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- Australia vs New Zealand highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: Australia beat New Zealand by 89 runs in Indore
Australia vs New Zealand highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: Australia beat New Zealand by 89 runs in Indore
Molineux’s inclusion means veteran pacer Megan Schutt misses out, with Australia opting for the raw pace of Darcie Brown alongside Kim Garth. The seven-time world champions and defending title holders will be looking to start their campaign on a strong note in what is also the venue’s first-ever women’s international match.
“Just put some runs on the board and see what happens. There's a possibility it could get better later but it didn't happen last night. We played some really tough games of cricket in tough conditions. We're ready to go. The group is in a great place. We're looking at getting better at every single opportunity we get. Want to improve, want to take women's cricket forward,” Healy said at the toss.
New Zealand, meanwhile, are playing their first ODI in six months. Captain Sophie Devine admitted she would have preferred to bat first as well but remained optimistic about her team’s chances.
“But fresh wicket, start of the tournament, not very concerned. I think we've got a great balance within the side. Experience through the batting order in Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, really balanced group,” she said.
“Just grateful for the opportunity to come out here again and represent my country. Fills me with pride. Obviously results are important, but what matters most to me is the people around me,” Devine added.
Playing XIs
Australia: Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (capt), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, Bree Illing
Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length on off, Ashleigh Gardner punches this straight to mid off for a dot.
Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length wide of off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this to the right of sweeper cover and takes two.
Sophie Devine to Tahlia McGrath, On a length around middle and off, Tahlia McGrath drills this down to long on for one.
Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length on off, Ashleigh Gardner opens the face of her bat and slices this to deep point for a strike rotation.
- Ashleigh Gardner 35 (28)
- Tahlia McGrath 18 (23)
Jess Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, On a length around middle and leg, Ashleigh Gardner chips this to long on for one. Just 5 singles off this over. 7 runs from the last 2 overs for Australia Women!
Jess Kerr to Tahlia McGrath, Full and wide of off, Tahlia McGrath plants her back foot deep inside the crease, leans back and drives this to deep point for one.
Jess Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, On a length around off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this to sweeper cover for a single.
Jess Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, Much fuller, around off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this straight to cover for no run.
Jess Kerr to Tahlia McGrath, Good length on off, Tahlia McGrath thumps this through cover for a single.
Jess Kerr to Ashleigh Gardner, Jess goes full, on the pads. Ashleigh Gardner flicks this to deep square for one.
- Ashleigh Gardner 32 (24)
- Tahlia McGrath 16 (21)
Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, Fuller on the pads, further going down the leg. Ashleigh Gardner flicks this to wide long on for one.
Sophie Devine to Tahlia McGrath, Good length on middle and leg, Tahlia McGrath flicks this through mid-wicket and takes one. Australia are going at a run rate of 6.15.
Sophie Devine to Tahlia McGrath, On a length around off, Tahlia McGrath drives this to the bowler's left for another dot.
Sophie Devine to Tahlia McGrath, Sophie hits the hard length on off, Tahlia McGrath pushes this away to cover for no run.
Sophie Devine to Tahlia McGrath, Good length on off, Tahlia McGrath punches this off the front foot towards cover for no run.
Sophie Devine to Tahlia McGrath, Good length on middle and off, Tahlia McGrath pushes this to mid on for no run.
- Ashleigh Gardner 31 (23)
- Tahlia McGrath 15 (16)
Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Ashleigh Gardner finds the gap and finds the fence as well. Fuller, wide of off, Ashleigh Gardner gets on top of the bounce and drives this crisply through the extra cover region for four runs.
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, Short of a length, around off, Tahlia McGrath rocks back and punches this through point for one.
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, Quicker one, around middle and leg, Tahlia McGrath drills this to silly mid on for another dot.
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, Tossed up on off, Tahlia McGrath drives this to mid off for no run.
Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, Too full on middle and off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this through cover for one.
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, Fuller around off, Tahlia McGrath flicks this away for a single.
At the halfway mark of the Aussie innings, the defending champions have scored 157 for 5. This partnership between McGrath and Gardner has brought in the much-needed momentum, as the last 4 overs have gone for 30 runs.
- Tahlia McGrath 13 (12)
- Ashleigh Gardner 26 (21)
Bree Illing to Tahlia McGrath, Bree goes full now, around off. Tahlia McGrath was up for it as she prods in front and drives this through cover for a single.
Bree Illing to Tahlia McGrath, Pushes Tahlia McGrath on the back foot, does Bree. Short-pitched, wide of off. Tahlia McGrath hangs back and dabs this to backward point.
Bree Illing to Tahlia McGrath, Short-pitched, slower and on off. Tahlia McGrath defends this towards point.
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, On a length around off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this to sweeper cover for one.
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Ashleigh Gardner makes good use of the free-hit delivery. Back of a length around middle and off, Ashleigh Gardner weighs on her back foot and pulls this through the gap of mid on and mid-wicket for four more. A bit of indiscipline from Illing in this over.
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, NO BALL AND FOUR! In the air... and away for four. On a length around off, Ashleigh Gardner shimmies down the track and smashes this up and over the fielder at mid on for a boundary. The siren echoes and the umpire signals for a No Ball. It happens to be a No Ball for the back foot of the bowler cutting the side line. 150 UP FOR AUSTRALIA WOMEN! FREE HIT to follow...
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length on off, Ashleigh Gardner keeps it out on off.
- Tahlia McGrath 12 (9)
- Ashleigh Gardner 17 (17)
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, Fuller on off, Tahlia McGrath drives this well too but straight to Sophie Devine at extra cover. No run this time.
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, FOUR! Tahlia McGrath threads the gap around extra cover clinically. A tad too full, around off, Tahlia McGrath gets onto her front foot and drives this powerfully through the right of Sophie Devine at extra cover for four runs.
Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, Fuller on off, Ashleigh Gardner gets it away in the gap through cover, for one more.
Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, A bit too full, on off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this to the right of backward point and comes back for an easy second.
Eden Carson to Tahlia McGrath, Short of a length around off, Tahlia McGrath punches this off her back foot through cover for one.
Eden Carson comes into the attack for the first time in this game. She replaces Lea Tahuhu.
Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, Tossed up, around off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this to sweeper cover for one.
- Ashleigh Gardner 13 (14)
- Tahlia McGrath 7 (6)
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, Bree comes round the wicket, bends her back, and darts a short one around middle and off. Ashleigh Gardner mistimes the pull off the inside half of the bat towards mid-wicket but manages to take one.
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, Fingers rolled over it, around off, on a good length. Ashleigh Gardner gets beaten again by the lack of pace.
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length, angling away from the batter. Ashleigh Gardner swings at it but gets beaten.
Bree Illing to Tahlia McGrath, Pitched-up wide outside off, Tahlia McGrath brings out the big booming drive towards deep point for another single.
Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length, wide of off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this to deep third for another single.
Bree Illing to Tahlia McGrath, Bree Illing returns into the attack. Good length on middle and off, Tahlia McGrath gets it edged off the outside to the third man region for one.
- Tahlia McGrath 5 (4)
- Ashleigh Gardner 11 (10)
Lea Tahuhu to Tahlia McGrath, Short and wide of off, Tahlia McGrath cuts this towards the point region for one.
Lea Tahuhu to Tahlia McGrath, FOUR! A boundary from the bat of Tahlia McGrath gets her off the mark in this contest. A bit too full, drifting down the leg stump line. Tahlia McGrath flicks this all along the carpet through the gap at mid-wicket for a boundary.
Lea Tahuhu to Tahlia McGrath, Good length on middle and off, Tahlia McGrath thumps this towards mid off for another dot.
Lea Tahuhu to Tahlia McGrath, On a length around off, Tahlia McGrath drives this to extra cover for no run.
Tahlia McGrath walks out next in the middle.
Lea Tahuhu to Beth Mooney, OUT! CAUGHT! Lea Tahuhu gets her second wicket and fishes out Beth Mooney, just when she was about to get settled! On a length around middle and off, angling away from the southpaw. Beth prods in front and tries to drive through the covers. The ball slightly holds up on the surface and hence, Mooney ends up chipping this straight to the fielder at short cover. Amelia Kerr makes no mistake and takes a good catch to send Beth back to the dressing room. 12 off 21 for Mooney. Australia Women are 5 down for 128.
Lea Tahuhu to Ashleigh Gardner, Good length on middle and off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this crisply to mid off, towards her left and takes one.
With Sophie coming in, veteran pacer Megan Schutt has been left out, as Australia have opted to go with out-and-out pace of Darcie Brown alongside Megan Schutt. Australia are seven-time world champions and reigning holders of the trophy. They are aiming to begin their title defence in what is also the venue’s first international women’s game.
“Just put some runs on the board and see what happens. There's a possibility it could get better later but it didn't happen last night. We played some really tough games of cricket in tough conditions. We're ready to go. The group is in a great place. We're looking at getting better at every single opportunity we get. Want to improve, want to take women's cricket forward,” she said.
On the other hand, New Zealand are playing an ODI after six months and captain Sophie Devine said she would have elected to bat first too. “But fresh wicket, start of the tournament, not very concerned. I think we've got a great balance within the side. Experience through the batting order in Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer, really balanced group.”
“Just grateful for the opportunity to come out here again and represent my country. Fills me with pride. Obviously results are important, but what matters most to me is the people around me,” she said.
Playing XIs-
Australia: Alyssa Healy (captain & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, and Darcie Brown
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson, and Bree Illing
Match Statistics
Venue
Holkar Stadium, Indore
