Narrow win by New Zealand Women

Monday, June 1, 2009 -- A three match Twenty20 series is being played between Australia Women and New Zealand Women cricket teams. These matches are scheduled on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd June 2009. The first match was played at Allan Border Field in Brisbane. New Zealand Women won the toss and opted to bat first. 3 players debuted in Twenty20 Internationals in this match. They were Rene Farrell for Australia Women and Sian Ruck and Victoria Lind for New Zealand Women.

Only three in double figures

In the 3rd over, New Zealand Women lost Aimee Watkins for 5. For the 2nd wicket, Lind and Suzie Bates collaborated an important partnership of 52 runs. In the 10th over, when Lind returned back to the pavilion, she had scored 20 runs in 24 deliveries. Bates was the 3rd batsman to be dismissed. She faced 28 balls and with the aid of 5 boundaries struck 38 runs. Apart from Lind and Bates, the only New Zealand batsman to reach double figures was Katey Martin. She hit 15 runs in 13 balls inclusive of 2 fours. At the end of 19 overs, New Zealand Women was all out for 115 runs.

Early collapse

Australia Women began disastrously and were reduced to 4 for 15 in 5.3 overs. Sophie Devine and Kate Pulford took 1 wicket each and Ruck took 2 wickets. In these circumstances, Karen Rolton and Jodie Fields steadied the innings. However, Rolton was run out on 36 off 31 deliveries. She bashed 1 six and 5 boundaries. This loss upset the momentum of the Australian innings. Fields remained unbeaten on 32 off 37 deliveries inclusive of 3 boundaries. At the end of 20 overs, Australia Women reached a score of 111 for 6 wickets. Thus, New Zealand Women won this match by 4 runs.