White Ferns lose ICC World Cup opener
- Dave Worsley
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
The White Ferns have lost their opening match at the ICC Cricket World Cup to Australia by 89 runs at Indore.
An Ashleigh Gardner century set Australia up for the win - an 83-ball 115 carried the reigning champions to 326.
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In reply the White Ferns tried hard but were dismissed for 237 despite run-a-ball 112 from captain Sophie Devine.
New Zealand's cause wasn't helped by a deadly Annabel Sutherland over as Australia wrapped up victory with 6.4 overs to spare.
Opting to bat first, Australia made their intentions clear from the outset with a flurry of early boundaries.
Alyssa Healy fell to Bree Illing for a maiden World Cup wicket, but Phoebe Litchfield continued the assault and helped her side to 81 for one at the end of the powerplay.
Litchfield departed from the very next ball, which was also the first of Amelia Kerr’s tournament, as New Zealand began to fight back.
Kerr also dismissed Sutherland while Lea Tahuhu accounted for Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney as Australia slipped to 128 for five in the 22nd over.
From there, Gardner seized the initiative. She added 66 with Tahlia McGrath before bringing up her half-century with a six off Kerr, and continued to punish anything loose.
A boundary from the first ball of the 46th over took her to 100 from 77 balls, but her excellent knock was ended when she was caught behind off Illing for 115.
Jess Garth’s departure following a valuable 38 brought Jess Kerr’s third wicket and saw the innings wrapped up with three balls unused as Australia posted their highest women’s ODI score against New Zealand.
The White Ferns’ reply got off to a nightmare start as they lost both openers before a run was on the board. Georgia Plimmer was run out without facing a ball before Suzie Bates was clean bowled by Sophie Molineux.
Devine and Amelia Kerr steadied the ship, adding 75 for the third wicket before Kerr chipped Alana King to Litchfield at extra cover on 33. The same duo then combined to remove the dangerous Brooke Halliday, who holed out seeking a third consecutive boundary.
Devine showed no let-up, having received a life when a diving Gardner failed to hold a tough chance running in from deep mid-wicket. Four consecutive boundaries off Darcie Brown took her into the nineties, though she lost the company of Maddy Green after a mix-up led to another run out.
Isabella Gaze followed for an 18-ball 28 before New Zealand’s stalwart reached three figures in style, launching Gardner over deep mid-wicket for six to keep her side in the hunt.
Sutherland extinguished lingering Kiwi hopes with a triple breakthrough, however, finding a way through Devine’s defences before dismissing Jess Kerr and Eden Carson in successive deliveries.
Molineux sealed the victory with her third wicket as Illing was caught behind, ensuring the seven-time winners started this campaign on a high.
The White Ferns next game is against South Africa, 6 October.
