Australian women on verge of creating history
They beat New Zealand by four wickets
Tuesday, 6 October 2020
BRISBANE, Oct 05 (ANI): Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes played knocks of 101 and 82 respectively as Australia defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series on Monday here at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
With this win, Australia have gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Both sides will now lock horns in the third and final ODI on Wednesday, October 07.
Australia have now extended their unbeaten ODI run to 20 matches. If the side wins the final ODI, then the side will equal Ricky Ponting's record of consecutive 21 ODI victories in 2003.
Chasing 253, Australia got off to a steady start as openers Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes put on 37 runs for the first wicket. New Zealand got their first wicket in the seventh over as Sophie Devine clean bowled Healy (21).
Meg Lanning then joined Haynes in the middle and the duo ensured that the scoreboard keeps moving for the hosts Australia. Both batters put on 117 runs for the second wicket and their partnership saw Haynes going past the 50-run mark.
With Australia 99 runs away from the target, New Zealand finally got the much-needed breakthrough as Sophie Devine dismissed Haynes (82) in the 27th over. Soon after, Amelia Kerr got among the wickets as she sent Beth Mooney (6) back to the pavilion, reducing Australia to 166/3.
Lanning and Sophie Molineux put on a brief 30-run stand but Amelia Kerr once again came to New Zealand's rescue as she had Molineux (14) and Ashleigh Gardner (0) dismissed on consecutive balls, reducing Australia to 196/5.
Annabel Sutherland then joined Lanning in the middle and the duo formed a 49-run stand to take Australia close to the finishing line. Hayley Jensen dismissed Sutherland (17) in the 44th over, but in the end, Lanning (101*) and Nicola Carey (5*) took Australia over the line by four wickets with 29 balls to spare.
Earlier, Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite's knocks of 79 and 69 runs guided New Zealand to 252/9 in the allotted fifty overs.