Ashleigh Gardner’s batting masterclass set up a total of 326 for Australia, in their opening game of the ODI World Cup against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Gardner rescued Australia from a precarious position. Earlier in the day, Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu had taken four key wickets after the powerplay, which left the defending champions at 128 for 5. Gardner put up key partnerships with Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux and Kim Garth, and raced to her second ODI ton in 77 balls, eventually finishing with an 83-ball 115. New Zealand will now need to complete the highest ever chase in women’s ODIs to beat Australia.
Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield started positively after Australia opted to bat on a pitch described as an “absolute beauty for batting” by Aaron Finch during the pitch report. Litchfield was particularly adept at using her feet, as she came down the track often to play her big shots. The duo raced to 38 at the end of the fourth over, with 28 of those runs coming in boundaries against new-ball bowlers Jess Kerr and Bree Illing. Illing, however, had the final say as she broke through in the fifth over to remove Healy.
Litchfield continued to pile on the runs in the company of Ellyse Perry, targeting the offside for her big hits as she smoked Illing for her first six of the day over extra cover. She adjusted well to the lengths of the fast bowlers and began to place the ball in the gaps, looking on track for a big score after taking Australia to 81 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.
Brief scores:
Australia Women 326 in 49.3 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 115, Phoebe Litchfield 45, Ellyse Perry 35, Tahlia McGrath 26, Kim Garth 38; Bree Illing 2-75, Jess Kerr 3-59, Amelia Kerr 2-54, Lea Tahuhu 3-42) vs New Zealand Women
[Cricinfo]
