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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
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Spins in on the pads, on a length, Devine gets across and tickles it to short fine leg for a single.
Ashleigh Gardner to Brooke Halliday, Length, outside off, Halliday cuts it off the back foot to deep point for a single.
Ashleigh Gardner to Brooke Halliday, Slower through the air, outside off. It lands and holds up a bit, outside off. Brooke punches it to short cover.
Ashleigh Gardner to Brooke Halliday, Around the wickets. At 83.1, into the left-hander, Brooke Halliday watchfully blocks it off the back foot.
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Quicker and outside off, on a fuller length. Devine leans back and cuts it to short third for a single.
- Brooke Halliday 8 (9)
- Sophie Devine 36 (58)
Alana King to Brooke Halliday, Pulls the length, on middle. Brooke hangs back and tucks it to mid-wicket. Just 2 singles off this over and King's figures read 5-1-13-1 so far.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Floated on the leg stump, Devine clips it to deep square leg for an easy single. Sophie Devine moves to 36 (58).
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Drag-downer, on the pads. Sophie Devine tries to steer it across the line, but misses and wears on the front pad.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Tossed up, full, Devine pushes it gently to mid on.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, On the pads, sliding in. Sophie Devine nudges it to short mid-wicket.
Alana King to Brooke Halliday, Full and outside off, driven inside out to deep cover for a single.
- Sophie Devine 35 (54)
- Brooke Halliday 7 (7)
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, A mix-up, but calamity averted! Full and spinning in from off. Sophie Devine leans on and drives it to mid on. Brooke Halliday sniffs a single, but is sent back on a sharp call as the throw comes flat and quick from the mid on fielder at the bowling end.
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Over the stumps now. Outside off, on a length, knocked straight to cover.
Ashleigh Gardner to Brooke Halliday, Flat and outside off, on a short length. Brooke Halliday punches it to deep extra cover for a single.
Ashleigh Gardner to Brooke Halliday, Short and outside off, Brooke cuts it straight to cover-point.
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Spins in from off, on a length. Devine rocks back and nudges it to the mid-wicket region for a quick single.
Ashleigh Gardner to Brooke Halliday, Pushed through, full and on off, Brooke Halliday drills it down to the right of mid on. Tahlia McGrath dives to her right and prevents the second run.
After 20 overs, New Zealand Women are 80/3. Australia Women were 120/4.
- Sophie Devine 34 (51)
- Brooke Halliday 5 (4)
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Fired around off, Sophie Devine blocks this out.
Alana King to Brooke Halliday, Fuller on off, Brooke Halliday pushes this through point for one.
Alana King to Brooke Halliday, Fuller on off, Brooke Halliday tucks this towards the keeper's right for no run.
Alana King to Brooke Halliday, FOUR! Brooke might have walked out with some positive intent. Tossed up around middle and off, Brooke Halliday strides to the pitch of the delivery and smashes this up and over the fielder at mid on for a boundary to open her account.
Alana King to Brooke Halliday, Quicker one, around middle and off, Brooke Halliday pokes at it but gets beaten.
Brooke Halliday walks out next.
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal as Amelia Kerr finds Phoebe Litchfield. Tossed up around off, Amelia Kerr looks to loft this over short cover but fails to get underneath it. Kerr ends up chipping this straight into the grasp of Phoebe Litchfield and she makes no mistake and hangs onto this straightforward catch. Amelia Kerr cannot quite believe it and makes a slow walk back to the dugout. She goes for a patient knock of 33 (56). New Zealand Women are 75 for 3 now, needing 252 more runs to win.
- Sophie Devine 34 (50)
- Amelia Kerr 33 (55)
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, A top-spinner, down the leg, Sophie Devine looks to smash this, aiming for the fence towards fine leg, but misses out to the slowness of the delivery. Gets hit on her thigh pad.
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Pushed through around off, Sophie Devine defends tihs towards the bowler's right.
Ashleigh Gardner to Amelia Kerr, Much slower and fuller on middle and leg, Amelia Kerr clips this through the gap at square leg for one.
Ashleigh Gardner to Amelia Kerr, Floated around middle and off, Amelia Kerr tucks this straight to mid-wicket.
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Fuller on the pads, Sophie Devine hits this to long leg for one.
Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Devine, Quicker one around middle and leg, Sophie Devine nudges this towards backward square leg for no run.
The centurion with the bat for Australia Women, Ashleigh Gardner, is introduced into the attack with the ball. She replaces Annabel Sutherland.
- Amelia Kerr 32 (53)
- Sophie Devine 33 (46)
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Floated around off, Amelia Kerr cuts this to cover-point for no run.
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Quicker one around off, Amelia Kerr blocks this out.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Fuller on off, Sophie Devine drills this to long off for one.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Tossed up on off, Sophie Devine pushes this towards silly mid off.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, FOUR! The shackles are broken by the Kiwi skipper! Short and wide outside off, Sophie Devine rocks back onto her back foot and cuts this well and in the gap towards the right of point for another boundary. Dots are slowly reducing for the White Ferns.
Alana King to Sophie Devine, Tossed up around off, Sophie Devine drives this to cover for no run.
- Amelia Kerr 32 (51)
- Sophie Devine 28 (42)
Annabel Sutherland to Amelia Kerr, On a length around off, Amelia Kerr pushes this right back to the bowler.
Annabel Sutherland to Sophie Devine, On a length around the pads, Sophie Devine flicks this towards deep square for one.
Annabel Sutherland to Amelia Kerr, On a length around off, Amelia Kerr thumps this to sweeper cover for one.
Annabel Sutherland to Amelia Kerr, Short and wide outside off, Amelia Kerr cuts this to point.
Annabel Sutherland to Amelia Kerr, 4 LEG BYES! On a length drifting down the leg. Amelia Kerr goes for the flick but misses out. The ball brushes the side of the front pad of Kerr, and it races to the fence behind the stumps towards fine leg.
Annabel Sutherland to Amelia Kerr, Good length around off, Amelia Kerr cuts this well but straight to point.
Time for a drinks break. Australia Women have pinned the White Ferns fairly to the wall with early breakthroughs but Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr have been trying hard to grind a partnership to bring New Zealand Women back in the contest. What is concerning for the White Ferns is the number of dots, as the asking rate is climbing and stands around 7.79 right now. These two will now aim at consolidating the scoring rate and ensuring that the asking rate does not get out of reach. An interesting middle phase is coming up. Annabel Sutherland to continue after the hydration break.
- Amelia Kerr 31 (46)
- Sophie Devine 27 (41)
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Short of a length around off, Amelia Kerr hangs onto her back foot and smashes this past extra cover to her left for one.
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Flighted around middle and off, Amelia Kerr defends this back to the bowler.
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Quicker one around middle and off, Amelia Kerr defends this off her front foot around off.
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Pushed through on off, Amelia Kerr drills this back to the bowler.
Alana King to Amelia Kerr, Fuller around middle and off, Amelia Kerr defends this off her front foot.
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
