Australia Women End Series With A Win

Australia Women End Series With A Win

Ellyse Perry won the player of the match award for her all-round exploits.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia Women 129-7 beat
New Zealand Women 109-7 by 20 runs
Fifth Twenty20 International, MCG
Scorecard

Australia Women ended their series of matches against New Zealand Women on a winning note at the MCG. In a match played prior to the men’s Twenty20 against India at the same venue, Australia ladies completed a 4-1 success in the same format to go with a 1-0 success in the Rose Bowl One-Day Internationals.

Captain Jodie Fields said of the wins against New Zealand, “It’s obviously very pleasing to finish off the series the way we did today and you have to be happy with that result against good opposition like New Zealand.

“These last two games we were trying a few things and trying to get all 14 players a chance to have a go out in the middle. Wednesday didn't come off so well for us but equally New Zealand played quite well on Wednesday. We're really happy today with how the girls played. Rachael Haynes batted well, Ellyse came back and batted well, you can't ask for much more than that. Our preparation's been pretty good. I think we're probably at 80 per cent at the moment, there's still a lot of room for improvement, particularly with our batting and a little bit in our fielding.

“The 14 girls on this tour have done really well and will probably most likely go to India for the series next month as well so they get a good preparation for the Twenty20 World Cup."

Australia won the toss at the MCG and elected to bat with Alyssa Healy, one of the players recalled to the side, top-scoring with 30 from 27 balls. Player of the match Ellyse Perry then added a late unbeaten 24 to go with her subsequent bowling effort of one for 21 to haul the home side up to a total of 129 for seven from their 20 overs. For New Zealand, Lucy Doolan was the pick of the bowlers with three for 21.

The White Ferns struggled when their turn came to bat and ended on 109 for seven with number seven Frances MacKay top-scoring with 21 not out. Player of the Series Lisa Sthalekar took the first wicket to fall, that of Sara McGlashan for 11, while Julie Hunter and Erin Osborne took two wickets apiece to hand the home side a 20-run win.

© Cricket World 2012