Australia vs New Zealand Highlights, ICC Women's World Cup 2025: Australia Start Title Defence With Dominating Win Over New Zealand

Welcome back for New Zealand Women's reply with the bat. The lights have taken full effect at the Holkar Stadium in Indore as the Aussie players spread out to take their respective fielding positions. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer walk out to open for the Kiwis. And it will be Kim Garth to bowl the first over of the chase. Bates to face. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

While Australia's exceptional ground fielding will undoubtedly pose a challenge, the presence of dew could potentially level the playing field. With a solid batting unit, New Zealand will look to pull off a stunning win and send a strong message to the rest of the teams in the tournament. Can the White Ferns overcome the defending champions? The second half of the game promises to be a cracker as well. Stay tuned as the run chase is on the other side.

The centurion, Ashleigh Gardner, is up for a quick chat with the broadcasters. She begins by saying that it was about building partnerships and for her, it was all about scoring off as many balls as possible. She shared that if the ball was in the hitting arc, she went after it, as that prevented her from going into a shell. Mentions about their batting depth as they genuinely bat down to 10-11. And due to such depth, it gives an extra freedom to the middle order. Highlights that they did lose some early wickets, but were able to rebuild quickly. About the message to the bowlers, she stresses to keep it as simple as possible. Points that they were challenged on the stumps, which will be very important when they come out to bowl. She also underlines the importance of pace variations, which the Kiwi bowlers didn't often use. She also points out that the ball is not moving much sideways and for the spinners, she feels changing up and down and keeping it wicket-to-wicket will be very crucial and effective.

The bowlers of New Zealand faced a tough task containing the Aussie batting onslaught. Despite bowling decent lines and lengths in the middle phase, they struggled to stem the flow of runs. Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr were the top performers, each claiming three wickets, while Bree Illing and Amelia Kerr picked up two wickets apiece. But, barring Tahuhu and Amelia Kerr, every other bowler went for an economy of over 6 runs per over. And due to this aggressive batting by the Aussies, it ultimately propelled them to a total exceeding 320.

Australia's innings got off to a blistering start, with captain Alana King and Phoebe Litchfield unleashing a furious attack on the New Zealand bowlers. The opening pair added 40 runs before Healy was dismissed for 19. Although most Australian batters got off to good starts, only Ashleigh Gardner was able to truly capitalize, smashing a sensational century under pressure at a strike rate exceeding 130. Gardner's knock was the key to Australia's imposing total. Kim Garth also made a valuable contribution, justifying her selection in the side with a crucial cameo of 38, showcasing her batting ability down the order.

Australia's batting display has set the bar high, with the defending champions posting an imposing total of 326 runs. The White Ferns now face the daunting task of chasing down this substantial score, requiring a stellar batting performance. This is the highest inning total for Australia Women versus New Zealand Women in ODIs and the third highest inning total for the Aussies in the World Cups against any opponent.

OUT! GONE! CAUGHT! Jess hits the hard length, on top of the stumps. Kim Garth shapes to play the pull and goes through the shot, but finds no elevation, distance, and timing on it. The ball sails only as far as Georgia Plimmer, stationed at the deep mid-wicket fence. Plimmer takes a simple catch in the deep. Kim Garth departs for a very crucial cameo of 38 (37) and AUSTRALIA WOMEN HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 326 IN 49.3 OVERS!

On a length, onto the pads. Darcie Brown plays from the crease and steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Darcie Brown is the last batter in for Australia Women!

OUT! TAKEN! Jess Kerr gets her second wicket! Fuller length, and a leg cutter outside off. Alana King clears the front leg and tries to clear the in-field with an inside out shot, but mistimes as the ball gets twisted at the point of contact. Hence, the ball is sliced towards mid off, where Suzie Bates moves to her right and takes a simple catch. Bates has now taken four catches in this game. Alana King departs for 4 (7) and Australia Women are 9 down on 325.

Jess Kerr will bowl the final six deliveries of the first innings. 8-0-58-1 so far for Jess.

Fuller and around the fourth stump, King drives it to the point region for a single.

Slower bouncer, on the bodyline, Kim Garth miscues the pull shot towards backward square leg for a single.

FOUR! SMASH! She is enjoying her time out in the middle, is Garth! Angling back in from outside off, on a good length. Kim uses her feet and forces it up and over mid off for a boundary.

Fuller than a length, outside off, King knocks it between cover and point for a quick single.

On a fullish length, outside off, Kim Garth steers it to deep point for a single.

FOUR! She has played a crucial cameo down the order for her side! Back of a length, around off, angling in. Kim Garth stands tall, plays it on the rise and smashes it with a flat bat. Gets it through to the right of mid off and finds the fence!

Bree Illing (8-0-63-2) to bowl the penultimate over.

Fuller and outside off, Alana King times it well, but finds the fielder at backward point. A very handy over for New Zealand! Just 3 off it.