AUSTRALIA’s one-day juggernaut has claimed another piece of silverware and moved to within one win of equaling a remarkable world record, after making it 20 consecutive victories in the second ODI against New Zealand in Brisbane.
Despite being faced with their most daunting target at any point in their winning sequence, Australia’s batters were rarely troubled as they collected the 253 runs required with 29 balls and four wickets to spare, taking an unassailable two-nil lead to retain the Rose Bowl trophy they have held since February 2000.
And as has so often been the case, it was Meg Lanning (101no off 96) who anchored proceedings, the skipper putting aside an apparent hamstring issue to team up with the in-form Rachael Haynes (82 from 89) for a 117-run second-wicket that proved decisive.
Should the Aussies complete a clean sweep in the series finale on Wednesday, it will see them equal Ricky Ponting’s 2003 Australian men’s team’s record for the most consecutive ODI victories.
Without the injured Suzie Bates and after being thrashed two days ago, New Zealand showed considerable mettle to produce the performance they did. After being sent in to bat it was the opening pair of Sophie Devine (79) and Natalie Dodd (34) who laid the foundation with a 75-run stand
Not for the first time in her burgeoning ODI career, left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux snared the breakthrough, though the wicket of Dodd meant the arrival of Satterthwaite, who has been improving with every performance in these white-ball matches.
The left-hander motored along at around a run-a-ball on her way to a fine 50, giving the White Ferns innings much-needed impetus through the middle overs even as Devine became bogged down against Georgia Wareham and then Nicola Carey.
The White Ferns skipper may well have been pacing herself for the type of late-innings explosion that has made her one of the most dangerous players in the WBBL, however when Jess Jonassen (4-36) claimed her wicket in the 39th over, she had only managed to score 18 from the final 40 balls she faced.
Just as it threatened to stall, the New Zealand innings was boosted by a spectacular late partnership from Katey Martin (26 from 14) and Maddy Green (21 from 13), who put on 42 from 22 balls.
Their respective exits signalled a remarkable collapse of 5-2 in the closing overs as Australia fought back valiantly through experienced hands Jonassen and Megan Schutt (2-54), leaving their batters with a target in excess of 250 for the first time since this winning sequence began.
And unsurprisingly it was Alyssa Healy (21 from 19) who launched the counter-attack, blazing 14 from the first over – including a stunning six forward of point.
Healy batted with an abandon that spoke of a deep batting order, and her fireworks were short-lived when she was bowled by Devine.
Lanning made an unbeaten 62 on Saturday and she picked up where she left off, working her way into a partnership with Haynes that ultimately decided the match.
A back injury to strike bowler Lea Tahuhu made the New Zealanders’ task all the more challenging, and Haynes and Lanning seized the advantage for the home side, at one point taking a maximum each from one over of Green’s gentle off-breaks.
Haynes has been in impressive touch and the left-hander seemed to take a more aggressive approach today, cutting and pulling effectively as she moved to a fine half-century.
The pair put on their fourth century stand in their most recent seven ODI innings and were doing it comfortably until Devine again intervened, Haynes denying herself a hundred when she drove a full toss to cover.
As Beth Mooney (6), Sophie Molineux (14) and Ash Gardner (0) came and went in the space of six overs, Lanning pressed on unperturbed, picking singles easily and at one point stepping down the wicket to loft a free-hit from leg-spinner Amelia Kerr – who had just taken those three wickets – over wide long on for six.
It was her third six but she had never strayed from the risk-free approach that has underpinned her record-breaking career.
Kerr’s three-wicket burst did bring proceedings to life and as New Zealand were dragged back into the contest by their teenaged superstar, Australia responded in kind.
Annabel Sutherland is one day short of being exactly one year younger than Kerr, and the pace-bowling allrounder – who debuted on Saturday – came to the middle at a critical moment in the run chase. Comforted by the presence of Lanning, she settled into her work with few signs of nerves, driving Devine for four through mid-on from the fourth ball she faced.
From there the two Victorians combined well, bringing the Australians to within eight of victory before Sutherland was caught for 17 at deep midwicket.
It left Nicola Carey to complete the formalities with her skipper, though there was some theatre even in that as she blocked out five balls to allow Lanning to have a chance to reach her century.
From the first ball of the 46th over, she did exactly that, the 28-year-old cutting through gully to bring up her 14th ODI century and taking her unstoppable Australian outfit to another success.(Cricket.com.au)
Caption:
Meg Lanning of Australia celebrates victory and her century in the second game against New Zealand at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Monday. – (Getty Images).
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