Australia reach historic 21 ODI wins in emphatic style

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A 232-run win at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Wednesday, 7 October, their biggest against New Zealand and fifth on their all-time list, capped off a period of dominance that began in 2018.

Rachael Haynes, skipper in the absence of an injured Meg Lanning, missed out on a century, but she led a stellar batting effort in posting 325/5, a record total for Australia against New Zealand.

With Suzie Bates ruled out of the series by injury, skipper Sophie Devine falling for her first duck since 2009, off her very first ball, and their batters never quite getting off the blocks, New Zealand's chase quickly fizzled out. All of Australia's six bowlers used picked up at least a wicket each to bundle the opposition out for 93.

Batting first for the first time in the series, after being put in, the opening pair of Haynes and Alyssa Healy built a century stand. Healy expanded her range after her half-century, making the most of the chances she was given by the fielders to race to a run-a-ball 87.

Annabel Sutherland, promoted to No.3 in just her second ODI, took her time to ease in. But by the time she was bowled trying to sweep, becoming Amelia Kerr's second wicket of the day, Australia were well placed at 222/2 at the start of the 41st over and set for a final flourish.

Haynes wasn't around for it, however. She had struck 10 fours and two sixes to reach 96 when she was trapped in front by Kerr just one hit away from a century. It fell to Ash Gardner (34 off 20), Beth Mooney (29* off 19) and Tahlia McGrath (29* off 11, playing her first international since 2017) to help add 104 runs in the last 10 overs.

A tough ask for New Zealand was made more difficult when Megan Schutt struck in the first over, with Sophie Molineux taking a sharp catch of Devine at short midwicket. Natalie Dodd was soon done in by Sutherland's short ball and Kerr was bowled by Schutt in back-to-back overs.

Amy Satterthwaite unfurled some lovely strokes to the boundary on her way to 41 off 49 balls, but had little support at the other end. When she became the fifth wicket to fall with just 54 on the board, New Zealand's challenge fell away, and they were bowled out in 27 overs.

All of Schutt, Molineux, Jonassen and Gardner finished with two wickets each, while Sutherland and Georgia Wareham had one.