Key events
10th over: New Zealand 36-2 (Kerr 24, Devine 11) Darcie Brown replaces Sophie Molineux, the opening bowler has figures of 1-13 from her four overs with the new ball. Can Brown keep on the pressure? She’s rapid but is too short and wide, Kerr’s eyes light up and she times her cut to perfection for four past point. Brown responds with a decent yorker that Kerr is equal to. Bish and Bosh! Kerr unfurls a pull shot for four and then leans into a delightful cover drive for four more. Hold the pose for good measure. New Zealand’s best over by some distance – twelve runs off it.
9th over: New Zealand 21-2 (Kerr 9, Devine 11) Alyssa Healy comes up to the stumps and Devine can’t find a release shot. She can’t rotate strike either as Kerr managed to do earlier in the over for a couple through midwickets and then a single past point.
8th over: New Zealand 21-2 (Kerr 9, Devine 11) The pressure cooker hisses as New Zealand’s dot count rises. I make it 36 already in the innings. That’ll help! Kerr flicks away wristily through midwicket to pick up four.
7th over: New Zealand 16-2 (Kerr 4, Devine 16) Kim Garth is landing it on a hankie on and around off stump and Devine and Kerr are doing all they can to hang in there.
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6th over: New Zealand 14-2 (Kerr 3, Devine 10) Kerr and Devine are tied down by Molineux. The run rate rises above seven an over already. Australia are not letting up and the batters can’t break the shackles at the moment.
James Wallace
5th over: New Zealand 12-2 (Kerr 1, Devine 9) Garth is on the money once again, probing away on a good length. Just two off the over – a leg bye and a driven single to Kerr.
Jim here by the way, taking over the reins from Megan. I was slightly late back through the front door after watching my daughter sing in a harvest festival concert here in the UK, so late, yes, but for a cute reason so forgive me. A nice quiet start to ease me in to the OBO hot seat too…
4th over: New Zealand 10-2 (Kerr 1, Devine 9) Devine looks to counterpunch, in doing so she nearly hacks Molineux on to her own stumps but an inside edge squirts past, just. Shot! Molineux drops short and is dispatched on the cut to the fence behind point by Devine. Quite a staccato sentence that.
3rd over: New Zealand 4-2 (Kerr 1, Devine 3) Garth continues and the pressure is on. Three dots to Amelia Kerr before the Kiwis get off the mark with a poke into the off side and a single that is, this time, safely completed. Devine then flays wide of point, in the air but safe and they come back for a couple. Runs outweighing wickets for the first time which is always a good way to do a run chase.
2nd over: New Zealand 0-2 (Kerr 0, Devine 0)
Sophie Devine is the new batter, she arrives in the middle blinking amongst the carnage.
Close! Devine is nearly scudded out LBW first ball to Molineux but a scratch of an inside edge saves her and New Zealand. The Aussies are rampant. Two wicket maidens to start, New Zealand need to dig deep here.
WICKET! Suzie Bates b Molineux 0 (New Zealand 0-2)
Oh my days! This is not what the Kiwi doctor ordered! Bates plays away from her body and chops a full ball from Molineux on to her stumps! New Zealand are two down for spit.
WICKET! Georgia Plimmer run out (Sutherland/†Healy) (New Zealand 0-1)
Kim Garth opens the bowling for Australia with no Megan Schutt. Disaster! Georgia Plimmer is run out by a combination of Sutherland and Healy, Bates called her through for a dicey single and I think Plimmer was guilty of ball-watching. Early strike for Australia!
1st over: New Zealand 0-1 (Bates 0, Kerr 0)
New Zealand’s innings is about to begin, Bates and Plimmer are making their way to the middle now.
Some milestones that were brought up during that innings to note. Amelia Kerr took her 100th ODI wicket, Phoebe Litchfield scored her 1000th ODI run and Tahlia McGrath played her 50th ODI. It’s always nice to hit a milestone like that, especially in a World Cup, but no doubt all three will be much more focused on today’s result and trying to close out the win.
A very classy century from Gardner and she brought it up in style.
Australia set New Zealand 327 for victory
That was an innings that swung wildly. Australia took the early ascendancy, Healy and Litchfield scoring with ease early. But after the wicket of Litchfield, Australia struggled to get into a good rhythm and Devine’s bowling changes were masterful.
Gardner didn’t look fluent early in her innings, but she continued to turn the strike over and kept her head, knowing that her wicket was key to Australia’s chances. Once she found her stride, she looked almost unstoppable, with sensational striking to all corners of the ground.
New Zealand will rue not turning the screws as hard as they could when they took a few quick wickets, but overall it was a good bowling performance from them against a very good batting side. Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu were very strong in partnership and all the bowlers created chances and took them when they were on offer. This is a team with the ability to score big runs if they are on song, so this total won’t scare them.
Australia are probably the favourites from here, but not by miles – it’s still anyone’s game at this point and New Zealand will back themselves to chase this total down.
WICKET! Garth c Plimmer b J Kerr 38 (Australia 326)
Jess Kerr takes the final wicket as Garth looks to hit big, but mistimes it.
WICKET! King c Bates b J Kerr 4 (Australia 325-9)
King knows she needs to keep hitting, but unfortunately she doesn’t get enough on this one and Bates takes her fourth catch for the game.
49th over: Australia 325-8 (King 4, Garth 38)
What did I just say about boosting the scoring? Garth kicks off the over with a straight drive to the boundary for four, followed by a couple of singles – they will be trying to limit the dot balls in these final overs. Garth muscles another one over the field to find the boundary again – she’s proving to be a good finisher for the Australians here.
48th over: Australia 313-8 (King 2, Garth 28)
Jess Kerr starts the over with probably her best ball of the day – very unlucky to miss the stumps with that one. An LBW appeal on the second ball, but not a very enthusiastic one. King immediately shows intent against Kerr, but she can’t connect with the ball. A few singles keep the strike turning over, but they will want to boost their scoring in the final two overs.
47th over: Australia 310-8 (King 1, Garth 27)
Illing is back and Garth decides to start the over with a scoop for four – this is incredibly confident batting from this pair now. It was a front foot no ball as well, so Garth gets a free hit, but she can’t quite take advantage of it, getting a top edge. But Gardner keeps the score moving with another boundary before Illing fights back with the big wicket, bringing King to the crease.
WICKET! Gardner c Gaze b Illing 115 (Australia 308-8)
Gardner’s brilliant innings comes to a close with a caught behind – Illing bowls a good, fuller ball and Gaze takes a simple catch behind the stumps.
46th over: Australia 298-7 (Gardner 111, Garth 21)
Devine continues and Gardner starts the over with consecutive boundaries, bringing up her century and upping the ante to push Australia’s score ever higher. Devine is struggling with her length a little, but she comes close to taking Gardner’s wicket – the catch falling just short of Bates.
100 for Ash Gardner!
A huge moment for Gardner as she brings up the milestone with a beautifully timed four.
45th over: Australia 283-7 (Gardner 98, Garth 20)
Another over for Carson. Gardner is now on the highest score of anyone batting at six or below in a women’s World Cup – overtaking Alex Blackwell’s 90 in 2017. She keeps pushing the score along, with another beautiful drive for four.
44th over: Australia 274-7 (Gardner 91, Garth 18)
Devine returns to bowl her seventh over and immediately Gardner launches one past deep extra cover for four. Devine over corrects and bowls a wide next ball, before tightening her line and length to cramp Gardner up a little more and get Garth back on strike. Garth takes a ball to get a look at Devine’s bowling and then dabs one past deep third for four – she’s starting to look confident.
43rd over: Australia 264-7 (Gardner 86, Garth 14)
Carson comes back into the attack. Tahuhu has gone off the field with the physio, so we may not see another over from her – we’ll keep an eye on that situation. Garth isn’t able to settle into a good rhythm, but she manages to find singles often enough to keep the score ticking over and getting Gardner on strike. Gardner plays a lovely pull shot, but it goes straight to the fielder on the boundary and it’s only a single.
42nd over: Australia 260-7 (Gardner 84, Garth 12)
Tahuhu bowls her eighth over and Gardner will be keen to start pushing the run rate up, but she also knows how important her wicket is to Australia’s chances today. Tahuhu is throwing everything at them to try to take another wicket to put the brakes on this Australian innings, but she loses her line and bowls a wide. It’s still a decent over, but it doesn’t bring the wicket she wants.
41st over: Australia 252-7 (Gardner 82, Garth 10)
The last over for Amelia Kerr now – she’ll be desperate to use it to break this partnership. Garth plays watchfully, not wanting to give Kerr the wicket she so desperately wants. They see out the over and will be relieved to see the back of the younger Kerr sister.
40th over: Australia 252-7 (Gardner 80, Garth 9)
Tahuhu is back at the other end, so it’s definitely wickets that NZ are chasing now – no longer content to just stem the flow of runs, they want to send Australia back to the sheds. She thinks she’s got the big one, with Gardner mistiming a shot, but it lands safely, a few metres in front of the fielders.
39th over: Australia 246-7 (Gardner 78, Garth 6)
Amelia Kerr is back, signalling NZ’s intent to continue to take wickets. They want to close this innings out without too much more damage to the scoreboard. Kerr starts well, but loses her line and bowls one too short, which Garth delightedly pulls to the boundary. Outside of that one ball, it’s a good over from Kerr.
38th over: Australia 240-7 (Gardner 77, Garth 1)
Jess Kerr continues and Gardner is glad she does, pulling past deep fine leg for four and following it up with a sensational cover drive for a second consecutive four. Molineux gets on strike and loses her patience, trying to go up and over. Garth comes to the crease to try to go with Gardner.
WICKET! Molineux c Devine b J Kerr 14 (Australia 239-7)
Once again, NZ find a way to take a wicket when a partnership is building. Molineux looks to go over the top and assert her dominance, but Devine is lurking on the boundary and takes the catch.
37th over: Australia 230-6 (Gardner 68, Molineux 14)
Another over from Carson and Gardner shows intent immediately, with a pull shot down to deep backward square, but it’s just a single. Molineux looks a little freer against Carson this time and gets Gardner straight back on strike, which proves to be a good move. Gardner uses strong footwork to come down the pitch and smack one over the field for four.
36th over: Australia 221-6 (Gardner 61, Molineux 12)
Another over for Jess Kerr and the crowd thinks she’s got a caught and bowled first ball, but it’s a bump ball. After that tight over from Carson, the Australian batters will be looking to pick the pace back up. But Molineux is looking a little worried after her initial onslaught and can’t quite get the ball away. Finally she manages to get one away and looks to turn the strike over, but a misfield from NZ gives her another run.
35th over: Australia 217-6 (Gardner 60, Molineux 10)
Carson returns for her third over and she’s landing it on a good length to start the over. Gardner turns the strike over, but Molineux is having some trouble with the spinner, looking hesitant as she tries to get the ball away.
34th over: Australia 216-6 (Gardner 59, Molineux 10)
Tahuhu bowls her sixth over and Molineux gets her first opportunity at the strike. She defends the first ball and then Tahuhu loses her line a bit, bowling one wide and the next a little overpitched, allowing Molineux to get off the mark with a nice straight drive for four. Tahuhu finds her line and length again and tightens up through the middle of the over, before Molineux flicks one away for six to finish the over.
33rd over: Australia 205-6 (Gardner 59, Molineux 0)
Gardner takes one ball to consider Amelia Kerr’s line then smacks her for six to bring up her 50. Perhaps Kerr is rattled by that, because the next ball is a wide and then Gardner turns a single into a two, followed by a nice pull shot for four. Kerr pulls it back with a couple of dots to finish the over.
32nd over: Australia 192-6 (Gardner 47, Molineux 0)
Tahuhu comes back into the attack and Gardner takes an early single, which gives McGrath a good look at the bowling and she takes a liking to one, with a delightful cut shot for four. Tahuhu follows up with two dot balls and then the wicket of McGrath for a very good over.
WICKET! McGrath c A Kerr b Tahuhu 26 (Australia 192-6)
Just when this pair is really hitting their stride, McGrath can’t resist trying to go over the top and hits one straight to Amelia Kerr for her second catch of the day.
31st over: Australia 187-5 (Gardner 46, McGrath 22)
Amelia Kerr is back to try to break this partnership. She bowls a tight over – both batters are treating her with a lot of respect having seen the damage she has done so far in this match. Drinks are on the field now.
30th over: Australia 185-5 (Gardner 45, McGrath 21)
Jess Kerr continues, she gives away a wide early on and Gardner pounces on the next ball to run a quick two and bring up the 50 partnership between these two. Soon after Gardner finds the ball she’s been looking for and drives one beautifully past long off for four. A good over for Australia, with 10 from it.
29th over: Australia 175-5 (Gardner 38, McGrath 19)
Devine continues her second spell and this batting pair continue to push the singles through. Gardner finds a gap in the infield – she can’t get it to the boundary, but they run a good two. It’s not super aggressive bowling, Devine seems happy to just continue to clamp down on the run rate for now.
28th over: Australia 171-5 (Gardner 35, McGrath 18)
Jess Kerr returns – she’s been the least impressive of the NZ bowlers today, but she was bowling early on when the runs were flowing for Litchfield and Healy. Let’s see if she can have more impact here against the middle order. She does manage to keep things tighter than her earlier spell, just five singles from the over.
27th over: Australia 166-5 (Gardner 32, McGrath 16)
Devine returns to the attack – she knows that NZ need to break this partnership and pick up a wicket and she has backed herself to make that happen. She starts the over well with four consecutive dots, looking to frustrate the batters into throwing away their wicket. McGrath stays patient however and waits for her chance to take the single. Gardner follows her lead, but it is a great over from Devine.
26th over: Australia 164-5 (Gardner 31, McGrath 15)
Another over of spin from Carson. Gardner and McGrath have started to build a partnership and NZ are very keen to bring it to an end. Carson is bowling nicely, but both batters are looking more confident in their shots and happy to take the singles on offer and pounce on the loose balls.
25th over: Australia 157-5 (Gardner 26, McGrath 13)
The halfway point of the innings looms and Illing starts the over coming around the wicket to Gardner. There are a few technical difficulties with the broadcast, so apologies if we run into some blank space at any point! Gardner gets one up and over the field down the ground and to add insult to injury, it’s a backfoot no ball. Gardner makes her pay with another four from the free hit. Illing brings it back with some better line and length to finish the over.
24th over: Australia 146-5 (Gardner 17, McGrath 12)
Another spinner enters the attack, with Eden Carson bowling her first over of the day. Some quick running from Gardner and McGrath sees the strike turned over quickly and some scampering through for two. McGrath ups the ante with a four as this pair look to get things back on track.
23rd over: Australia 137-5 (Gardner 13, McGrath 7)
Kerr gets a break and Illing resumes. McGrath slashes one down to third, but there’s protection on the boundary. She’s playing some good shots, but Illing is bowling well to her field and McGrath can’t sneak her way through them as easily as she would like.
22nd over: Australia 133-5 (Gardner 11, McGrath 5)
Tahuhu continues and Gardner starts the over with intent – it’s just a single, but it’s a confident stroke that looks far less tentative than the batters have looked in the recent overs. However, Mooney loses her wicket and puts the brakes on the progress Australia has made. Tahlia McGrath comes to the crease and takes her time to get the feel of the bowling, then flicks one through the field to get off the mark with a boundary.
WICKET! Mooney c A Kerr b Tahuhu 12 (Australia 128-5)
Just when it seemed this partnership was going to settle in and make some big runs, Mooney is bamboozled by Tahuhu and hits it straight to Amelia Kerr.
