Gardner and Sutherland Performance Clinches 2-0 ODI Series

Australia 290 (Gardner 74, Litchfield 50, Sutherland 42, Kerr 4-54) beat New Zealand 215 (Bates 53, Green 39, King 3-34, Sutherland 3-39) by 75 runs Ashleigh Gardner showcased her batting prowess with a dynamic half-century while Annabel Sutherland delivered another outstanding all-round performance as Australia secured a commanding 2-0 series win by defeating New Zealand decisively in the third ODI at the Basin Reserve.

In their final encounter before the upcoming Ashes series, Australia won the toss and chose to bat, getting off to a flying start with an impressive 88-run opening stand between skipper Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield. However, they experienced a familiar collapse, stumbling to 127 for 4 as pacer Rosemary Mair and leg-spinner Amelia Kerr mounted a strong comeback for New Zealand.

Gardner, though, took control in the latter stages, smashing 74 runs from 62 deliveries to propel Australia to a formidable total of 290.

New Zealand began aggressively in their pursuit of what would have been the second-highest successful chase in ODI history. Having struggled against a similar target in the second ODI, the New Zealand batters adopted a more daring approach to challenge Australia’s precise bowling attack.

Making her international debut series, Bella James set the early momentum with an adventurous batting display, utilizing her crease movement effectively while partnering with Suzie Bates in a 43-run opening partnership.

However, James’ excessive movement proved costly against Sutherland, resulting in her leg stump being uprooted due to poor judgment.

Alongside an attacking Kerr, Bates restored New Zealand’s momentum, reaching her fifty with back-to-back boundaries off Sutherland before falling to a spectacular catch by Ellyse Perry at deep square leg.

New Zealand’s chances diminished when Kerr was run out following captain Sophie Devine’s hasty call for a single. Devine couldn’t make up for the mistake, getting clean bowled by a brilliant in-swinger from speedster Darcie Brown for 27.

Leg-spinner Alana King delivered an exceptional spell, claiming 3 for 34, as New Zealand’s chase fizzled out, resulting in their 15th consecutive ODI loss to Australia.

Sutherland concluded with an impressive three-wicket performance, building upon her match-defining century in Australia’s commanding 65-run triumph in the second ODI, as the team maintained their firm grip on the Rose Bowl Trophy – a prestigious accolade they’ve held since the turn of the millennium.

The series, compressed into a five-day schedule at the same venue, concluded swiftly with the opening match being abandoned due to inclement weather.

Australia’s dominance persisted following their T20 World Cup semi-final exit, having previously secured a comprehensive 3-0 ODI series sweep against India on home soil.

For New Zealand, despite showing moments of promise throughout both contests, the outcome proved disappointing as they were ultimately outclassed in all departments. Following their historic T20 World Cup victory, the White Ferns have experienced a sharp decline in form, suffering consecutive ODI series defeats to both India and Australia.

Ashleigh Gardner provided crucial stability to Australia’s innings after early batting turbulence.

The series outcome :

A significant setback to New Zealand’s aspirations for direct qualification to the 2025 World Cup, as they precariously occupy the sixth position in the ICC Women’s Championship standings.

Following weather disruptions in previous matches, Wellington finally offered clear skies, prompting Healy to opt for batting first. Building on her impressive return from knee surgery with a crisp 34, Healy continued her resurgence, particularly dominating an erratic Molly Penfold with confident back-foot play.

Penfold struggled to replicate her career-best four-wicket performance from the second ODI, consistently bowling too short with the new ball and facing punishment from Healy’s authoritative pull shots.

Mirroring the previous encounter, Healy outpaced her opening partner Litchfield, who initially struggled before finding her rhythm late in the powerplay, repeatedly dispatching deliveries over the off-side field.

Healy, playing solely as a batter, combined with Litchfield to post 84 runs in 14 overs before the drinks interval. However, post-break, Devine introduced Kerr, who immediately struck with a masterful googly that breached Healy’s sweep attempt and disturbed the stumps.

Exploiting the surface’s sharp turn, Kerr maintained a deliberate slower pace, her exceptional spell also accounting for Perry with another beautifully executed googly.

Australia Game Play Overview :

Australia experienced their third consecutive collapse as Mair dismissed both Mooney and Litchfield, the latter falling immediately after reaching her half-century.

In a scenario reminiscent of both the second ODI and their recent encounter against India at the WACA, Gardner and Sutherland found themselves tasked with rescuing Australia from a precarious position.

Sutherland, riding high on back-to-back centuries, experienced an early scare when she nearly offered a catch to Mair, but quickly regained her exceptional batting rhythm. Her exquisite timing and strategic placement shone through as she forged a valuable 63-run partnership with Gardner, following their previous fifth-wicket collaborations of 96 and 50 runs in Australia’s recent matches.

Just as Sutherland appeared set for another milestone, cruising at 42, she miscued a delivery from Devine that seemed to grip the surface, offering a straightforward return catch to the bowler.

Gardner then took control, demonstrating her prowess by striking multiple boundaries off Penfold in the 43rd over, achieving her second half-century in three matches – her first since mid-2023.

She maintained her aggressive stance, dispatching four boundaries off Mair in the subsequent over, pushing Australia toward a potential 300-plus total. However, her aspirations for a maiden international century were cut short by Kerr, who claimed her third victim of the day.

Australia’s innings lost momentum in the final overs, ending in the 49th over – their first all-out dismissal when batting first in an ODI since February 2019, though the total proved sufficient.