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Phoebe Litchfield powers Australia past White Ferns in first Twenty20
Harry Potter • September 23rd, 2024 7:53 pm
t the Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay: White Ferns 143-7 (Maddy Green 35 off 33) lost to Australia 144-5 in 18.4 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 64no off 43; Molly Penfold 2-24 off 4) by five wickets.
Phoebe Litchfield played the standout innings to give Australia a five-wicket win over the White Ferns in the first of three Twenty20 internationals.
The middle-order batter scored an unbeaten 64 runs off 43 balls as her side chased down their target of 144 with eight balls to spare at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay in northern Queensland on Thursday night.
While New Zealand's total of 143-7 was their best since their last T20 win – against England in Nelson in March, seven matches ago – it never felt like it would be enough.
Maddy Green was their top-scorer with 35 off 33 balls – a much less explosive innings than Litchfield's – while stand-in captain Suzie Bates made 33 off 27.
The White Ferns' regular captain, Sophie Devine, wasn't involved as she manages her return to play from a foot injury ahead of the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates later this month.
Australia were forced to make a late change to their lineup when all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner had to go through concussion protocols after colliding with team-mate Georgia Wareham during their pre-match warmup.
Bates won the toss and chose to bat, but the White Ferns' innings never got out of first gear, with six different Australian bowlers picking up wickets.
Green fell midway through the 18th over, just when her side were needing her to finish big and lift their total over 150 and closer to 160.
Left-arm spinner Fran Jonas began by conceding back-to-back boundaries and didn't return to the bowling crease after giving up 12 runs in the opening over.
Seamer Molly Penfold claimed the wickets of Beth Mooney (13 off 10) and Tahlia McGrath (6 of 10) on her way to finishing with 2-24 from four overs.
Lea Tahuhu bowled Ellyse Perry for six of eight to have Australia 44-3 one ball after the end of the six-over power play, but Litchfield took charge from there.
Brooke Halliday caught Wareham off her own bowling for 26 off 20 in the 18th over, but with just nine more needed at that stage, it was too little too late.
The White Ferns have now lost eight T20s in a row heading into match two at the same venue on Sunday night.
