Australia 220 for 5 (Perry 71, Lanning 48, Blackwell 35*) beat New Zealand 219 for 9 (Perkins 52, Bates 51, Jonassen 3-33, Schutt 3-40) by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jess Jonassen’s three-for stifled New Zealand’s top order © International Cricket Council
Ellyse Perry flexed her batting muscle to help Australia to their third win in as many games at the Women’s World Cup. Her 91-ball 71 formed the bedrock of the 220 chase against New Zealand, which they eventually saw off with five wickets in hand in the penultimate over.
The heroes were, however, Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt, who picked up three wickets a piece to scupper New Zealand’s hopes of posting a bigger total. Jonassen, who was left out of the previous game, did the bulk of the damage to the top order. Her strikes of Amy Satterthwaite and and Katey Martin within a space of three deliveries in the 23rd over led to a breakdown in momentum.
Suzie Bates, playing her 100th ODI, soldiered on to bring up an uncharacteristic half-century, before playing to a premeditated sweep to Jonassen’s arm ball. At that stage, Jonassen’s figures read 3 for 22 off seven overs. Katie Perkins, playing her first innings of the tournament, provided the late lift with a sprightly 59-ball 52. She was complemented by Erin Bermingham, who made 35, as New Zealand, tottering at 147 for 6 in 37 overs, recovered to post 219 for 9.
Beth Mooney and Nicole Bolton treaded a caution-first approach during the course of their 49-run opening stand. Meg Lanning and Perry, who came together with Australia at 72 for 2, then steadied the innings with a 71-run stand to take them close to 150. Australia were cruising, but not for long as 16-year old legspinner Amelia Kerr gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope.
Lanning, who was looking to step out and defend, was deceived in flight and dip as she nicked one to the wicketkeeper for 48. Next delivery, Kerr accounted for Elyse Villani with a wrong’un. Australia were suddenly four down, with 77 to get. But they weren’t to be denied as Perry carried on in Alex Blackwell’s company – the pair took Australia to within a run of victory before Blackwell hit the winning runs with eight balls to spare.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo