Australian juggernaut rolls on as they thump New Zealand in rain-affected ODI

Leigh Kasperek picked up three wickets in five balls to boost New Zealand, but in the end it wasn’t enough

Australia 149 for 7 (Healy 46, Kasperek 3-24) beat New Zealand 128 for 9 (Schutt 2-22, Wareham 2-25) by 21 runs

Before this match, in the several hours of waiting created by persistent showers in Mount Maunganui, there was not inconsiderable debate over whether or not Australia’s world-record ODI winning streak would be thwarted by a no result on account of the weather. Like most possible concerns about the fortunes of this team, it did not take long for them to be rendered academic.

Just as theoretical conversations about no result were ramping up, the skies cleared enough at the Bay Oval for a truncated, 25-over affair in greasy conditions. The delay and the shortened contest did serve to change Australia’s batting line-up, switching it from ODI to Twenty20 mode.

But it made no difference to the outcome, as Meg Lanning’s team once more demonstrated too great an array of influential performers for New Zealand to cope with, despite another startling spell from Leigh Kasperek to pluck three Australians in the space of five balls.

Her efforts were more than matched by the Australian spinners, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen and Ash Gardner, who claimed 4 for 64 from 14 overs between them.

More to follow