gets me into my innings. And then for me if I can cash in in those moments with a boundary, that's how my innings gets started. [no pressure?] We bat genuinely all the way down, so we have that freedom and confidence, where even if we are five down for not too many we have the players to come in and change the game. For me I love coming in those situations and just taking the game on. And hopefully the success comes with it."
Shadow-Shell: "Both India and Australia clearly sending a message to others saying that even 5 or 6 down early and they will still not relent"
9.56pm So Australia register their 16th straight win against New Zealand, and in some style. Ash Gardner's 115 recalibrated an innings that had threatened to go off the rails, before Sophie Molineux, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King picked up eight wickets between them to bowl New Zealand out for 237. The chase began horribly as far as the white ferns were concerned, with Georgia Plimmer being run out without facing a ball, and Suzie Bates gone for a duck as well. Only Sophie Devine's 111 kept any faint hopes of a chase alive, but once Sutherland removed her - and likely a bit before that - the game was done.
BG Illing c †Healy b Molineux 0 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Thamizhachi : "Australia are not just winning this but winning by a huge margin NRR boost right away! Vice versa for NZ "
Hattrick delivery coming up...
EJ Carson lbw b Sutherland 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
JM Kerr b Sutherland 2 (9m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
Kohli : "Devine on double Nelson. 111 runs of 111 balls. :)" --- That did the trick.
Initially known largely as a finisher, twice this year Gardner has forged outstanding centuries with Australia in trouble
"A couple of years ago we would have thrown the towel in pretty early. It shows the mindset of the group that we stay in the fight"
Australia recovered from 128 for 5 to post 326, and despite Devine's best efforts, New Zealand could only make 237
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