Ash Gardner smashed the third-fastest century in Girls’s Cricket World Cup historical past as Australia launched their title defence with an 89-run win over New Zealand.
Gardner’s 115 off 83 balls featured 16 fours and a six as she turned the primary participant to attain a World Cup century from sixth within the batting order.
It impressed Australia to submit 326 in 49.3 overs, the very best complete ever towards New Zealand within the match, surpassing England’s 284-9 in 2017.
Phoebe Litchfield set the tone with a brisk 45 off 31 balls, placing six fours and two sixes on her World Cup debut, however her dismissal left Australia on 81-2 as New Zealand triggered a middle-order wobble.
Lea Tahuhu (3-42) eliminated Ellyse Perry (33) and Beth Mooney (12) in fast succession, later returning to dismiss Tahlia McGrath (26), whereas Amelia Kerr chipped in with the wicket of Annabel Sutherland (5), decreasing Australia to 128-5.
However Gardner steadied the ship, including 64 with McGrath for the sixth wicket. Her first 50 got here off 43 balls; the second off simply 34, as Australia’s aggressive strategy lit up Holkar Stadium, staging its first ladies’s ODI.
New Zealand’s chase faltered early with the lack of two wickets in 9 balls and not using a run on the board, as Georgia Plimmer was run out and Suzie Bates was bowled by Sophie Molineux, each dismissed for geese.
Regardless of Sophie Devine’s valiant 111 off 107 balls, the Kiwis have been bowled out for 237 in 43.2 overs. Devine, at 36 years and 30 days, turned the third-oldest centurion in Girls’s World Cup historical past.
Kerr (33) partnered Devine for a 75-run stand, adopted by key contributions from Brooke Halliday (28) and Isabella Gaze (28 off 18), however after Gaze’s dismissal at 218-6, New Zealand collapsed, dropping their remaining 4 wickets for simply 19 runs.
Molineux (3-25) and Sutherland (3-26) shared six wickets to seal Australia’s sixteenth straight ODI win over New Zealand.
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