Australia head into T20 World Cup with dominant series win
Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024.
Australia won the final T20I against New Zealand in Brisbane to complete a 3-0 whitewash and head into the Women's T20 World Cup on a strong note.
With the series already won, Australia went into the third T20I aiming to enter the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 on a confident note and did just that.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, New Zealand put up a total of 146. Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer scored the bulk of runs with Plimmer getting her maiden T20I fifty, a 48-ball 53.
She was supported by Kerr who scored 40 off 36 balls, but once the partnership was broken, Australia managed to restrict New Zealand to 146/6 in their allotted overs.
In response, the hosts lost both Mooney and Healy early in the chase but never really let the situation go out of their hands. Georgia Wareham was promoted to bat at No.3 and she responded with a quickfire 26 off 16 balls. Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry then followed it up with handy knocks of 33 off 26 and 36 off 29 respectively to put an end to any hopes of New Zealand victory.
Watch the best of Ash Gardner at the Women's T20 World Cup 2023
Best of Ash Gardner | Women's T20WC 2023
Even though New Zealand managed to take the game to the last over with their spinners, they never really looked like they were in the game. A decent batting outing for the White Ferns followed by a bowling outing heavily affected by dew meant that New Zealand have now lost 10 T20Is in a row, including seven in a row to England.
The spin-bowling all-rounders yet again impressed for Australia with Wareham declared Player of the Match for her heroics with bat and ball. She picked 2 for 21 from her four overs and then followed it up with a brisk knock when promoted up the order.
Gardner, on the other hand, took home the Player of the Series award after impressing yet again in an all-round capacity.
The series result will ensure Australia retain their tag of favourites for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 starting next month.
New Zealand will have a lot of work to do as they start their campaign against India in Dubai on October 4th. Australia begin their title defence against Sri Lanka on October 5th in Sharjah.