World champions Australia have completed a 65-run rain-affected one-day victory over New Zealand to take control of their Rose Bowl series at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
White Ferns captain Sophie Devine won the toss and invited the Aussies to bat first in their second scheduled fixture of the series, with the opening match — pitting the global T20 champions against the world ODI titleholders — rained out on Thursday.
Weather was kinder to the teams this morning, with the possibility of rain and thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon.
Middle order batter Annabel Sutherland took full advantage of favourable early conditions, striking her second straight ODI century, after her 110 against India at Perth earlier this month.
Against the Kiwis, she finished unbeaten on 105 from 81 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes, to pace the innings, as all of the top seven betters enjoyed starts, but mostly failed to follow through.
The NZ women saw their innings end with rain after 30 overs. (Source: TVNZ)
The NZ bowlers took wickets regularly and seemed poised to hold their rivals to a modest score at 110/4. With the fall of Berth Mooney's wicket, Sutherland came to the crease, compiling half-century partnerships with Ash Gardner, Tahlia McGrath and Kim Garth.
Sutherland took to the bowlers, as she closed in on her ton, and she and Garth put on 52 runs in the final four overs, including 19 off spinner Eden Carson's final over. Australia completed their allocated overs at 291/7.
With the ball, Molly Penfold produced career-best figures of 4/42 off her 10 overs, but should have had her first five-wicket bag, when she dropped a return catch from Sutherland in her final over, when the batter was on 67.
In response, the Ferns never really threatened the required run rate, losing opener Suzie Bates early. Debutant Bella James showed she was not out of place at this level, after a decade waiting in the wings, scoring 27 off 33 balls.
James was eventually undone trying to chip the infield ring, Devine was caught behind trying to edge fine through the slips and Brooke Halliday's departure left the Kiwis scrambling at 76/4.
With rain looming, New Zealand were well behind the Duckworth Lewis Stern standard and suffered the crippling blow, when Amelia Kerr was marginally run out for 38 at 111/5.
Maddy Green was still swinging at the end, which came little more than an over later, when the rain arrived and play ended for good, still well short of the reduced target.
"Disappointing," reflected Devine. "Probably the first 10 overs and the last 10 overs of the bowling effort let us down a bit.
"Full credit to Annabel Sutherland. I thought that knock really gave them some momentum and we knew we had to be ahead of the chase — we knew there was a bit of weather around, but we didn'wt want to play to that.
"There were glimpses and we were able to take some wickets, which is really important against this side, but wenot to be able to put the foot down fully probably killed us in the end."
The trans-Tasman rivals face off again on Monday at Wellington.
Australia 291/7 (Sutherland 105no, Healy 34, McGarth 34; Penfold 4/42, Carson 2/65) New Zealand 122/5 (Kerr 38, James 27, Green 26no; Garth 2/17)
Australia win by 65 runs, lead series 1-0
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