Defending champions Australia were back to their best form after Ashleigh Gardner and Alyssa Healy guided them to a massive 97-run victory over New Zealand in their opening match of the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, Paarl on Saturday, February 11.
Sent in to bat first, Healy made up for Beth Mooney's early dismissal for a duck alongside skipper Meg Lanning with a brilliant 55 runs in 38 balls. Striking the ball at a rate of 144.73, Healy hit nine boundaries in her innings and with Lanning, scored 47 runs in the powerplay, which is Australia's best-ever score in the first six overs against New Zealand in this the T20 World Cup.
Healy and Lanning went on to form a 70-run partnership, but Amelia Kerr got the necessary breakthrough when she bowled Lanning for 41.
In came Ellyse Perry, who was the next aggressor alongside Healy. They took the Kiwi bowlers to the cleaners with a brilliant 50-run partnership in just 28 balls. But soon Healy lost his wicket to a Lea Tahuhu ball as the Kiwis reduced Australia to 126/4 in the 16th over.
Perry and Grace Harris then scored 22 runs in eight balls before Amelia got the wicket of Perry for 40 runs as Australia finished with 173/9 from 20 overs.
With an above-par score in their hands, the onus was on the Australian bowlers who responded to the challenge in style. New Zealand lost their two openers Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine for golden ducks, off Mega Schutt's bowling.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Amelia Kerr tried to get things back on track, but Gardner entered the party for Australia, completely ripping apart the New Zealand batting order.
She dismissed the dangerous Amelia, who was the highest run-getter for New Zealand at 21 runs. The middle and lower order collapsed soon after as Australia registered a big victory, while also condemning the White Ferns to their biggest-ever loss in T20I cricket.
Gardner finished with 5/12, the best T20I figures for Australia across men and women, as New Zealand were bundled out for just 76 in 14 overs.
