NZ-W vs AUS-W 2025, 1st WT20I Review: Mooney, Voll onslaught helps visitors register commanding victory

After drawing the T20I series against Sri Lanka Women, New Zealand Women (NZ-W) are now hosting their neighbours Australia Women (AUS-W) for a three-match T20I series. The teams clashed with each other at Eden Park, Auckland on Friday, March 21. The home team won the toss and elected to bat to maximise the utilisation of the flat deck.

The in-form Kiwi opening pair of skipper Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer provided a promising start once again but just when they were looking good Darcie Brown struck as Bates (14 off 14) edged one behind to Mooney. New batter Amelia Kerr and Plimmer (27 off 24) continued to score at a decent rate before the latter was scalped by Tahlia McGrath.

Sophie Devine, who was returning to international cricket after a mental health break, joined Kerr and the duo formed an unbroken partnership of 90 runs off 76 balls. Though Australia could not pick up another wicket they restricted the run flow to some extent. Both the batters registered their half-centuries as New Zealand finished the innings on 137/2 after their allotted 20 overs. Kerr (51* off 46) and Devine (39* off 36) were the top batters for the home team while Brown (1/22) and McGrath (1/23) were the only wicket-takers for the visitors.

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The Australian opening pair, Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll, started the chase on a quiet note with just two runs being scored from the first over. But the mayhem began right after it as the next five overs went for 16, 12, 15, 18, 14 runs respectively. Australia ended the powerplay with the score of 77/0. The openers continued to pile on the misery for New Zealand as they crossed the 100-run mark. New Zealand finally got a wicket in the form of Voll (50 off 31) as the 123-run partnership off just 68 balls ended.

New batter Phoebe Litchfield (2 off 4) went back to the hut early as Ellyse Perry (3* off 6) and Mooney (75* off 42) saw the team home with eight wickets in hand and 39 balls remaining. Lea Tahuhu (2/31) was the sole wicket-taker, as all the bowlers went for plenty. Mooney, playing her 200th match for Australia, was adjudged the Player of the Match for her outstanding attacking knock.

The next match is scheduled for Sunday, March 23 at Mount Maunganui.