Australia vs New Zealand highlights, Women's World Cup 2025: Australia beat New Zealand by 89 runs in Indore

Welcome back for New Zealand Women's reply with the bat. The lights have taken full effect at the Holkar Stadium in Indore as the Aussie players spread out to take their respective fielding positions. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer walk out to open for the Kiwis. And it will be Kim Garth to bowl the first over of the chase. Bates to face. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

While Australia's exceptional ground fielding will undoubtedly pose a challenge, the presence of dew could potentially level the playing field. With a solid batting unit, New Zealand will look to pull off a stunning win and send a strong message to the rest of the teams in the tournament. Can the White Ferns overcome the defending champions? The second half of the game promises to be a cracker as well. Stay tuned as the run chase is on the other side.

The centurion, Ashleigh Gardner, is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. She begins by saying that it was about building partnerships and for her, it was all about scoring off as many balls as possible. She shared that if the ball was in the hitting arc, she went after it, as that prevented her from going into a shell. Mentions about their batting depth as they genuinely bat down to 10-11. And due to such depth, it gives an extra freedom to the middle order. Highlights that they did lose some early wickets, but were able to rebuild quickly. About the message to the bowlers, she stresses to keep it as simple as possible. Points that they were challenged on the stumps, which will be very important when they come out to bowl. She also underlines the importance of pace variations, which the Kiwi bowlers didn't often use. She also points out that the ball is not moving much sideways and for the spinners, she feels changing up and down and keeping it wicket-to-wicket will be very crucial and effective. 

The bowlers of New Zealand faced a tough task containing the Aussie batting onslaught. Despite bowling decent lines and lengths in the middle phase, they struggled to stem the flow of runs. Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr were the top performers, each claiming three wickets, while Bree Illing and Amelia Kerr picked up two wickets apiece. But, barring Tahuhu and Amelia Kerr, every other bowler went for an economy of over 6 runs per over. And due to this aggressive batting by the Aussies, it ultimately propelled them to a total exceeding 320.

Australia's innings got off to a blistering start, with captain Alana King and Phoebe Litchfield unleashing a furious attack on the New Zealand bowlers. The opening pair added 40 runs before Healy was dismissed for 19. Although most Australian batters got off to good starts, only Ashleigh Gardner was able to truly capitalize, smashing a sensational century under pressure at a strike rate exceeding 130. Gardner's knock was the key to Australia's imposing total. Kim Garth also made a valuable contribution, justifying her selection in the side with a crucial cameo of 38, showcasing her batting ability down the order.

Australia's batting display has set the bar high, with the defending champions posting an imposing total of 326 runs. The White Ferns now face the daunting task of chasing down this substantial score, requiring a stellar batting performance. This is the highest inning total for Australia Women versus New Zealand Women in ODIs and the third highest inning total for the Aussies in the World Cups against any opponent.

Jess Kerr to Kim Garth, OUT! GONE! CAUGHT! Jess hits the hard length, on top of the stumps. Kim Garth shapes to play the pull and goes through the shot, but finds no elevation, distance, and timing on it. The ball sails only as far as Georgia Plimmer, stationed at the deep mid-wicket fence. Plimmer takes a simple catch in the deep. Kim Garth departs for a very crucial cameo of 38 (37) and AUSTRALIA WOMEN HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 326 IN 49.3 OVERS!

Jess Kerr to Darcie Brown, On a length, onto the pads. Darcie Brown plays from the crease and steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Darcie Brown is the last batter in for Australia Women!

Jess Kerr to Alana King, OUT! TAKEN! Jess Kerr gets her second wicket! Fuller length, and a leg cutter outside off. Alana King clears the front leg and tries to clear the in-field with an inside out shot, but mistimes as the ball gets twisted at the point of contact. Hence, the ball is sliced towards mid off, where Suzie Bates moves to her right and takes a simple catch. Bates has now taken four catches in this game. Alana King departs for 4 (7) and Australia Women are 9 down on 325.

Jess Kerr will bowl the final six deliveries of the first innings. 8-0-58-1 so far for Jess.

Bree Illing to Alana King, Fuller and around the fourth stump, King drives it to the point region for a single.

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, Slower bouncer, on the bodyline, Kim Garth miscues the pull shot towards backward square leg for a single. 

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, FOUR! SMASH! She is enjoying her time out in the middle, is Garth! Angling back in from outside off, on a good length. Kim uses her feet and forces it up and over mid off for a boundary.

Bree Illing to Alana King, Fuller than a length, outside off, King knocks it between cover and point for a quick single.

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, On a fullish length, outside off, Kim Garth steers it to deep point for a single. 

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, FOUR! She has played a crucial cameo down the order for her side! Back of a length, around off, angling in. Kim Garth stands tall, plays it on the rise and smashes it with a flat bat. Gets it through to the right of mid off and finds the fence!

Bree Illing (8-0-63-2) to bowl the penultimate over.

Jess Kerr to Alana King, Fuller and outside off, Alana King times it well, but finds the fielder at backward point. A very handy over for New Zealand! Just 3 off it.

Jess Kerr to Kim Garth, Slower length ball, on off. Garth flat bats it to the right of mid off for a quick single. 

Jess Kerr to Alana King, Full and curving in towards the leg stump. Alana King works it down to long on for a single. 

Jess Kerr to Alana King, Good length, wide on off. King tries to slash it away, but misses to lay bat on ball.

Jess Kerr to Kim Garth, Back of a length, on middle and leg. Kim Garth walks forward and tries to pull but the ball grazes the front pad and runs behind to short third. They get a leg bye.

Jess Kerr to Kim Garth, Angling down leg from around the stumps, too full, Kim Garth tries to carve it away, but misses.

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, Touch full and wide outside off, steered away to deep point for a single.

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, On a back of a length, outside off, Kim Garth swings and misses.

Bree Illing to Alana King, Length-delivery, outside off. Alana King punches off the back foot to cover-point for a single. 

Alana King is in at 10.

Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, OUT! EDGED AND CAUGHT BEHIND! Finally, the Kiwis get rid of Gardner! This is fired on a fullish length, outside off. Ashleigh Gardner has a huge slash at it, but the ball nibbles away and takes a faint outside edge. The ball goes flat and dips in front-right of the keeper. Izzy Gaze bends low to her right and scoops the ball before the grass. A huge round of applause for Gardner as she walks back and a few Kiwi players come forward to appreciate her inning as well. Ashleigh Gardner departs for a marathon knock of 115 off just 83 deliveries. Australia Women are 308/8!

Bree Illing to Ashleigh Gardner, EDGED, FOUR! Outside off, full in length, Ashleigh Gardner throws her bat at, swinging with all might, but only manages to get a thick leading edge. The ball flies over short third for a boundary!

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, Slower bumper on the bodyline. Kim Garth swivels to pull but mistimes it in the air, to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Bree Illing to Kim Garth, FOUR! Innovative and effective! 300 IS UP FOR AUSTRALIA WOMEN! Full and slow, outside off. Kim Garth shuffles across off, gets low and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary! And to make matters worse for the Kiwis, it is a NO BALL for overstepping! Free Hit to follow...

Sophie Devine to Kim Garth, Touch full and on the leg stump, angling in, Kim Garth works it down to long on for a single.

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, Just short! Pitched full and on middle. Ashleigh Gardner picks it up and over mid on. The ball dips in front of the diving long on fielder for a single. 

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Poor and punished! Slips a full toss down leg, Ashleigh Gardner swivels and pulls it through deep square leg for a boundary.

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, WIDE! On a length, down leg. Gardner tries to turn it away to the leg side but misses.

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, Full and at 105.6 kph, on off, Ashleigh Gardner knocks it solidly to short cover.

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! 50 PARTNERSHIP IS UP! Full and on off, Ashleigh Gardner plants the front foot out and smashes it down the ground for a boundary!

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! CENTURY FOR ASHLEIGH GARDNER! Her second ODI ton and the first in the World Cup! On a fractionally fuller length, around off. Ashleigh Gardner gets forward and drives it through mid off and cover for a cracking boundary. Her stocks keep rising in this side as she has produced one of the most brilliantly constructed century! Removes her helmet, gets a warm hug from her partner, and the Aussie dugout is on its feet as well, appreciating every bit of this knock.

Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, Short and wide of off, Ash cuts this to the left of point for a single. 

Eden Carson to Kim Garth, Fired wide of off, Kim Garth dabs this to short third for one.

Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, Pushed through on middle and leg, Ashleigh Gardner smashes this to deep square for a single. 

Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, FOUR! Ashleigh Gardner is stepping on the accelerator once again. Tossed up around middle and off, Ashleigh Gardner jumps to the pitch of the delivery and chips this inside out over cover for four runs. Ashleigh Gardner moves to 96.

Eden Carson to Kim Garth, Tossed up on middle and off, Kim Garth jumps down the track and nudges this down to long on for one.

Eden Carson to Ashleigh Gardner, Fuller around middle and leg, Ashleigh Gardner clips this to deep mid-wicket for one.

Sophie Devine to Kim Garth, Full and on off, Kim Garth pushes this to extra cover for a dot.

Sophie Devine to Kim Garth, FOUR! Kim Garth with a delicate touch for four runs. On a length, wide of off, Kim Garth plays this late and almost behind her body. Guides this past a diving short third, to her left for four runs. 

Sophie Devine to Kim Garth, Good length on middle and leg, Kim Garth tucks this to mid-wicket for no run.

Sophie Devine to Ashleigh Gardner, On a length around off, Ashleigh Gardner drives this through extra cover for one run.