Australia beat New Zealand by 65 behind century from Sutherland

WELLINGTON: Rain ended Fridays match between the Australian and New Zealand women’s teams, in the second ODI of the Aussies tour of the Kiwis. But before it did, Annabel Sutherland put on a show, scoring a century to lead Australia to a DLS victory.

It was Sutherland’s second consecutive 100, as she scored a century against India earlier in the month.

AUSTRALIA’S INNINGS

Sutherland scored the third century of her ODI career, making 105 runs off 81 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and two sixes along the way. She was part of the three partnerships of at least 50 runs with Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath and Kim Garth, which were the three largest of the game.

Sutherlands domineering performance helped Australia to complete their 50 overs with a total of 297, despite Molly Penfold’s best efforts to dismantle the Aussie batting order. Penfold took four wickets in the ten overs she bowled, beginning with the first wicket of the game in the ninth over, when she sent off Aussie skipper Alyssa Healy, who was caught out by Amelia Kerr. She would taker her second in the 22nd when she dismissed Elysse Perry, on a delivery that found the edge of Perry’s bat before being caught by wicket-keeper Izzy Gaze.

In her very next over, Penfold would dismiss Beth Mooney, who was caught out by Bella James. Penfold’s final dismissal would come in the 41st over, as she bowled Tahlia McGrath on a delivery that the Aussie deflected onto the stumps. Eden Carson would take two wickets as well, bowling Ashleigh Gardner in the 33rd over, and striking Alana King on the pads before she was dismissed for an lbw.

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NEW ZEALAND’S INNINGS

New Zealand got off to a rough start, as Kim Garth took two wickets in the first ten overs. She dismissed Suzie Bates in the sixth, on a delivery that Bates struck towards Ashleigh Gardner, who took an incredible diving catch. Bates only made four runs, from one boundary, before she was dismissed.

Her fellow opener, Bella James would do a bit better, scoring 27 runs before she was sent off on the last ball of the tenth over. This time it was Alana King who took the catch on Garth’s delivery.

Kiwi skipper Sophie Devine was the next to fall in the 17th over. She scored 15 runs before a delivery from Perry found an edge before wicket-keeper Beth Mooney took the catch.

The Kiwis would continue to crumble, losing their fourth wicket not long after in the 20th. Gardner would pick up her first and only wicket of the game on a delivery that was hit right to Sutherland.

Amelia Kerr was the last to fall for New Zealand, just overs before rain delayed, and subsequently ended, the match. Kerr put on the best batting performance for the Kiwis, scoring 38 runs off 55 deliveries. It was Phoebe Litchfield, the substitute fielder, who collected the ball on a delivery from King to Maddy Green, and then sent the bails flying.

After an over and a bit, the game would be called off, with New Zealand only having played 30.1 overs, in which they scored 122 runs while losing five wickets along the way.

Australia were awarded the victory by the DLS method. They won by 65 runs.

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